Representative Cyrus William Beales

Cyrus William Beales (December 16, 1877 – November 14, 1927) was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania who served one term in Congress from 1915 to 1917. Born on a farm near York Springs, Pennsylvania, he experienced responsibility at an early age. At the age of thirteen, upon the death of his father, he took over the operation of his father’s farm, managing agricultural duties while still in his youth. This early assumption of family and economic responsibilities helped shape his work ethic and familiarity with the concerns of rural Pennsylvanians that would later inform his public service.

Beales pursued formal education in pharmacy, a profession that would anchor much of his later business career. He graduated from the pharmaceutical department of Ohio Northern University at Ada, Ohio, in 1899. After completing his studies, he returned to Pennsylvania and settled in York Springs, where he was employed as a pharmacist. His work as a pharmacist placed him at the center of community life in a small town, providing daily contact with local residents and building a network of relationships that would support his subsequent entry into public affairs.

In 1903, Beales moved to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, following his appointment as mercantile appraiser of Adams County. This position involved assessing the value of commercial enterprises for taxation and regulatory purposes, giving him direct experience with the business climate and economic conditions of the region. He continued his involvement in county government as clerk to the county commissioners in 1904 and 1905, a role that familiarized him with local administration and public finance. During these years he broadened his business interests, becoming engaged in the drug, banking, manufacturing, and printing businesses, and establishing himself as a prominent figure in the commercial life of Gettysburg.

Beales’s federal service began with his appointment as postmaster of Gettysburg, a position he held from 1910 to 1914. As postmaster, he oversaw the local operations of the United States Post Office Department, managing mail service at a time when postal communication was central to both personal and commercial life. His performance in this visible federal role enhanced his public profile and helped pave the way for his election to Congress. In 1914 he was elected as a Republican to the Sixty-fourth Congress, representing Pennsylvania in the U.S. House of Representatives from March 4, 1915, to March 3, 1917. His service in Congress occurred during a significant period in American history, as the nation debated issues related to economic regulation, preparedness, and its eventual involvement in World War I. As a member of the House of Representatives, Beales participated in the legislative process, contributed to national policymaking, and represented the interests of his Pennsylvania constituents. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1916, thus concluding his federal legislative career after one term.

Following his tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives, Beales continued his public service at the state level. He was elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate, where he served from 1917 to 1921. In the State Senate he took part in shaping state legislation during and immediately after World War I, a period marked by economic adjustment, veterans’ issues, and evolving state responsibilities in areas such as infrastructure and public welfare. His combined experience in local, federal, and state offices gave him a broad perspective on government and its impact on citizens and businesses.

After leaving the State Senate, Beales remained active in private enterprise. He continued to reside in Gettysburg and remained engaged in the drug business there until his death in 1927, maintaining the professional identity he had first established as a young pharmacist. Cyrus William Beales died on November 14, 1927, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. He was interred in his family plot in Evergreen Cemetery, a historic burial ground in Gettysburg, reflecting his long-standing ties to the community he had served in both business and public office.