THOMAS
B. BEIL, insurance agent, was born in Delaware Township, Mercer
Co., Penn., October 27, 1843. His father, Peter Beil, was a native of
Northampton County, Penn., and located in Delaware Township early in
the thirties, where he married Fannie, daughter of Peter Bickard, who
came to the township about the same time as the Beil family. Six sons
and four daughters were born of this union, all of whom grew to
maturity, and nine of whom are yet living and heads of families. Peter
Bell died August 29, 1885, in the Lutheran faith, to which church his
widow belongs. She resides on the old homestead in Delaware Township,
Mr. Beil was a quiet, unassuming, practical farmer, and by judicious
investments in real estate became quite well off. Our subject was the
eldest son, and grew up in his native township. In February, 1862, he
enlisted in Company K, Sixty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served
three years, and was discharged from the service in March, 1885. For a
year and a half afterward he was engaged in merchandising at Hamburg,
and for the next five years was in the employ of James Pierce, Son
& Co., of Sharpsville, in general merchandising. He then carried on
a store in Sharpsville for about two years, spent a year in the west,
and in November, 1874, located in Sharon, where he has since been
engaged in the general insurance business. He has built up a large
trade, and ranks to-day among the leading insurance men of the county.
Mr. Beil was married March 13, 1875, to Miss Flora V. Guthrie, of
Hempfield Township. Both are members of the Presbyterian Church, and
Mr. Beil belongs to the Masonic order and K. of P. Politically he is a
Republican, has served one term in the borough council, and for the
past six years has been secretary of the board.
Source: History of Mercer County, 1888, page 706-707
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