Henry Beal was born in Guilford, Maine, on September 24, 1843, the youngest of a family of eight children, whose parents were Samuel and Esther Beal. In answer to President Lincoln's first call for troops, he enlisted on April 15, 1861. He was honorably discharged from the Army May 2, 1862, as a result of injuries in combat. He was a man of many talents and during his lifetime worked as a painter, a soldier, foreman of a lumber mill, operator of a grocery store, U.S. postmaster, homesteader, bookkeeper; city auditor and clerk in the, county auditor's office. In 1863, he married Miss Emily Paine. It was in 1879 that he and his wife and family pioneered into Dakota Territory at a site 14 miles north of Valley City. The children were three daughters and one son: Mattie, Hattie, Angie and Frank. His wife died October 5 1895. On August 15, 1908, he married Miss Hattie Young. Mr. Beal died April 24, 1927, at the age of 84. His second wife died November 15, 1937, and both were buried in the G.A.R. lot in Woodbine Cemetery, Valley City.
Frank Wise Beal, better known as Frank Beal, was born January 1, 1869, and spent his boyhood and manhood in North Dakota. With his father, Henry Beal, he came to North Dakota in 1879, when ten years old, to the homestead in Ashtabula Township. In 1892, he married Miss Bertha Ramsland, who had come to America from Stavanger, Norway, at the suggestion of her brother, John, who was employed at the Henry Beal farm. Following marriage, he engaged in farming and the mercantile business in Dazey, North Dakota. Four children were born to this union; one daughter and three sons: May, George, Frank and Leonard. In 1906, the family moved to Valley City where he was employed by the Stacy Mercantile Company which, in later years, became the Nash-Finch Company. In this work, Mr. Beal spent the remainder of his active business life. Frank Beal died February 13, 1946, following a stroke. After her husband's death, Mrs. Beal continued living in Valley City until she was made an invalid by a broken hip, and, thereafter, made her home with her son, Leonard, at Hillsboro, North Dakota, where she suffered a stroke and died on the 5th of July, 1954.
May Beal, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Beal, Sr., was born in Ashtabula Township, Barnes County, North Dakota, February 15, 1893. She attended public school at Dazey, North Dakota, and high school at Valley City. She was a talented water-color artist and her works won many awards. She died October 14, 1935.
George Beal, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Beal, Sr., was born in Ashtabula Township, Barnes County, July 8, 1894. He also attended the public school at Dazey and the high school at Valley City. During World War I, he served with the United States Army. After the War, he was employed for many years as bookkeeper for a Valley City grain elevator, and later engaged in farming at McHenry, North Dakota. He was married to Gertrude Spisla in 1923, and during World War II, the family moved to Portland, Oregon, where he was employed in the Kaiser Ship Yards. He died August 25, 1966.
Frank Beal, Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Beal, Sr., also was born in Ashtabula Township on May 22, 1896, and attended public schools in Dazey and high school at Valley City, from which he graduated. He served in the United States Army during World War I. He returned to Valley City after discharge from the army and for 25 years was employed as a salesman for the Valley City Grocery Company. He was married to Miss Sabina Wimmer on September 1 , 1923. From 1939 to 1948 he was manager of the Knights of Pythias Lodge in Valley City and in 1948, purchased a grocery store he operated until retirement in 1961. He died July 22, 1973. His wife survives and lives in Valley City.
Leonard Beal, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Beal, Sr., was born in Dazey on November 18, 1900. He attended Lincoln Public School and graduated from Valley City high school in 1919. The day after graduation, he was employed by Colonel Frank White, former Governor of North Dakota, in the Middlewest Trust Company. In 1929, it merged with the American National Bank to form the American National Bank and Trust Company, of which he was elected Vice President. In 1933, he transferred to the First National Bank, Hillsboro, North Dakota, where he served in various executive capacities and was elected its president in 1951. He retired in 1966 and retains residence in Hillsboro. He is co-founder of the Traill County Historical Society, a vice-president of the Eastern North Dakota Valley Heritage Commission and chairman of the Traill County Centennial and Bicentennial Commissions and reports being busier than ever.
Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 24