1305

IRA BEATTE
was born in St. Francois county, Missouri, on September 8, 1881. He is the son of Henry Beatte and Vercella (Wyams) Beatte, the latter of Jefferson county, Missouri, and is the eldest of the five children of his parents. Henry Beatte was born in Washington county, Missouri, about 1852. For a time he followed farming and later embarked in the mercantile business in Danby, Missouri, where the family still conducts the store. The father of Ira Beatte died in 1910. He was a Democrat, was affiliated with a number of fraternal orders and was a member of the Baptist church. The mother is still living.

The early life of Ira Beatte was spent in the counties of St. Francois and Jefferson, and he was educated in the public schools. He started in the blacksmith business at an early age at Kinsey, Missouri, and in 1906 he came to Monroe county, where in Maeystown he opened a blacksmith and wagon shop. He remained there for two years, coming to Valmeyer about two years ago, and establishing a similar business. He has prospered most agreeably, and now has a thoroughly modern shop, equipped with gas engine, trip hammers, and other modern power apparatus. Mr. Beatte is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church and of the National Protective Legion.

On Christmas day, 1903, he married Lorena Busking, of Monroe county, and they are the parents of two children: Freeman and Archie.