Beattie Community

  The Beattie community which is located about eight miles southwest of De Leon, was named for Charles F. Beatty who settled in the area in 1892 and was later instrumental in obtaining a Post Office for the community. When the name Oakflatt was rejected, the residents then honored Beatty.  Why the spelling was changed from “y” to “ie” has been lost to time.

  The community seems to have started growing around 1901 when a cotton gin was built.  That was followed in 1902 with a general store on the cotton gin lot and the Post Office which was established July 19, 1902 with James Beatty as Postmaster. At its peak, the community had three general stores, two barber shops, a blacksmith shop, drug store, and telephone office.  A garage was added later. 

    Among those stores was a drug store owned by Champ Echols and later by Strickland & Bingham; a grocery owned by Jim Andress (ca: 1906-07); a general store owned by W.L. Blair of Gorman and operated first by S.J. Hancock followed by J.T. Green, and Ben and Norene Stephenson who ran it until it closed. A second grocery was owned by W.D. Lusk and wife who came to Beattie in 1907.  Upon retirement, Lusk sold the business to W.A. Clements who opertated it for years. Lusk also operated the gin.

    Lee Welch opened the first barbershop and when he left for the oil fields was followed by Jodie Land, Mart Mahon, Roy Butler, Rob McGinnis, Elmer Butler, Lloyd Halbrooks and Dan Bingham who served the community for years.

    The first blacksmith shop was operated by Newt Robertson and ___Bates.  It was acquired by W.D. Wright when Roberston moved his family to Sidney.  Wright added a gas station, later selling it to John W. Kelley.

    W.D.Wright was the first operator of Beattie’s telephone system beginning around 1900.  He was followed by Newt Bingham, Croft Roberts, Ed Andress, Lucien and Mary Fields, Ples Bingham, Coy and Ruby Nelson, and Stetson Bingham.

     Wright serviced his telephone customers in a one-cylinder Maxwell auto.  He later put in the gas station because he and E.W. Welch and Dr. Ed Blackwll had purchased new Fords.  Its claimed the first vehicle in Beattie was a 1914 model T Ford owned by a Mr. Whitney.

       Bill Scott, Luther Auvenshie and J.H. Welch (father of Addie Welch Williams) constructed the Methodist Church in Beattie in the latter part of 1908 at no charge.  The dedication service was scheduled in the winter and on dedication day, the roads were icy and the pastor who lived in Sipe Srprings could not reach Beattie.  So, Rev. J.M. Strickland, a Baptist minister, preached the dedication sermon.  Some of the Methodist pastors included Mac M. Smith, O.A. Morton, O.A. Gore, J.B. Weathers, B.T. Capps and Bro. Calhoun.  The church was disbanded in 1963 with members going to De Leon, Downing and some to Comanche.  The building was moved to Gustine where it was used by the Methodist Church as a recreation center.

    The Church of Christ was bilt by C.R. Huggins and Jim Brown and financed by Mrs. Will (flor) Haynes of Duster.  When the members went to pay off the loan, they were short $100.00.  Mrs. Haynes responded, “Well, I’ll just give that to the church.”  The church was the last still active in the Beattie community.

    The Baptist Church apparently was constructed after the Methodist and Church of Christ, although a Baptist Church operated out of the Eureka School beginning in 1899.  The Eureka School students began attending Beattie School in 1908 and the old building sold.  Grady Auvenshie recalled hearing his dad Luther Auenshie saing that he and Ed Vaughn constructed the church.    The pastors incldued T.N. Carter, J.M. Strickland, e.B. Garrett and Frank Skaggs.

    The Church of the Nazarene which was also known as Unity Church was located for years just north of Beattie.

    The Post Office closed on February 15, 1908 and the service was handled out of Duster.  Addie Williams recalled two early postmen were a Mr. McPhail, a Mr. Kelso and a Mr. Castleberry.  Castleberry drove a hack pulled by two white mules on his deliveries and later made his rounds on a motorcycle.

  

Newt Robertson (L) and Mr. Bates at the Beattie Blacksmith Shop ca: 1900.  The large sign advertises SK Pants and Full Suits.

Photo provided to the De Leon Centennial Committee by Lois Robertson. 

Beattie Post Masters

James W. Beattie July 19, 1902

Champ T. Echols April 1, 1903

John D. Bingham August 31, 1905

John W. Green August 7, 1907

Post Office Discontinued on February 15, 1908

BEATTIE COMMUNITY