My Richison-Wilkerson Research

William Alphius BEARD

William Alphius BEARD

Male 1873 - 1963  (90 years)

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  • Name William Alphius BEARD  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
    Birth 28 Feb 1873  , , Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 3, 4
    Gender Male 
    Religion 28 Dec 1889  Portland Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Quaker, Glenn Wood Meeting 
    Census 25 Jun 1900  Center Twp., Delaware, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    William A. Beard household 
    • Beard, William A., head, white, male, born February 1873, age 27, married 4 years, born Indiana, father born Indiana, mother born Indiana, farmer, able to read and write, speaks English, rents farm, farm schedule 56
    1900 U.S. Census - Richison
    1900 U.S. Census - Richison
    Indiana. Delawware Co. - William A. Beard
    Occupation 1901  Bearcreek Twp., Jay, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [9
    farmer 
    Resided 1907  Bryant, Jay, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [10
    R.R. 3 
    • Page 202, Jackson Township
      Beard, Wm, (Alice), farmer, sec 3, j, [unreadable], Bryant R R 3 (Marie, Georgia)
    Census 2 May 1910  Mt. Pleasant Twp., Delaware, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    William Beard household 
    • Beard, William, head, male, white, age 37, married 13 years, born Indiana, father born Indiana, mother born Indiana, speaks Englis, farmer, truck farm, works on own account, able to read and write, owns farm with mortgage, farm schedule 147 [?]
    1910 U.S. Census - Richison
    1910 U.S. Census - Richison
    Indiana. Delaware Co. - William Beard
    Informant 15 Jun 1915  Pennville, Jay, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [11
    Informant for daughter Bessie Marie Beard's death cert. 
    Census 22 Jan 1920  Jackson Twp., Jay, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    William Beard household 
    • Beard, William, head, owns farm with mortgage, male, white, age 48, married, can read and write, born Indiana, father born Indiana, mother born Indiana
    1920 US Census - Richison
    1920 US Census - Richison
    Indiana. Jay Co. - William Beard
    Census 11 Apr 1930  Jackson Twp., Jay, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [4
    William A. Beard household 
    • Beard, William A., head, owns farm, male, white, age 57, married, can read and write, born Indiana, father born Indiana, mother born Indiana, paper hanging, private homes, no military service.
    1930 U.S. Census - Richison
    1930 U.S. Census - Richison
    Indiana. Jay Co. - William A. Beard
    Occupation 11 Apr 1930  Jackson Twp., Jay, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [12
    paper hanger in private homes 
    Census 1 Apr 1940  Pennville, Jay, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    William Beard household 
    • BEARD, WILLIAM, head, M, W, age 67, married, 6 grade edu., b. Indiana, 1935 farm in Jay Co., no work listed, no other income.

    1940 U.S. Census - Richison
    Indiana. Jay Co. - William Beard (At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.)
    Death 19 Jun 1963 
    Burial Gravel Hill Cemetery, Bryant, Jay, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [13, 14
    Grave Marker - Richison
    Grave Marker - Richison
    William A. & Carrie Alice (Richison) Beard
    Plot: Section A, Row 16
    Person ID I62  richison
    Last Modified 2 Sep 2021 

    Family Carrie Alice RICHISON,   b. 23 Apr 1873, , Jay, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 30 Mar 1944, Pennville, Jay, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 70 years) 
    Marriage 28 Feb 1897  , Jay, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [15
    • WPA Suppl Marriage Transcripts - Jay Co., IN
      Book MT-3, Page 33

      WPA Marriage Records
      Book C-H, Page 278
    Marriage license and return - Richison
    Marriage license and return - Richison
    William A. Beard and Carrie Alice Richison, 1897
    Children 
     1. Bessie Marie BEARD,   b. 10 Jul 1898, , , Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 15 Jun 1915, Provident Hosp., Pennville, Jay, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 16 years)  [Birth]
    +2. Georgina Pauline BEARD,   b. 10 May 1900, Muncie, Delaware, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 19 Mar 1995, Cedar Rapids, Linn, Iowa, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 94 years)  [Birth]
     3. Howard Alva BEARD,   b. 12 Nov 1908, , , Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 11 Oct 1914 (Age 5 years)  [Birth]
    +4. Margaret Adeline BEARD,   b. 1 Feb 1916, , Jay, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 23 Sep 1993, Coaldale, Schuylkill, Pennsylvania, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 77 years)  [Birth]
    Family ID F53  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 1 Sep 2021 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 28 Feb 1873 - , , Indiana, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 28 Feb 1897 - , Jay, Indiana, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResided - R.R. 3 - 1907 - Bryant, Jay, Indiana, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsInformant - Informant for daughter Bessie Marie Beard's death cert. - 15 Jun 1915 - Pennville, Jay, Indiana, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCensus - William Beard household - 1 Apr 1940 - Pennville, Jay, Indiana, USA Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Documents 1940 U. S. Census - Richison
    Indiana. Jay Co. - William Beard (At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.)
    Death certificate - Richison
    Death certificate - Richison
    Carrie Alice (Richison) Beard, 1944

  • Sources 
    1. [S1832] 1900 U.S. Census, 1 Sep 2021.
      1900 U.S. census, Delaware County, Indiana, pop. sch., Center Twp., p. 161A), ED 30, dwell. 698, fam. 738, William A. Beard; image, Ancestry (https://ancestry.com : 21 August 2017); NARA microfilm publication T623, roll 367.
      R2969

    2. [S45] 1910 U.S. Census, 1 Sep 2021.
      1910 U.S. census, Delaware County, Indiana, pop. sch., Mount Pleasant Twp., ED 48, sheet 5A, dwell. 210, fam. 211, William Beard; image, Ancestry (https://ancestry.com : 21 August 2017); NARA microfilm publication T624, roll 346.
      R2970

    3. [S238] 1920 U.S. Census, 1 Sep 2021.
      1920 U.S. census, Jay County, Indiana, pop. sch., Jackson Twp, ED 68, sheet 6B, dwell. 126, fam. 126, William Beard; image, Ancestry (https://ancestry.com : 21 August 2017); NARA microfilm publication T625, roll 440.
      R2971

    4. [S1831] 1930 U.S. Census, 2 Sep 2021.
      1930 U.S. census, Jay County, Indiana, pop. sch., Jackson Twp., ED 38, sheet 4B, dwell. 86, fam. 86, William A. Beard; image, Ancestry (https://ancestry.com : 15 July 2017); NARA microfilm publication T626, roll 595.
      R2972

    5. [S1421] Richison Family Record, 25 May 2008 (Reliability: 2).
      Richison Family Record (MS, 1793-1968), photocopy privately held by Shirley Richison Fields, [address for private use,] Avon, Indiana, 2007. A carbon copy of this record was supplied to Fields in 1970 by Charles Anthony Richison, Jr. The record creator appears to have been Margaret Ann (Richison) Secrest, born 1878 in Jay County, Indiana, daughter of John Webster and Elizabeth (Cory) Richison.


    6. [S1214] Indiana. Jay Co. - History, 2 Nov 2007, pages 663-665, George A. Richison (Reliability: 3).
      George A. Richison

      «tab» The subject of this review is a man of sterling integrity and uprightness of character. He possesses a liberal education and high intellectual attainments, which, when combined with extensive travel and careful observation, renders him thoroughly well informed and conversant with the ways of the world. Mr. Richison traces his genealogy to English ancestors, the name in England being originally spelled "Richardson," which is purely English.
      «tab»Our subject was born in Clark county, Ohio, October 20, 1860, and is the eldest of a family of nine children. His father, John W. Richison, was also born in Clark county, Ohio, his birth occurring on the 24«sup»th«/sup» of November, 1838. He received a collegiate education, and followed the teacher's profession for many years. He remained in his native state until 1870, when the family settled on an eighty-acre farm in Jackson township, Jay county, Indiana.
      «tab»In 1859 he wedded Miss Sarah Jane Ayres, who was born in Delaware county, Indiana, September 12, 1840. She is a most exemplary lady, possessing a kind and affectionate nature which endears her to all who know her. Her timely counsels and Christian admonitions will ever live in the hearts of her children. These parents resided upon their farm in Jackson township until 1897, when they removed to Muncie, Indiana, where they now reside. Their children were names as follow: George A., of this sketch; Frank A. is a resident of Wabash township, Jay county, and is a mechanic; Silas A. is a merchant in Muncie; William A. is a mechanic in Muncie; Charles A. resides in Jackson township, a prosperous farmer; Carrie A., the wife of William Beard, resides in Bear Creek township, Jay county, her husband being a prosperous farmer; Mrs. Beard was a successful teacher in the public schools prior to her marriage; Maggie A. resides with her parents at Muncie. She was educated in Portland Normal School and was a successful teacher for several years.
      «tab»The subject of our sketch became a resident of Jackson township when a child and his home was there until after he attained his majority. He was educated in the common schools ad at Portland Normal School. This supplemented by a thorough business course in the Indianapolis Business College. But his mind had a mechanical trend and he learned the trade of a carpenter and joiner, following that line of work for seven years. In February, 1889, he decided to seek his future in the far west, being well prepared for either business or mechanical pursuits. He spent five years in Colorado, in the Rocky mountains. A year and a half was spent at carpenter work, after which he accepted a position as assistant superintendent of the Aspen Public Tramway, a double cable line which carried ore from the mountains to the smelters. This trip was not only a source of profit, but also an educator, which was fraught with genuine pleasure to so great a lover of nature's wild beauties a was Mr. Richison.
      «tab»On the 31«sup»st«/sup» of December, 1893, our subject was united in marriage with Mrs. Cenith M. Marrs, whose maiden name was Schwyhart. Her parents were James M. and Susan Matilda (Bell) Schwyhart. Mrs. Richison was born in Logan county, Ohio, March 29, 1861. When a little girl she accompanied her parents to Gentry county, Missouri, where she grew to womanhood, received a common-school education, and married James A. Marrs, with whom she had three children: Agnes Alma, wife of Rudolph Dirks, an artist and caricaturist on the New York Journal; they reside in New York city; Martha Ann Lenora is now the wife of Albert Watkins and resides in Fairport, Missouri; the third of the family is deceased.
      «tab»Mrs. Richison spent eight years among the wild scenery of Colorado and she will never forget the pleasure of her sojourn in the Centennial state. She is a lover of the wild beauties of nature. During her stay in the west she resided in Denver, Boulder, and Aspen. She regards Colorado as the model state of the Union-more resourceful and better adapted to all industries than any other.
      «tab»Mr. and Mrs. Richison were married in St. Louis, after which they came to Jackson township and occupied their pleasant rural home on the site where they now reside. In 1894 they suffered the loss of their home by fire, the house and contents being almost totally destroyed. In 1896 they erected their present handsome and commodious residence. The home farm consists of one hundred and seventy-seven acres of highly improved and fertile land. It is located in the oil belt and this is a source of a handsome annual revenue. At the present time there are seven producing wells on the farm. Besides this, Mrs. Richison owns her paternal homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in Missouri. The latter is largely devoted to fruit culture, to which it is well adapted.
      «tab»Mrs. Richison's father was born in Pennsylvania and is descended from Revolutionary stock. He was a soldier in the Civil war, and died July 15, 1900, at the old Missouri homestead. This home was taken as a soldier's claim under the homestead laws. His military service was in the Potomac army, with which he participated in many of the hard-fought battles of that invincible army. He was in the battle of Gettysburg, and was several times wounded during his service. He was a stanch[sic] and uncompromising Republican in his political affiliations. Mr. Schwyhart was a most exemplary citizen, whose creed was to deal justly by all men.
      «tab»Susan M. Schwyhart was born in Ohio May 22, 1815, and is now living in Missouri. She was a old-time teacher and well educated. She traces her lineage to Scotch and Irish ancestors, her parents coming from the old country to America in an early day. Though an octogenarian, she is in full possession of all her faculties and in the enjoyment of fair health. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Richison, Jacob Schwyhart, was a stone mason, and received a grant of some two thousand acres of land near the present site of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. This valuable estate was transmitted to his posterity, though the full value of it was never realized. Mr. and Mrs. Richison have in their possession a souvenir transmitted from her great-great-grandfather Schwyhart which is said to be over three hundred years old. It is a hand-made two-inch auger, which represents the mechanical genius of the days when the hammer and anvil were utilized to do the work now performed by modern machinery. It is a valuable relic sacredly treasured.
      «tab»Our subject began life's work at the foot of the financial ladder, his only inheritance being a robust constitution, industrious hands and indomitable energy. His present possessions are wholly the result of his own efforts, aided by the wise counsels and helpful hand of his estimable wife. These worthy people very properly stand at the head of society in their community. They are liberal in their religious views, giving special emphasis in their lives to the simple rule, "Do right."
      «tab»Mr. Richison is an active working Republican in his political views and is a recognized leader in the counsels of his party. He usually represents his township as a delegate to the political conventions, which expense he cheerfully incurred without the hope of regard in the honors of office, since he is in no sense an office seeker. He was on a committee from Jackson township on the Salamonia dredge case, commencing in 1896, and for three long yeas it was fought by the committee and was finally beaten.
      «tab»He and his wife are ardent supporters of the public school system and cheerfully pay their proportionate share for their support for the sake of the good that may result to others. In like manner they are public-spirited and progressive in other matters affecting the general welfare of the people.
      «tab»Mr. Richison is a worthy member of Pennville Lodge, No. 212, A. F. & A. M. We cheerfully give space to this record of a most worthy family.

    7. [S1683] Jay County, Indiana, city directory, (Portland, Indiana: M & M Directory Co., 1907), 22 Apr 2010, p. 202., Gc 977.201 J33C. (Reliability: 2).
      Jay County, Indiana, city directory. M. & R. Directory Co., 1907.

    8. [S1901] Marriage, 23 Jul 2015.
      "Indiana, Marriages, 1811-2007," digit images, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org: accessed 27 July 2015), entry for Francis Leroy REILLY and Margaret Adeline BEARD, married 29 Jun 1936: image from FHL microfilm 2,168,891.

    9. [S1214] Indiana. Jay Co. - History, 2 Nov 2007, pages 663-665, George A. Richison (Reliability: 3).
      George A. Richison



      «tab» The subject of this review is a man of sterling integrity and uprightness of character. He possesses a liberal education and high intellectual attainments, which, when combined with extensive travel and careful observation, renders him thoroughly well informed and conversant with the ways of the world. Mr. Richison traces his genealogy to English ancestors, the name in England being originally spelled "Richardson," which is purely English.

      «tab»Our subject was born in Clark county, Ohio, October 20, 1860, and is the eldest of a family of nine children. His father, John W. Richison, was also born in Clark county, Ohio, his birth occurring on the 24«sup»th«/sup» of November, 1838. He received a collegiate education, and followed the teacher's profession for many years. He remained in his native state until 1870, when the family settled on an eighty-acre farm in Jackson township, Jay county, Indiana.

      «tab»In 1859 he wedded Miss Sarah Jane Ayres, who was born in Delaware county, Indiana, September 12, 1840. She is a most exemplary lady, possessing a kind and affectionate nature which endears her to all who know her. Her timely counsels and Christian admonitions will ever live in the hearts of her children. These parents resided upon their farm in Jackson township until 1897, when they removed to Muncie, Indiana, where they now reside. Their children were names as follow: George A., of this sketch; Frank A. is a resident of Wabash township, Jay county, and is a mechanic; Silas A. is a merchant in Muncie; William A. is a mechanic in Muncie; Charles A. resides in Jackson township, a prosperous farmer; Carrie A., the wife of William Beard, resides in Bear Creek township, Jay county, her husband being a prosperous farmer; Mrs. Beard was a successful teacher in the public schools prior to her marriage; Maggie A. resides with her parents at Muncie. She was educated in Portland Normal School and was a successful teacher for several years.

      «tab»The subject of our sketch became a resident of Jackson township when a child and his home was there until after he attained his majority. He was educated in the common schools ad at Portland Normal School. This supplemented by a thorough business course in the Indianapolis Business College. But his mind had a mechanical trend and he learned the trade of a carpenter and joiner, following that line of work for seven years. In February, 1889, he decided to seek his future in the far west, being well prepared for either business or mechanical pursuits. He spent five years in Colorado, in the Rocky mountains. A year and a half was spent at carpenter work, after which he accepted a position as assistant superintendent of the Aspen Public Tramway, a double cable line which carried ore from the mountains to the smelters. This trip was not only a source of profit, but also an educator, which was fraught with genuine pleasure to so great a lover of nature's wild beauties a was Mr. Richison.

      «tab»On the 31«sup»st«/sup» of December, 1893, our subject was united in marriage with Mrs. Cenith M. Marrs, whose maiden name was Schwyhart. Her parents were James M. and Susan Matilda (Bell) Schwyhart. Mrs. Richison was born in Logan county, Ohio, March 29, 1861. When a little girl she accompanied her parents to Gentry county, Missouri, where she grew to womanhood, received a common-school education, and married James A. Marrs, with whom she had three children: Agnes Alma, wife of Rudolph Dirks, an artist and caricaturist on the New York Journal; they reside in New York city; Martha Ann Lenora is now the wife of Albert Watkins and resides in Fairport, Missouri; the third of the family is deceased.

      «tab»Mrs. Richison spent eight years among the wild scenery of Colorado and she will never forget the pleasure of her sojourn in the Centennial state. She is a lover of the wild beauties of nature. During her stay in the west she resided in Denver, Boulder, and Aspen. She regards Colorado as the model state of the Union-more resourceful and better adapted to all industries than any other.

      «tab»Mr. and Mrs. Richison were married in St. Louis, after which they came to Jackson township and occupied their pleasant rural home on the site where they now reside. In 1894 they suffered the loss of their home by fire, the house and contents being almost totally destroyed. In 1896 they erected their present handsome and commodious residence. The home farm consists of one hundred and seventy-seven acres of highly improved and fertile land. It is located in the oil belt and this is a source of a handsome annual revenue. At the present time there are seven producing wells on the farm. Besides this, Mrs. Richison owns her paternal homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in Missouri. The latter is largely devoted to fruit culture, to which it is well adapted.

      «tab»Mrs. Richison's father was born in Pennsylvania and is descended from Revolutionary stock. He was a soldier in the Civil war, and died July 15, 1900, at the old Missouri homestead. This home was taken as a soldier's claim under the homestead laws. His military service was in the Potomac army, with which he participated in many of the hard-fought battles of that invincible army. He was in the battle of Gettysburg, and was several times wounded during his service. He was a stanch[sic] and uncompromising Republican in his political affiliations. Mr. Schwyhart was a most exemplary citizen, whose creed was to deal justly by all men.

      «tab»Susan M. Schwyhart was born in Ohio May 22, 1815, and is now living in Missouri. She was a old-time teacher and well educated. She traces her lineage to Scotch and Irish ancestors, her parents coming from the old country to America in an early day. Though an octogenarian, she is in full possession of all her faculties and in the enjoyment of fair health. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Richison, Jacob Schwyhart, was a stone mason, and received a grant of some two thousand acres of land near the present site of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. This valuable estate was transmitted to his posterity, though the full value of it was never realized. Mr. and Mrs. Richison have in their possession a souvenir transmitted from her great-great-grandfather Schwyhart which is said to be over three hundred years old. It is a hand-made two-inch auger, which represents the mechanical genius of the days when the hammer and anvil were utilized to do the work now performed by modern machinery. It is a valuable relic sacredly treasured.

      «tab»Our subject began life's work at the foot of the financial ladder, his only inheritance being a robust constitution, industrious hands and indomitable energy. His present possessions are wholly the result of his own efforts, aided by the wise counsels and helpful hand of his estimable wife. These worthy people very properly stand at the head of society in their community. They are liberal in their religious views, giving special emphasis in their lives to the simple rule, "Do right."

      «tab»Mr. Richison is an active working Republican in his political views and is a recognized leader in the counsels of his party. He usually represents his township as a delegate to the political conventions, which expense he cheerfully incurred without the hope of regard in the honors of office, since he is in no sense an office seeker. He was on a committee from Jackson township on the Salamonia dredge case, commencing in 1896, and for three long yeas it was fought by the committee and was finally beaten.

      «tab»He and his wife are ardent supporters of the public school system and cheerfully pay their proportionate share for their support for the sake of the good that may result to others. In like manner they are public-spirited and progressive in other matters affecting the general welfare of the people.

      «tab»Mr. Richison is a worthy member of Pennville Lodge, No. 212, A. F. & A. M. We cheerfully give space to this record of a most worthy family.

    10. [S1683] Jay County, Indiana, city directory, (Portland, Indiana: M & M Directory Co., 1907), 22 Apr 2010, p. 202, Gc 977.201 J33C. (Reliability: 2).
      Jay County, Indiana, city directory, M. & R. Directory Co., 1907.


    11. [S1869] Deaths, 30 Aug 2021.
      "Indiana, Death Certificates, 1899–2011," image, Ancestry (https://ancestry.com : 30 August 2021); Bessie Marie Beard, 15 June 1915, Certificate of Death 147, Jay County; Death Certificates, 1910–1919, image 867; Indiana Archives and Records Administration, Indianapolis.
      R2968

    12. [S1831] 1930 U.S. Census, 2 Sep 2012 (Reliability: 2).
      1930 U. S. Census, Jay County, Indiana, population schedule, Jackson Township, enumeration district (ED) 4, sheet 4B (penned), dwelling 86, family 86, William A. Beard, digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 1 Sep 2012), citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T626-595.

    13. [S1123] Gravel Hill Cemetery, 1896-2006 (Reliability: 3).
      Grave Hill Cemetery. (Bryant, Jay, Indiana; about one mile west of Bryant at CR 50W and 650N), William A. Beard marker, photo taken by Shirley Richison Fields, 29 Jun 1994.

    14. [S1123] Gravel Hill Cemetery, 1896-2006, 11 Apr 2011, page 4 (Reliability: 2).
      Miskinis, Frances, comp., "Gravel Hill Cemetery, 1896-2006." Jay County Genealogy Society, Portland, Indiana. Update of the book "Gravel Hill Cemetery 2000" by Onnalee Hammit, Rebecca landers, and Kristy Landers).

    15. [S1421] Richison Family Record, 25 May 2008.
      Richison Family Record (MS, 1793-1968), photocopy privately held by Shirley Richison Fields, [address for private use,] Avon, Indiana, 2007. A carbon copy of this record was supplied to Fields in 1970 by Charles Anthony Richison, Jr. The record creator appears to have been Margaret Ann (Richison) Secrest, born 1878 in Jay County, Indiana, daughter of John Webster and Elizabeth (Cory) Richison.





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