John I. Beggs
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John Irvin Beggs (September 17, 1847 – October 17, 1925) was an American businessman. He was associated closely with the electric utility boom under
Thomas Edison Thomas Alva Edison (February11, 1847October18, 1931) was an American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices in fields such as electric power generation, mass communication, sound recording, and motion pictures. These inventions, ...
. He was also associated with
Milwaukee Milwaukee is the List of cities in Wisconsin, most populous city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, it is the List of United States cities by population, 31st-most populous city in the United States ...
,
St. Louis, Missouri St. Louis ( , sometimes referred to as St. Louis City, Saint Louis or STL) is an Independent city (United States), independent city in the U.S. state of Missouri. It lies near the confluence of the Mississippi River, Mississippi and the Miss ...
, and other regional rail and
interurban The interurban (or radial railway in Canada) is a type of electric railway, with tram-like electric self-propelled railcars which run within and between cities or towns. The term "interurban" is usually used in North America, with other terms u ...
trolley systems. Beggs is also known for developing modern
depreciation In accountancy, depreciation refers to two aspects of the same concept: first, an actual reduction in the fair value of an asset, such as the decrease in value of factory equipment each year as it is used and wears, and second, the allocation i ...
techniques for business accounting and for being one of the early directors of what became
General Electric General Electric Company (GE) was an American Multinational corporation, multinational Conglomerate (company), conglomerate founded in 1892, incorporated in the New York (state), state of New York and headquartered in Boston. Over the year ...
.


Youth

Beggs was born in
Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...
on September 17, 1847, the son of James and Mary Irvin Beggs. Both of his parents were of Scottish descent but had emigrated to the United States from
Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ; ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, part of the United Kingdom in the north-east of the island of Ireland. It has been #Descriptions, variously described as a country, province or region. Northern Ireland shares Repub ...
. 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 Bryant & Stratton Business College in Philadelphia. He went to
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Harrisburg ( ; ) is the capital city of the U.S. commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the seat of Dauphin County. With a population of 50,099 as of 2020, Harrisburg is the ninth-most populous city in Pennsylvania. It is the larger of the two pr ...
, at the age of 21 to work for Mitchell & Haggerty Coal Company as an accountant. He then worked selling real estate and fire insurance in Harrisburg. Beggs joined the
Masonic Freemasonry (sometimes spelled Free-Masonry) consists of fraternal groups that trace their origins to the medieval guilds of stonemasons. Freemasonry is the oldest secular fraternity in the world and among the oldest still-existing organizati ...
fraternities at Harrisburg and maintained his membership until his death.


Electric light industry

When the electric light industry was in its infancy, Beggs assisted organization of the Harrisburg Electric Light Co. He built and managed its plant which was "the first commercially successful electric light plant in the United States". Beggs’ interest in electric lighting arose because he was head of the building committee of Grace Methodist Episcopal Church and wanted to electrify the church to save on the cost and cleanup of candles. This church became the first in the world to be wired and to use light bulbs instead of candles. 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
J.P. Morgan JP may refer to: Arts and media * ''JP'' (album), 2001, by American singer Jesse Powell * ''Jp'' (magazine), an American Jeep magazine * '' Jönköpings-Posten'', a Swedish newspaper * Judas Priest, an English heavy metal band * ''Jurassic Pa ...
to
New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
in 1886 as manager of the Edison Illuminating Company of that city. He remained in New York for about five years during which time he built two electric stations. Pearl Street provided electricity for the first time to
Wall Street Wall Street is a street in the Financial District, Manhattan, Financial District of Lower Manhattan in New York City. It runs eight city blocks between Broadway (Manhattan), Broadway in the west and South Street (Manhattan), South Str ...
's stockbrokers. He worked closely with Thomas A. Edison and consequently became one of that small group known as Edison Pioneers. Beggs was one of the Illuminating Company Directors. He was also a Director at the Detroit Edison Board meeting when
Henry Ford Henry Ford (July 30, 1863 – April 7, 1947) was an American Technological and industrial history of the United States, industrialist and business magnate. As the founder of the Ford Motor Company, he is credited as a pioneer in making automob ...
first met Edison and first pitched his idea for the automobile startup to those venture capitalists present.


Career

From New York he went to
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as Western Manager of Edison Company where he remained until the Edison Company was merged with the
Thomson-Houston Electric Company The Thomson-Houston Electric Company was a manufacturing company that was one of the precursors of General Electric. History The company began as the American Electric Company, founded by Elihu Thomson and Edwin Houston. In 1882, Charles Al ...
to form what is now the
General Electric Company The General Electric Company (GEC) was a major British industrial conglomerate involved in consumer and Arms industry, defence electronics, communications, and engineering. It was originally founded in 1886 as G. Binswanger and Company as an e ...
. The North American Company, which had just been organized, had acquired an electric lighting interest in
Cincinnati, Ohio Cincinnati ( ; colloquially nicknamed Cincy) is a city in Hamilton County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. Settled in 1788, the city is located on the northern side of the confluence of the Licking River (Kentucky), Licking and Ohio Ri ...
, and Beggs went to Cincinnati in charge of these interests. The North American Company shortly afterward acquired the electric railway and lighting companies in
Milwaukee, Wisconsin Milwaukee is the List of cities in Wisconsin, most populous city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, it is the List of United States cities by population, 31st-most populous city in the United States ...
, and for several years, Beggs divided his time between these cities. In 1897, the Cincinnati interests were sold and Beggs moved to Milwaukee to devote his time to the utilities there. In 1903, The North American Company began to acquire electric lighting interests in
St. Louis, Missouri St. Louis ( , sometimes referred to as St. Louis City, Saint Louis or STL) is an Independent city (United States), independent city in the U.S. state of Missouri. It lies near the confluence of the Mississippi River, Mississippi and the Miss ...
. Beggs first visited St. Louis as an advisor, and then began to divide his time between the two cities. At one time, Beggs was president of the St. Louis electric lighting company, the gas company, and the street railway company, as well as president and general manager of The Milwaukee Electric Railway and Light Company. 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 Employees' Mutual Benefit Association. He also constructed the systems of interurban railways radiating from Milwaukee. 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 Lac La Belle, at , near
Oconomowoc, Wisconsin Oconomowoc ( ) is a city in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States. The name was derived from Coo-no-mo-wauk, the Potawatomi language, Potawatomi term for 'waterfall'. The population was 18,203 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. T ...
. He developed it into a summer residence for himself and his daughter's family. Beggs turned this island into a botanical garden bringing in exotic plants. Egyptian
papyrus Papyrus ( ) is a material similar to thick paper that was used in ancient times as a writing surface. It was made from the pith of the papyrus plant, ''Cyperus papyrus'', a wetland sedge. ''Papyrus'' (plural: ''papyri'' or ''papyruses'') can a ...
plants were trained to last through the long Wisconsin winters. Beggs would purchase large commercial grade fireworks for their
Fourth of July Independence Day, known colloquially as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States which commemorates the ratification of the Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, establishing th ...
celebrations. 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 Atlantic City, sometimes referred to by its initials A.C., is a Jersey Shore seaside resort city (New Jersey), city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, Atlantic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Atlantic City comprises the second half of ...
. and conducted a large Florida real estate transaction.


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 Firstar Corporation was a Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based regional bank holding company that existed from 1853 to 2001. In 2001, Firstar acquired U.S. Bancorp and assumed its name, moving its headquarters to Minneapolis. History Firstar was founded ...
, 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 Milwaukee is the List of cities in Wisconsin, most populous city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, it is the List of United States cities by population, 31st-most populous city in the United States ...
on October 17, 1925, at the age of 78. He was buried in
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Harrisburg ( ; ) is the capital city of the U.S. commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the seat of Dauphin County. With a population of 50,099 as of 2020, Harrisburg is the ninth-most populous city in Pennsylvania. It is the larger of the two pr ...
. 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. He passed this fortune to his grandchildren: Robert Paxton McCulloch (1911–1977), Mary Sue McCulloch, "Suzie Linden" (1913–1996), and John Irvin Beggs McCulloch (1908–1983).


Filmography

* The Trolley at East Troy - 1986 documentary, directed by Louis Rugani.


See also

*
East Troy Electric Railroad The East Troy Electric Railroad is an interurban heritage railroad owned and operated by the East Troy Railroad Museum. Passenger excursions run on a stretch of track from East Troy to Mukwonago, Wisconsin. History The line dates back t ...
* Edison Pioneers


References


Further reading

* * * 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 The Wisconsin Historical Society (officially the State Historical Society of Wisconsin) is simultaneously a state agency and a private membership organization whose purpose is to maintain, promote and spread knowledge relating to the history of ...
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Beggs, John Irvin 1847 births 1925 deaths American technology chief executives American energy industry executives American financiers American people of Scottish descent 20th-century American railroad executives American businesspeople in real estate Bryant and Stratton College alumni Edison Pioneers People from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Businesspeople from Milwaukee People from Oconomowoc, Wisconsin Businesspeople from Philadelphia