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George William and Elizabeth Ellen (Hinds) Beaty
George William "Buffalo Bill" was born September 18, 1873 at Little Crab, TN,
the son of Eliazer Alley and Elizabeth Ellen (Ledbetter) Beaty. His brothers and sisters
were: Katy Elizabeth, b. 1864; James W., b. 1868; Susan, b. 1871; and Isaac b. 1876. Bill
also had a half-sister, Martelia Frances Reagan, from his mother's second marriage to
Frank Reagan.
Bill married Elizabeth Ellen (Hinds), who was born March 30, 1874 at Little Crab, the
daughter of Joel "Jode" and Francess Elizabeth (Fite) Hinds. Ellen's brothers
and sisters were: Samuel Peter (1876-1961), Mary Ann (1878-1946), James Marion (1881-?),
Nancy Jane (1883-1941), Sarah Susan Adaline (1887-1963), Fatina Alice (1889- ), John
Mitchell (1890-1891, and William Grady (1894-1980).
Bill and Ellen had nine children: Lillie Ann (1897-1912), Walter Isaac (1898-before 1910),
William Hamilton (1900-1982), Carlie (b. and d. between 1900-1910), Julia Ava Frances
(1905-1980), Lawrence Adam (1912), Johnny (1915-1928), and Hubert Chandler
Five of Bill and Ellen's children died before reaching adulthood. Lillie Ann died of
spinal disease and Johnny died of septicemia. cause of death of Carlie, Welter Isaac,
Alley Bryan is unknown.
The oldest of their children to reach adulthood was William Hamilton. he was married to
Rosetta Claiborne; they had one child. He lived all his life in or near Jamestown, and his
main occupation was working in the timber. He was 81 years old when he died and is buried
in the Fentress Memory Gardens.
Julia Ava Frances lived most of her life in Fentress County and was married to (1) Alfred
Choate, (2) Isaac Davis and (3) Lonza Reagan. She was the mother of eight, having had one
child from her first marriage and seven from her second. She lived to be 74 years old and
is buried in the Fentress Memory Gardens.
Lawrence Adam has lived all his life in Fentress Co. and was married to (1) Lillie Reagan
and (2) Dora Beaty. He and Lillie had two children. At this time he is now retired and is
living in Jamestown.
Hubert Chandler, Bill and Ellen's youngest child, is married to Reba Hester (Beaty). They
live north of Jamestown and are the parents of five children. He is retired from General
Cable Corp., Muncie, IN and Reba is retired from Ball State University.
No one knows for sure how Bill acquired the nickname "Buffalo". His son, Hubert,
thinks it might have been because of his body build. He was very large across the
shoulders, his body tapering to narrow hips.
Bill followed the timber business and farmed when that was low. Sometimes he also would
run a sawmill. Since there were always several people living in a sawmill or logging camp,
Ellen would often cook for boarders for extra money. The family moved often, due to
following that line of work.
Bill was also respected in the community as a good mule driver. One time he had a cousin
who bought a pair of mules and turned them over to his hired man. The hired man let them
run away, doing various damage to their harness and the wagon. Later Bill's cousin was
asked if he intended to sell the mules. "Of course not," he said. "That is
a good pair of mules, and I have the problem solved. I have Buffalo Bill a-holt of them
now. He will hold onto them and he can't run." Ellen had beautiful, naturally-curly
hair which she worn pulled back in a knot. In her younger days she loved to dance the
old-time hoe-down. In her older years she loved to tell her grandchildren stories. She was
especially fond of telling about visiting her grandfather Pete Fite when she was a child.
She liked to tell about how, as a young woman, she rode her horse side-saddle to church,
wearing a long skirt with a beautiful white basque. "Haint" stories were also
among her specialites.
Both Bill and Ellen and their five children who died in childhood are buried in the George
Beaty Cemetery..
by Gerald Evelyn DeHaven
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