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L. E. BEARD

 

L. E. Beard, the story of whose life is the story of honest industry and thrift, has been aptly termed a man of purpose whose energy and determination are evidenced in the excellent appearance of a farm of two hundred and forty acres which he owns and cultivates in Ross township.  His place is located on section 26 and in addition to this property he owns two other farms, one of seventy acres and another of eight acres.  These, two, are well improved and the agricultural interests of Mr. Beard are of such extent and importance as to class him with the representative and valued citizens of Taylor county.  He dates his residence here from 1872, arriving when a youth of fifteen years.  He was born near Sandwich, DeKalb county, Illinois, on the 8th of August, 1857.

 

His father, H. C. Beard, was born in Vermont, January 4, 1826, and was reared to manhood in the Green Mountain State, pursuing his education there, after which he removed westward and took up his abode in DeKalb county, Illinois.  In that district he wedded Miss Sarah Frances Sears, who was born in New York and was reared in Illinois.  Mr. Beard engaged in teaching in the graded schools of Sandwich and was otherwise connected with the educational interests of that locality as county superintendent of schools, which position he filled for two terms.  He also engaged in farming near Sandwich but sold his farm in that locality about 1869 and for three years made his home in the city.  He then came to Iowa in 1872, settling in Taylor county.  He bought land and developed a farm in Ross township and as his financial resources increased he made further investment in property until he was the owner of nearly six hundred acres.  Upon that place he spent his last years and for a considerable period was numbered among the foremost representatives of agricultural life in this part of the state.  His wife died upon the farm in 1891 and Mr. Beard afterward lived with his children until his death in January, 1898.

 

L. E. Beard remained a resident of his native county until the removal to Iowa, since which time he has resided in Taylor county.  He acquired his education in the district schools, in the public schools of Sandwich and in the high school of Bedford and later he engaged in teaching for one winter term.  He was married November 15, 1887, in Ross township to Miss Nellie F. Myers, who was born in Henry county, Iowa, but was reared in this county, and is a daughter of W. O. Myers, who was an early settler and met death here by accident.

 

Subsequent to his marriage Mr. Beard took up his abode on the place where he now resides.  His has been a life of well-directed diligence, thrift and industry.  He began his farming operations here with two hundred and forty acres of land and from time to time he has made other investments until he is now the owner of three good farm properties in Ross township, having in addition to the home place two tracts of land of eighty and seventy acres respectively.  On the home farm he has erected a commodious and substantial two story frame residence, has also built a good barn and commodious sheds and outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock.  He has planted a grove and set out an orchard and altogether has a well-improved farm on which none of the equipments of the model farm of the twentieth century are lacking. He gives considerable attention to the raising of corn and other cereals and he also raises and feeds stock, this proving a profitable source of income to him.

 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Beard have been born four children: George H., who is a graduate of the Bedford high school of the class of 1907 and is now engaged in farming, was married July 25, 1909, to Lulu Mick of this county; Edwin is a pupil of the Bedford high school; Mary and Helen are yet under the parental roof.

 

The parents are members of the Bedford Christian church and Mr. Beard is serving as one of its officers.  In the work of the church he takes an active and helpful interest and his cooperation is also given to many movements for the public good.  Politically he is a republican, well informed on the questions and issues of the day, and in local affairs he is somewhat prominent.  He has been elected and served for two terms as assessor, has been identified for years with the schools in an official capacity and for some time has been president of the school board.  He has also been census enumerator for the state at different times and has served as a delegate to the county conventions of the party.  He is well known throughout this portion of the state, the extent and importance of his farming operations making him well known in agricultural circles, while his progressive citizenship and genuine personal worth have gained for him the warm regard of those with whom he has come in contact in every relation of life.