Beggs is also known for developing modern depreciation techniques for business accounting and for being one of the early directors of what became General Electric.

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.

As a young man Beggs taught accounting and handwriting in the Bryant & Stratton Business College in Philadelphia.

He went to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, at the age of 21 to work for Mitchell & Haggerty Coal Company as an accountant.

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.

Beggs would purchase large commercial grade fireworks for their Fourth of July celebrations.

[3] 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.

Case Plow Company, arranged to finance a hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

[4] At the time of his death, Beggs was an active director or officer of 53 companies, including: He died in Milwaukee on October 17, 1925, at the age of 78.