James Andrew Beall

James Andrew "Jack" Beall (October 25, 1866 – February 11, 1929) was an American politician. He represented Texas in the United States House of Representatives from 1903 to 1915.

James Andrew Beall
United States Congressman Texas 5th Congressional District
In office March 4, 1903 – March 3, 1915
Preceded by	Choice B. Randell
Succeeded by	Hatton W. Sumners
Senator Texas Senate, District 10
In office 1895–1899
Preceded by	Astyanax M. Douglass
Succeeded by	Daniel W. Odell
Member Texas House of Representatives Districts 37 and 68
In office 1891–1895
Personal details
Born	(1866-10-25)October 25, 1866 Ellis County, Texas
Died	February 11, 1929(1929-02-11) (aged 62) Dallas
Resting place	Oakland Cemetery Dallas, Texas
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Patricia Martin
Children	One child
Alma mater	University of Texas at Austin
Profession	Attorney

Early years

Beall was born on a farm near Midlothian, Texas to Richard Beall and Adelaide Pierce Beall.[1] He attended the county schools and then taught school in 1884 and 1885. He was graduated from the law department of the University of Texas at Austin, in 1890, and was admitted to the bar the same year and commenced practice in Waxahachie, Texas.[2]

Public service

Beall was a member of the Texas House of Representatives, 1892–1895. He served in the Texas Senate, 1895–1899, and was elected as a Democrat to the 58th Congress, and to the five succeeding Congresses, March 4, 1903 – March 3, 1915. In Congress, he was chairman, Committee on Expenditures in the Department of Justice (62nd Congress). He was not a candidate for renomination in 1914.

Along with members of the southern delegation to Congress, Beall was opposed to William Jennings Bryan on the latter's 1909 support of Prohibition, citing the Texas preference of handling the matter on local levels.[3]

On July 4, 1911, Congressman Beall spoke before a crowd of 1,500 at Meriden, Connecticut for that city's Independence Day celebration. The crowd found him "charming" and "eloquent" as he spoke of the nation's history, his faith in God, and of the heroes of the old South.[4]

Later years

After leaving Congress, Beall moved to Dallas, Texas, in 1914, and became a law partner with M.D. Templeton and Tony B. Williams. In 1923, he became a senior law partner of Beall, Watson, Rollins, Burford and Ryburn.[5]

Beall became president of the Dallas Union Trust Company in 1927.[5]

He served as president of the Texas Electric Railway from 1921 until his death.[6]

Personal life and death

In 1898, he married Patricia Martin of Waxahachie. The couple had one child, Jack Beall (December 6, 1898 – January 11, 1963).[2]

Jack Beall died in Dallas of a heart attack on February 11, 1929.[2] He was buried in the Oakland Cemetery in Dallas.[5][7]

References

1. Kestenbaum, Lawrence. "James Andrew Beall -The Political Graveyard". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved 25 October 2010.
2. Minor, David. "James Andrew Beall". Handbook of Texas online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 26 October 2010.
3. "Bryan's Plan Likely To Be a Boomerang". New York Times. 22 November 1909.
4. "Congressman Jack Beall's Fine Oration". Meriden Morning Record. 5 July 1911.
5. Guttery, Ben R (2008). Representing Texas: A Comprehensive History of U.S. and Confederate Senators and Representatives from Texas. BookSurge Publishing. pp. 20–21. ISBN 978-1-4196-7884-4.
6. Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation Inc. (2009). Plano and the Interurban Railway. Arcadia Publishing. p. 74. ISBN 978-0-7385-7136-2.
7. James Andrew Beall at Find a Grave

External links

• United States Congress. "James Andrew Beall (id: B000270)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Choice B. Randell	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 5th congressional district March 4, 1903 – March 3, 1915	Succeeded by Hatton W. Sumners