Carroll County IN Archives Biographies.....Beard, Franklin K. 1859 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/in/infiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com March 26, 2006, 8:50 pm Author: John C. Odell (1916) FRANKLIN K. BEARD. The career of Franklin K. Beard, a well-known farmer of Clay township, this county, is a conspicuous example of one who has lived to good purpose and attained a most satisfactory measure of success in farming, the special sphere to which his talents and energies have been devoted. Mr. Beard was born on November 4, 1859, in Clay township, Carroll county, Indiana. His parents were John M. and Rachel (Smith) Beard, the former of whom was born in Darke county, Ohio, and who emigrated to Carroll county, with his parents when a lad of thirteen years. They settled on Wild Cat creek near Pyrmont, Indiana. John M. Beard was the son of John Beard. After their marriage in Carroll county, John M. and Rachel (Smith) Beard settled on a farm. Rachel Smith was born in Romney, Indiana, and came with her parents to Clay township when a mere child. She was the daughter of Richard Smith, who died in Clay township. John M. Beard first married Lydia Brackney by whom he had four children, all of whom are deceased; these children died in infancy and childhood. He was married, secondly, to Rachel Smith, by whom he had four children, three of whom are living: Franklin K.; Charles; Zora V., deceased; and Jesse. Franklin K. is the subject of this sketch and the first born. Charles lives in Clay township. Zora V. married Charles Clauser and bore him one son, Guy Clauser. Charles Clauser, who was born on October 18, 1858, was drowned on June 9, 1909. His wife had died many years previously, November 22, 1885. The son, Guy Clauser, is a resident of Clay township. Jesse Beard lives in Clay township. The late John M. Beard was a farmer by occupation and owned one hundred and eighty acres of well-improved land at the time of his death, on March 30, 1904. He was a Democrat in politics and served at one time as trustee of the township. His wife, who was a member of the Baptist church, died on May 19, 1906. Both are buried in the Beard cemetery. The father was eighty years old and the mother seventy-six years old at the time of their deaths. Franklin K. Beard received a good education in the common schools of Clay township and lived at home with his parents until November 21, 1888, when he was married to Fairy Armstrong, a daughter of James T. and Mary Louisa (Vice) Armstrong, the former of whom was born in Carroll county, Indiana. They were married in Clinton county and had two children, Fairy and Judson. Fairy Armstrong was born on July 17, 1867. Judson Armstrong lives at Attica, Warren county, Indiana. Mrs. Beard's mother died in Tippecanoe county on April 15, 1880, and her father at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Beard on February 7, 1909. He was a corporal in Company B, Eighty-sixth Regiment. Indiana Volunteer Infantry, during the Civil War. He enlisted on April 4, 1863, and served until he received an honorary discharge on June 8, 1865. Mr. and Mrs. Franklin K. Beard have had three children, all of whom are living, Elga M., Ward James and Rachel Fern. Elga M., born on September 4, 1889, is the wife of Claude Cripe, of Clay township. They have one son, Maurice, born on May 21, 1914. Ward James, born on October 11, 1891, is a graduate of the Rossville high school and at present is employed by the Marshall Field Company, of Chicago. Rachel Fern, born on May 1, 1895, lives at home with her parents. Mr. Beard owns ninety-nine and seventy-five hundredths acres of land in section 11, of Clay township, against which there is not a cent of incumbrance. Mr. and Mrs. Beard are both members of the Baptist church, and Mr. Beard has been a deacon in the church for the last fourteen years. All of his children except Ward, who is a member of the Methodist church, are members of the Baptist church. Mr. and Mrs. Beard's eldest daughter was the organist until her marriage, since which time her place has been taken by a younger sister. Not only are the Beards well known in Clay township, but the family is popular socially and they have a host of friends in Carroll county. Additional Comments: Extracted from: Biographical Section of HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY INDIANA ITS PEOPLE, INDUSTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS BY JOHN C ODELL With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families ILLUSTRATED 1916 B. F. BOWEN & COMPANY, Inc. Indianapolis, Indiana File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/in/carroll/bios/beard96bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/infiles/ File size: 4.9 Kb