John I. Beggs
notability.(October 2023) ) |
John Irvin Beggs | |
---|---|
Industrialist | |
Spouse | Sue Elizabeth Charles |
John Irvin Beggs (September 17, 1847 – October 17, 1925) was an
Youth
Beggs was born in
His early life was spent around Philadelphia. After his father died when he was seven years old, Beggs worked to support of his mother in a brickyard, as a cattleman, and butcher.
Education
As a young man Beggs taught accounting and handwriting in the
Electric light industry
When the electric light industry was in its infancy, Beggs assisted organization of the
He was married in Harrisburg to Sue Elizabeth Charles, who died March 14, 1902. They had one child, Mary Grace Beggs.
On account of his success in Harrisburg as an electric plant manager, he was called by
He worked closely with
Career
From New York he went to Chicago as Western Manager of Edison Company where he remained until the Edison Company was merged with the Thomson-Houston Electric Company to form what is now the General Electric Company.
The
In 1903, The North American Company began to acquire electric lighting interests in
While Beggs was President of the Milwaukee Companies he built the Public Service Building in Milwaukee. His funeral services were conducted in its auditorium by the
By 1911 Beggs had acquired a controlling interest in the St. Louis Car Company. He resigned from the Milwaukee companies and moved to St. Louis. He still maintained many business connections in Milwaukee and spent time there, although his residence was in St. Louis.
Beggs Isle
In the spring of 1911, Beggs purchased and named Beggs Isle in
In 1915, he invested in water power in northern Wisconsin and began to spend more time in that state, although still residing in St. Louis. In 1920 he was again elected president of The Milwaukee Electric Railway and Light Co., which position he still held at the time of his death.
Beggs was a member of the Executive Committee of the North American Company. He also devoted much time to the First Wisconsin National Bank in which he invested. During his last decade he directed the construction of the second largest paper mill in the country; engineered the reorganization of the J. I. Case Plow Company, arranged to finance a hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey. and conducted a large Florida real estate transaction.[4]
Director and Officer
At the time of his death, Beggs was an active director or officer of 53 companies, including:
- North American Edison Company, Director (Now General Electric)
- The North American Company, Director, Member of Executive Committee
- The Milwaukee Electric Railway and Light Company, Director, President, Member of Executive Committees
- Wisconsin Gas & Electric Company, Director, Vice-President
- Briggs & Stratton Corporation, Director, Chairman Executive Committee
- St. Louis Car Company, Director, Chairman of Board
- J. I. Case Plow Works Company, Inc., Director
- Southern Improvement Company, Director, President
- First Wisconsin National Bank, Milwaukee, Director, Member of Executive and Finance Committees
- First Wisconsin Company, Milwaukee, Director
- Grand & Sixth National Bank, Milwaukee, Director, Member of Executive and Finance Committees
- First National Bank in St. Louis, Director
- Milwaukee Northern Railway Company, Director, President
- Wisconsin Traction, Light, Heat & Power Company, Director, President
- Peninsular Power Company, Director
- North American Utilities Investment Corporation, Director
- West Kentucky Coal Company, Director
- United Railways Company of St. Louis, Director
- Wisconsin Securities Company, Director, Member of Executive Committee
- Wisconsin Public Service Corporation, Director
- Menominee & Marinette Light & Traction Company, Director
- Wisconsin Railway, Light & Power Company, Director
- Land & Sea Investment Company, Baltimore, Director
- Oil Transport Company, Baltimore, Director
- Wisconsin Power, Light & Heat Company, Director
- Wisconsin River Power Company (Hydro-Electric), Director
- Southern Wisconsin Power Company (Hydro-Electric), Director
- Northwestern Casualty & Surety Company, Director, Member of Executive and Finance Committees
- The Newport Company, Director
- Milwaukee Coke & Gas Company, Director
- Globe Electric Company, Director, President
- Globe Real Estate Company, Director, President
- Wisconsin Real Estate Development Corporation, Director, President
- Grand & Sixth Building, Inc., Director, President
- Central Utilities Securities Corporation, Director, President, Treasurer
- Midland Oil, Gas & Refining Company, Director
- Lane Oil Producing Company, Director
- Johnson & King Coal Company, Director, President
- Raven Mining Company, Director
- American Granite Company, Director, President
- Shotwell Manufacturing Company, Director
- East Coast Development Company (Florida), Director, President
- Louisiana Pulp & Paper Company (Bastrop, LA.), Director, President
- Frankenberg Refrigerating Company, Director
- Prescott & Northwestern Ry. Company, (Prescott, Ark.), Vice-President
- Montana Railroad Company (Clarksville, Ark.), President
- President Apartment Hotel Company (Atlantic City), President
Legacy
He died in Milwaukee on October 17, 1925, at the age of 78. He was buried in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Edison and Beggs remained friends throughout their lifetimes. On Beggs' 75th Birthday Celebration on Beggs Isle, Edison presented Beggs with a large grandfather clock and a signed photograph addressed "To my hustler friend, (signed) Thomas A. Edison".
At the time of his death, he had an estimated net worth of over $20M.
Filmography
- The Trolley at East Troy - 1986 documentary, directed by Louis Rugani.[7]
See also
References
- ^ Ken Riedl, William F. Jannke III, Watertown History Annual 2: Hometown Series of Publications, pages 13-19
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Beggs Island Retrieved January 13, 2011.
- ^ John I. Beggs (1910–1912). "Personal Correspondence" (bound carbon copies). Original.
{{cite journal}}
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(help) - ^ ISBN 0-935834-87-7.
- ProQuest 103510026.
The value of the estate is estimated at between $20,000,000 and $50,000,000.
- ^ Karen Kaplan (September 2004). The New York Croquet Club History (PDF). p. 8. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 29, 2007. Retrieved January 13, 2011.
- ProQuest 333405841.
The Trolley at East Troy, a 56-minute film produced by Lewis Rugani about the founding, abandonment and recent discussion about selling the trolley line to volunteer interests, will air on WHKE-TV (Channel 55) in Kenosha at 9 p.m. Saturday.
Further reading
- Forrest McDonald (1957). Let there be light: The electric utility industry in Wisconsin, 1881-1955. American History Research Center.
- Bruce McCulloch Jones (2013). The High Tide at Gettysburg. Amazon.
- In Memoriam, John Irvin Beggs (1926), 49 pages, with Photo
- Watertown History Annual 2: Hometown Series of Publications, By Ken Riedl, William F. Jannke III, pages 13-19
External links
- Biographical sketch from Wisconsin Historical Society
- "Beggs Isle, Lac La Belle, Oconomowoc, Wis (1927)". Oconomowoc Historical Society. June 12, 2006. Archived from the original on October 3, 2011. Retrieved January 13, 2011.