Once upon a time in Jasper, Beaty-Orton ruled society scene
By KATIE WALDROP Staff Writer

Courtesy photo SOUTH SIDE VIEW of the Beaty-Orton house. Photo taken by Clifford C. Hybarger of Brookeland in 1911 (the only year as a professional photographer). Courtesy of Edna McClusky of Brookeland, according to Jasper County Historical Commission.

The history of the Beaty-Orton House has been obtained from documents at the Jasper County Historical Commission in the Old Jail Museum on the courthouse square.

The Beaty-Orton House is said to have been built by Thomas Beaty, but others say that the original builder was George Blake.

In 1843 Beaty purchased Lot 70 (where the Beaty-Orton house resides) from John Bevil.

In 1851 Beaty sold the lot to his son Charles who in turn sold it to Willis A. Williams as a bond on a 700-acre deal Charles was trying to negotiate.

The land eventually ended up in the hands of William King and Stephen Williams. In 1859, King and Williams sold the property to G.W. Blake for $80.

When this purchase was made, stories of the house began.

Blake lived in San Augustine in 1849, he go the 'gold fever' and left for California to seek out his fortune. Failing after five years, he returned and moved his family to Jasper.

By profession he was a carpenter and cabinet maker. As said before, he bought land in 1859 and some records state that the original Blake house was built between 1854 - 1860.

Whether or not the Blake house, Beaty-Orton House, was built by Blake is complete speculation.

According to a restoration architect Raiford Stripling of San Augustine, who inspected the house, some years ago, the house could not have been built before the 1870's.

Stripling based that opinion on the amount of machine-planed lumber used in the house, and the fact that machine-planed lumber was not introduced into East Texas until that time.

Blake died June 8, 1882, leaving his widow Clarissa and their five children behind.

Clarissa Blake sold Lot 70 to Beaty on January 29 or 30 of 1888, waiving her rights to a homestead.

Thomas Beaty was the son of Charles and Nancy Blewett Beaty. He was born in Jasper County Jan. 28, 1855 and was educated at Trinity College in Limestone County.

When he completed college he returned to his home in Jasper and for several years followed the farming and milling business.

He was appointed sheriff of Jasper County from 1877 - 78.

Beaty participated in law in Jasper until he was elected to the Texas Senate in 1901.

Beaty married I.A. "Addie" Norvel of Burkeville in 1876 and had six children.

Thomas Beaty could have built his home in 1888, when he acquired the lot.

In 1929, Beaty wrote his will, and stipulated that his properties would go to his youngest daughter, Marguerite Beaty Orton.

Thomas Beaty died Jan. 9, 1837 and the house then became Marguerite's.

As Marguerite became older, and had no other family remaining, she wanted the house to be cared for after her own death.

With this, Marguerite gave the house to the city of Jasper and remained in the house until she died in 1973 at the age of 81.

There are no dates for actual construction of the Beaty-Orton House or concrete facts, says the Historical Commission records.

Yet, with photographic records not being acquired until 1888, Clarissa Blake waiving her rights to a homestead, and then pooling resources with her children to buy another home; the home was probably built in 1888 by Jon T. Beaty after he acquired the land from the George Blake heirs, again says Historical Commission records.

The Beaty-Orton house, at 206 South Main, remains a house to be uncovered.

The Beaty- Orton house will have free tours to the public during Fall Fest, Oct. 6, from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.