W. W. McBETH, one of the well-known and respected citizens of Wea
Township, has been a resident of Tippecanoe County since 1867. He is a
native of the Buckeye State, born in Clarke County, August 26, 1831, a
son of WILLIAM and ANN (STEELE) McBETH, natives of Pennsylvania. His
parents were married in Clarke County, Ohio, and in 1847 moved to White
County, Indiana, where his father died in September, 1854. His mother
died in February, 1885. They reared a family of seven children.
W. W. McBETH remained with his parents until manhood, assisting his
father with the work of the farm, and, when not thus engaged, attending
the district and graded schools, thus laying the foundation of a good
business education. In October, 1861, he enlisted in defense of his
country and was assigned to Company E, Forty-sixth Indiana Infantry,
Colonel G. M. Fritch commanding. He participated in many hard-fought
battles, his regiment being at different times a part of the Army of the
Cumberland and the Army of the Gulf. August 6, 1862, he was transferred
to the One Hundred and Sixteenth Infantry and promoted to First
Lieutenant of Company E, holding that position until the close of the
war. He then resumed agricultural pursuits, locating on his farm in
Carroll County, which he had bought in 1861. In 1867 he came to
Tippecanoe County and bought the farm where he now lives, which contains
eighty-two acres of well-improved land. MR. McBETH was married January
9, 1855, to MARY A. REED, a native of Greene County, Ohio, and daughter
of ALLEN and MARGARET (MILLER) REED. They have a family of six
children--WILLIAM A., of Jackson Township; MARGARET A., wife of JOHN H.
MILLER; JAMES W., of Colorado; JOSEPH FRANK, MARY ALICE and ANNA LAURA.
In politics MR. McBETH is a Republican. He has served his township
several terms as trustee, and has acted as deputy sheriff four terms.
He is a member of John A. Logan Post, of which he is a past commander.
Biographical Record and Portrait Album of Tippecanoe County, Indiana,
1888, pg. 826.
transcribed by Adina Dyer Jan 2000