Beall Family History
Cincinnati Enquirer, 8 October 1922, page F6
Connected with the early history of Newport and Covington and
adjoining settlements are the names of the old Beall families. These are Edwin
Beall and his wife Lydia Smith; Samuel and his wife Elizabeth Kennedy; James and
his wife Sallie Kercheval; William K and his wife Melina, whose surname has been
lost to memory of the families connected; George Muter, bachelor brother and
Benjamin Duke Beall and his wife Maria Thomas. The Bealls pronounced their name
Bell.
The last named couple were the parents of Mary J Beall, who became the wife of Samuel Thomas Miles. One of their children is Mr. Hugh Knox Miles of Newport in the railroad business. The following information is form the diary of WIlliam K Beall now in possession of Mr. Miles.
The War of 1812 found William K Beall and his wife living on their extensive estate known as Beallmount. This property extended for a distance of about six miles along the Ohio River. Its vast acreage included lands along the river and present Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad from the little station of Brent up to that of Mentor.
The first Benjamin Duke Beall, who came from Virginia to Kentucky, was a surveyor for the Government. For his service he was given patents to lands along the Ohio River; this was in 1780. A few years later the first Beall home was erected. There is no trace of the site of this home. Other members of the present Miles family, descended on the mother's side from the Bealls are Samuel Rachford Miles of New York and Mrs. H C Hinman and Matilda Boyd Miles of Chicago.
William K Beall before the actual beginning of the war, became Assistant Quartermaster General under his neighbor and friend, General James Taylor of Newport, and was with him in the march up state to Lake Erie. He had the misfortune to be captured by the British before there was even a declaration of war known to General Hull.
The diary from July 5 to August 4, 1812, tells of the capture by a British patrol of the little Cuyahoga with its crew and passengers; three sick sergeants and eight sick rank and file of the militia; one able Sergeant, two sick Sergeants and17 sick of the rank and file of the Fourth United States Infantry.
Transfer of some of the prisoners from the Thames to the Lady Provost for a voyage east on Lake Erie came July 21. The Lady Provost and the schooner Nancy were to sail together. The prisoners, including Beall, Gooding and his wife, Captain Sharp and some others, had an idea that they would be taken to Quebec. They had a pleasant voyage on this vessel. Passing Put in Bay, there was pointed out to them "a handsome farm belonging to a gentleman from Ohio whose tenant resided on it." They reached Amherstburg August 8 and were soon exchanged.
Beall found later in the war; after rejoining the army, exciting experiences to compensate for the mortification of his capture before striking a blow. His death in battle came to him under General Jackson at New Orleans, following the Treaty of peace at Ghent, when there was no longer any "state of war" but before the news of peach could reach the contending forces at New Orleans.