Madison Beattie1,2

b. 6 October 1811, d. 31 July 1885
Madison Beattie (cropped)
photo courtesy Bernie Becker
FatherWilliam Beattie1,2,3 b. bet 1760 - 1762, d. 4 Apr 1860
MotherMary Allison1,2 b. 1763, d. 16 Apr 1830
Birth6 Oct 1811 Madison Beattie was born on 6 Oct 1811.4,5,6 
Devisee14 Oct 1834  Madison's father wrote his will in 1834, almost 26 years before his death. It appears that Madison, who was 23 at the time and the youngest of his parent's 13 children, was to be the chief beneficiary of that will. He was to receive the family farm, farming tools and the household furniture. In addition Madison was bequeathed several Negroes and named as his father's executor.3 
MarriageJun 1843 He married Martha A. Cunningham in early Jun 1843 in Lincoln County, Tennessee.7 
Cens-18506 Aug 1850  When the 1850 census was recorded Madison was listed as the head of the household, however he and Martha (and their two young sons) actually lived with Madison's 87 year old father, William, on the old Beattie land William had inherited from his father John. Madison's brother Absalom lived on adjacent land.8 
  Not long after this census was recorded Madison began constuction of his own home, a large structure which according to tradition, burned the day it was completed. The same tradition holds that Madison began rebuilding the next day. That beautiful 8 room home still stands and is now known as "Morningside".9 
Land-Gift7 Jun 1857 On 7 Jun 1857 Madison's father, well into his 90s, deeded Madison "for love and affection" the 775 acres on which William and Madison resided. The neighboring land was owned by Robert B. Edmondson, Dr. Nickerson Snead, Robinson, William Byars, J.W. Sheffey and Absalom Beatie.10 
  The land sat west of Glade Spring and east of Emory. In a north-south direction the bulk of the land sat between present day Rt 609 (Hillman Highway) and present day Interstate 81. The home was constructed on an elevated area of land off of Highway 609 near Deerfield Lane (see link below to page with photos of home and more information). 
Cens-18602 Jul 1860  There Madison (46) and Martha (36), and their 3 children: William (14), George (12) and Mary (6) were enumerated in July 1860. Madison's land was valued at $20,000 and he owned personal property worth $24,000.11 
Cens-1860- Slave10 Jul 1860  This included the 16 slaves who ran the plantation and cared for the family.12 
Cens-1860- Agric  Two hundred seventy-five acres were under cultivation; 500 were unimproved. The land produced 500 bushels of wheat, 2,000 bushels of Indian corn (high for the neighborhood) along with oats and Irish potatoes. Madison was one of the few farmers in the area producing tobacco in 1860; his land yielded 15,000 pounds (a very large quantity compared to the few neighbors who reported growing the crop).13 
Cens-187016 Aug 1870  Following the Civil War Madison's land retained much of it's value but his personal property was valued at $2,700 in 1870.14 
  Son George married Emma Louise Williams in the early 1870s. They and their children lived with Madison and Martha for some years then purchased the Robert Edmondson home southwest of Old Baptist Cemetery.15 
Death31 Jul 1885 Madison died on 31 Jul 1885 at age 73.4 
Will-Recd24 Aug 1885  Madison's will, recorded in Washington County on August 24th, 1885 left his estate to his son George A.C. Beattie and his daughter Mary McKinney. George received the eastern portion of the land on which Madison lived, as well as land in Crittenden County, Arkansas (part of which had been owned by George's deceased brother William). Mary received the rest of Madison's farm, which included that portion with the buildings. Madison allowed his wife Martha her dower share in this land and directed George and Mary to each pay Martha $100.16 
Burial He was buried at Old Glade Spring Cemetery in Washington County, Virginia.4 
  Madison and Martha's daughter Mary married Charles McKinney in 1879 and raised a family of 6 children in the home they inherited. They furnished the home beautifuly and entertained often. At the turn of the century a race track was built in the fields below the house where the family kept and trained race horses. The home remained in the family until 1925.9 

Related Links and Images:

The beautiful home now known as Morningside, built by Madison and Martha Beattie17
Letter written in 1880 from Madison Beattie to William Lowry (clerk of the Washington Co. court) in answer to questions from the historian Lyman Draper. Madison referenced his grandfather John Beattie and John's sons David, John and William
Beattie family monument in the Madison Beattie square (photos from before and after the 2011 tornado)
Other interments in Old Glade Spring Cemetery
The 1850 Washington Co., Virginia census listed Madison as the head of household number 301. Follow the link to see who lived nearby.

Family

Martha A. Cunningham b. 15 May 1824, d. 29 Oct 1897
Children
Last Edited13 Nov 2013

Citations

  1. [S5] Elizabeth Kelly Allison, Early Southwest Virginia Families, p. 102-6.
  2. [S140] "Ryburn History," compiled by P. Shugart, p. 34. Peggie cites an interview conducted in 1948 with Margaret Breckenridge Ryburn, a great granddaughter of John Beattie and Ellen Gilmore.
  3. [S851] William Beattie will (recorded 1860), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 15: 33. William's will was written on 14 Oct. 1834 with a codicil added on 14 Jul 1849. It was not recorded in court until 28 May 1860. The will was originally witnessed by Samuel Dunn, James Porterfield and Beattie Ryburn. However, by the time the will was recorded only Samuel Dunn was living. James C. Porterfield and Arthur D. Hutton testified that they were well acquainted with the handwriting of these two witnesses. Madison Beattie took the oath of executor with a bond of $2,000.
  4. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 175. Transcription reads: Madison Beattie, 6 Oct. 1811 - 31 Jul. 1885, "Father."
  5. [S5] Elizabeth Kelly Allison, Early Southwest Virginia Families, p. 102-6. Date recorded as Oct. 6, 1811.
  6. [S42] Hattie King Owen, "Old Glade Springs Cemetery Records", p. 18. Date recorded as Oct. 9, 1811.
  7. [S2327] "Lincoln Co. Tennessee Marriage License Records", Tennessee State Marriages 1780-2002, digital images, Ancestry.com (www.Ancestry.com : accessed Oct. 2009), Madison Beatie and Martha A. Cunningham entry. The exact date in June is smudged however Ancestry indexed it as the 3rd. The license was dated June 1st.
  8. [S367] Madison Beatie household, 1850 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., 67th District, p. 88b (stamped), dwelling 301, family 301, viewed online at Ancestry.com, May 2003, image 42 of 289. Madison Beatie, b. VA, 38, farmer, owns property valued at $14,950; Martha 24, b. VA; William F. 4, b. ?? [Tenn?]; Geo 2, b. VA; William 87, b. VA.
  9. [S952] "Historical Houses of Washington County, Virginia", Historical Society of Washington County, Virginia Bulletin Series II, #6 (Spring, 1968): 30.
  10. [S2181] Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 23: 417-419. William Beattie to Madison Beattie, for natural love and affection to son, dated 7 Jun 1857 and recorded 29 Jun 1857.
  11. [S234] Madison Beattie household, 1860 U.S. cens, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., The Western District, p. 441 (added script), dwelling 536, family 524, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Oct. 2005, image 79 of 361. Enumeation includes: Madison Beatie, 46, farmer, owns land valued at $20,000 and pers prop of $24,000, b. VA; Martha, 36, b. TN; William, 14; George, 12; Mary 6; all b. VA.
  12. [S1308] Madison Beatie, owner, 1860 U.S. census, Washington Co., Virginia, slave schedule, p. 6 (original script), line 30, viewed online at Ancestry.com. 16 slaves including: 6 males and 10 females; also 3 slave houses.
  13. [S1311] Madison Beatie landowner, 1860 U.S. census, Washington Co., Virginia, agricultural sched., Gladespring Post Office, p. 9, line 21.
  14. [S635] Madison Beattie household, 1870 U.S. cens, Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Glade Spring township, p. 1 (p. 54 stamped), dwelling 2, family 2, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Aug. 2008, image 1 of 49. Household includes: Madison Beattie, 57, farmer, owns land val at $23,250, pers. prob of $2,700, b, VA; Martha, 45, b. TN; George A.C., 20, b. VA.
  15. [S165] Madison Beattie household, 1880 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Glade Spring District, ED 94, page 15 (60C stamped), dwelling 131, family 132, viewed online at www.Ancestry.com, April 2003, image 15 of 54. Madison Beattie, 68, farmer, b. VA; Martha, wife, 56, b. TN; George A.C., 31, b. VA, farmer; Emma, 27, dau-in-law, b. TN; Lena, granddaughter, 6, b. TN; William, grandson, 3, b. VA.
  16. [S711] Madison Beattie will (recorded 1885), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 22: 179.
  17. [S1376] Photo courtesy of Carolyn Ryburn.
  18. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 175. The stone is reported to read: William F. Beattie, 16 Feb. 1846-21 Apr 1881, "son"; stone is adjacent to those for Madison and Martha Beattie.
  19. [S140] "Ryburn History," compiled by P. Shugart, p. 35. Peggie cites an interview conducted in 1948 with Margaret Breckenridge Ryburn, a great granddaughter of John Beattie and Ellen Gilmore.
  20. [S3] Moore and Stephens, Washington Co., VA Birth and Death Records, p. 9. Parents recorded as Madison and Martha Beattie.
  21. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 234. Charles W. McKinney, age 25y, sgl, b. Appomattox Co., resid Washington Co., VA, merchant AND Mary Beattie, age 24y, sgl, b. & resid WCV, d/o M. & Martha Beattie; 10 Jun 1879.