Santa Barbara County Biographies

JAMES BEATTIE

Submitted by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

JAMES BEATTIE, the prominent merchant tailor of Santa Maria, was born in 
the city of Cork, Ireland, in 1852. His father soon after moved to London, where he 
carried on his trade of tailoring, and by whom our subject was taught to follow in the same 
industry. In 1872 he came to the United States, first settling in Boston, then in New 
York, Philadelphia, Washington, District of Columbia, and Chicago, in each city finding 
ready occupation with the leading tailoring establishments. On account of poor health 
he left Chicago in 1880 for the warmer Pacific coast. He first settled in San Francisco, 
engaging with Bullock & Jones, the leading merchant tailors of that city. After one 
year he came to Chico, and in 1884 to Santa Maria, where he established a first- 
class shop, and with a fine line of imported and American cloths he finds a very satis- 
factory market, both at home and from the adjoining towns. He likes the town and 
climate, and has fully recovered his health. In the spring of 1888 Mr. Beattie built his 
present store building, 24 x 40 feet on Main street, and is prepared to meet the require- 
ments of the people. 

He was married in Washington, District of Columbia, February 15, 1877, to Miss Sarah 
Reddy, who died in 1879, leaving a little daughter, Elizabeth, who was born November 
20, 1877. Mr. Beattie is a member of Santa Maria Lodge, No. 302, I. O. O. F.  

History of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties, California  - by 
C.M. Gidney, Benjamin Brooks, Edwin M. Sheridan, Vol I, II.  -Lewis Publ. Co., 
Chicago, 1917.