Tom Beall Dead At Age Of 82

Thomas Beall, who would have reached his 83rd birthday had he lived to Feb. 3, died at 7:55 last night at St. Joseph's hospital where he had been a patient since October. Death was attributed to complications of age.

The name of Beall, half-breed Nez Perce Indian, was closely interwoven in the history of Nez Perce county. Born at Alpowa, a few miles west of Lewiston, on Feb. 3, 1861, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Beall, he resided in that area until 1895 when he moved to his allotment on Tom Beall creek in the Lapwai region, where he continued his home until he died. The creek was named after his father, who married an Indian, but the school serving the district for many years, and merged with the Lapwai district in 1943, was named after the man who died last night.

At the time of his birth Alpowa was a comparatively large Indian settlement, many Nez Perce locating there because of the climatic conditions and because of its productivity. Beall attended a school in the lower river area.

School Named For Him

After locating on Tom Beall creek he engaged successfully in farming and his activities were used as a lesson for other tribesmen. He was influential and his advice was eagerly sought by whites as well as Indians. He frequently visited at Lewiston up to the time of his last illness and usually stationed himself at the corner of Fifth and Main streets and always could be seen carrying on conversation with Indian and white friends. He was an authority on conditions in his district.

His father, who died in 1921, was a historical figure of the Lewiston country. He was credited the second white man to settle in the northern part of Idaho territory. The elder Beall, who arrived at the site of what was later to become Lewiston, sat in the council held along the river bank when a name was being suggested for the town.

In the old days of the fall fair at Lewiston, Beall was a regular exhibitor, and on two or three occasions grains and grasses and other produce grown on his ranch won first place. He assisted in many public-spirited events held at Lewiston.

Survivors include one half-brother, Charles M. White, Lapwai; four nephews, Charles M. White, Jr., Lapwai; James White, Spalding; Titus White, Tacoma; James Andrews, serving with the army; and five nieces, Delia Williams, Julia Allen, Martha Davis, Millie Andrews, and Lucy Isaac, all of Lapwai.

The body is at Brower-Wann chapel, with funeral arrangements pending.

Lewiston Morning Tribune
Saturday, January 22, 1944