Peter Beall
Cincinnati Enquire, 11 January 1875, page 7
Death of Peter Beall
The business and social communities of this city and vicinity
will feel no little shock at the news of the death of the good citizen, the
successful man and the genial, whole souled gentleman whose name heads this
notice. Peter Beall died at his home 1547 Scott street, Covington, yesterday
morning at eight o'clock.
He has been in failing health for several years but did not yield his mind to the fatal fact of that bell disease consumption, nor o the realization of the near approach of his life's end on earth until within a brief season of the latter's consummation.
For a long time he suffered greatly and toward the last intensely, but his mind was clear and his heart unmoved with unworthy concern for himself up to the very verge of the great change. He looked with certainly for the summons to come Saturday evening, but lived through the night, and a few moments before he expired the windows of the death chamber were thrown open at his request and as the effulgent light of the clear morning sun filled the room, he exclaimed, what a glorious mercy it was that he was permitted to die with such a vision as his last.
He was born in New Orleans in the year 1830, came to Cincinnati in early life, soon became a skilled machinist and the foreman of one of the prominent establishments of the day. Something over twenty years ago he lost his right hand. He was with a hunting party near Madison, Indiana, and in getting over a fence rested his hand on the muzzle of his gun to jump to the ground, when the weapon was accidentally discharged and the hand so badly shattered that amputation necessarily followed.
After this he learned to write with the left hand and was employed at the stone cutting establishment of Graveson, at the intersection of Third street and the canal, in Cincinnati, also at the foundry of Lyon & Bell, opposite, keeping the books for both concerned. He afterward secured an interest in the first named business.
In June 1855 he was married in Newport Ky. to Miss Christy, an estimable and winning young lady of that city and he continued to live in Newport until the year 1868 when he removed to Covington, the place of his home from that time until he died.
At the breaking out of the late civil war he espoused the National cause and being incapacitated for serviceable active duty, entered the Quartermaster's Department as Chief Clerk for Colonel George P Webster, formerly of Newport, now of New York City, then stationed at this pint. In this capacity he served faithfully and well until the war closed.
He then originated the project of forming the corporation now known as the Kenton Insurance Company, was one of the chief movers in the organization; was one of the chief movers in the organization; became an influential stockholder and the Secretary of the Company and made that his business until the end of his days.
During his residence in Newport he was serviceable in doing systematic deeds of kindness to widows and orphans under the care of Noah's Dove Lodge and to mention one instance of his private charitable influence. He made it a business and pleasure to visit each of those afflicted households personally every Christmas morn and bestow a turkey, a barrel of flour and a generous pittance of money upon the inmates. He was also a Knight of Phythias.
Mr. Beall was a member in full communion of the Episcopal Church at the alter of Old Trinity, Covington. He died in that faith. He leaves a widow but no children and his estate is sufficient as a comfortable competence for his bereaved helpmeet. He left a will bequeathing all to her. The funeral takes place from Trinity Church tomorrow, the Rev F Bugbee, rector, officiating.