STEUBEN REPUBLICAN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1902, page 1, column 6 FRANKLIN BEARD, 25 Jun 1820 - 17 Dec 1902 Franklin Beard, son of Elijah and Lucy (Horn) Beard, was born in Stamsted, Lower Canada, (East), June 25, 1820. Mr. Beard was of Scotch-English descent. He came to Steuben county in 1854, when the eastern section of the county was a dense forest with but an occasional cabin and clearing. He was by trade a cooper, but on coming here he purchased the farm in Otsego township on which he has lived for more than forty eight years. In the summer he cleared his land and farmed, and in the winter for many years he plied his trade, making and repairing barrels for a large section of the county and for shipment to other sections. Mr. Beard was married in Ohio, May 24, 1846, to Jeannette Breckenridge. To this union six children were born, four of whom are still living-Giles R., Muncie, Ind., Geo. M., Angola, Ind., Jane A. Bennett, of Pleasant Lake, and Sylvia J., who resides on the old farm. Mrs. Beard died June 22, 1863. On April 3, 1864, Mr. Beard was married to Helen M. Rust, of Huron county, O. To this union seven children were born of whom but one, Frank M. Beard, of Marion, Ind., still lives. Mr. Beard was a devoted and faithful member of the M. E. church for sixty-five years, supported the church and its institutions liberally with his means, and was a faithful attendant at all its services. Those who knew him best loved him most. He was in his 83rd year at the time of his death, and an hour before he died seemed to be in excellent health. He was well preserved and prided himself on the fact that he was often taken to be many years younger than he really was. He died very suddenly, on Dec. 17, 1902, probably as an indirect result of internal injuries received in a fall several weeks ago. (Picture included with obituary) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Franklin Beard, 25 Jun 1820 - 17 Dec 1902, married 1st Janette/Jennette (Breckenridge) Beard, 26 Feb 1827 - 23 Jun 1863. Franklin was the son of Elijah E. Beard, 17 Feb 1794 - 27 Feb 1876, and Lucy (Horn) Beard, 21 Dec 1802 - 06 Oct 1881. All of the above are buried at North Otsego Cemetery, Steuben County, Indiana. Children of 1st marriage: Giles Read Beard, 25 Dec 1847 - ________, on 06 Feb 1864, married Susan Eliza (Merry) Beard, burial place unknown. Jane Ann (Beard) Bennett, 24 Aug 1851 - 02 Jul 1925, married George Bennett, 20 Sep 1847 - 09 Aug 1915. Jane's burial place unknown. George is buried at Pleasant Lake Cemetery, Steuben County, Indiana. Alma Elizabeth Beard, 223 Sep 1853 - 06 Feb 1854, burial place unknown. George Milton Beard, 18 Jun 1857 - 25 Feb 1934, on 29 Apr 1882, married Ora (Rice) Beard, 07 Jul 1860 - 02 Nov 1942. George is buried at Roselawn Cemetery, Auburn, DeKalb County, Indiana. Ora is buried at Circle Hill Cemetery. Sylvia Josepha (Beard) Fairchilds, 04 Sep 1859 - ______, married Ed Fairchilds, 1855 - ____. Burial place unknown. Franklin married 2nd on 03 Apr 1864, in East Townsend, Huron County, Ohio, Helen Mar (Rust) Beard, 24 Jul 1835 - _______, burial place unknown. She was the daughter of David and Huldah Rust. Children of 2nd marriage: Son, _______ Beard, 12 Aug 1866 - 12 Aug 1866. Freddie S. Beard, 07 Sep 1867 - 5 Mar 1868. Luella Beard, 22 Feb 1870 - 25 Aug 1879. Ora A. Beard, 12 Apr 1872 - 13 Apr 1872. Howard J. Beard, 21 May 1875 - 30 Jun 1876. Jesse L. Beard, 06 Sep 1878 - 10 Jan 1879. All the above children are buried at North Otsego Cemetery. Frank M. Beard, no dates, was in Marion, Indiana, in 1902. "History of Steuben County, IN-1885", page 814, biography of Franklin Beard; pages 814, 815, biography of brother, Luman H. Beard; page 667, biography of brother, William H. Beard. "Cemeteries of Steuben County, Indiana, 1990" by Audree Siebel Lewis, Vol. I, pages 111, 112, 113, 114, 134. www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/AF/family_group_record.asp?familyid=794769 Submitted by: Mona Hilden-Beckwith e-mail: hilbeck123@att.net