The John Henry Beard Sr. Family

The John Henry Beard Sr. Family

Orphaned at age one, John Henry Beard Sr. rose from tragedy to become a patriarch of twelve children

John Henry Beard Sr. and Elizabeth Jane "Gentilla" Weaver built a remarkable family legacy, raising twelve children during America's transition from the Industrial Revolution into the modern era. Their story is one of resilience, determination, and the enduring strength of family bonds.

John Henry Beard Sr. & Elizabeth Jane "Gentilla" Weaver

(1837–1916) & (1840–1912)
Buried at State Line Union Cemetery, Franklin County, Pennsylvania

Married circa 1861 in Franklin County, Pennsylvania
From Orphan to Patriarch: John Henry Beard Sr. was only one year old when his father David died in the railroad explosion of 1838. Raised by his widowed mother Catherine, he grew up to become a devoted family man, fathering twelve children and continuing the Beard family legacy with strength and determination.

Their Twelve Children

Born 1862-1885, they carried the Beard name into the 20th century

Click to read John Henry Jr.'s story

John Henry Beard Jr.

(1862–1918)
1st Child

Continued the Beard lineage

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Father of 12 children

⭐ Primary continuation of the Beard family line
Click to read Robert's story

Robert Lee Beard

(1865–1923)
2nd Child

Family man with 13 children

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Lived near Middleburg

Click to read David's story

David C. Beard

(1867–1921)
3rd Child

Named after his grandfather David

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Witnessed America's industrial transformation

Click to read Mary Catherine's story

Mary Catherine Beard Mace

(1868–1924)
4th Child

Reformed Church member

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Devoted wife and mother

Click to read Adeline's story

Adeline Louisa Beard Wise

(1870–1926)
5th Child

Married three times

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Loving stepmother to many

Click to read Minnie's story

Minnie May Beard

(1873–1887)
6th Child

Died at age 14

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Childhood tragedy

Childhood loss
Click to read George's story

George Washington Beard

(1875–1907)
7th Child

Sawmill foreman

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Father of 7 children

Killed in sawmill explosion at age 32
Click to read Clara's story

Clara Elizabeth Beard Leaman

(1877–1937)
8th Child

St. Paul's M.E. Church member

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Royal Neighbors & Daughters of Liberty

Click to read Margaret's story

Margaret Beard

(1878–1878)
9th Child

Died in infancy

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Infant loss

Infant mortality tragedy
Click to read Charles' story

Charles Edgar Beard

(1880–1946)
10th Child

Lived in Salem, Virginia

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Stepfather to many children

Click to read Cora's story

Cora L. Beard Hoffmaster

(1883–1958)
11th Child

47 years at Trinity E.U.B. Church

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Sunday school Home Department

Click to read Maude's story

Maude Viola Beard Talhelm

(1885–1969)
12th Child

Family matriarch • Lived to age 83

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43 grandchildren, 46 great-grandchildren

John Henry Sr. & Elizabeth's Legacy

12 Children
23 Years Span
3 Tragic Losses
9 Reached Adulthood

A Testament to Resilience

Despite losing his father at age one and facing the challenges of raising twelve children, John Henry Beard Sr. built a remarkable family legacy. His children carried the Beard name into the 20th century, with many living long, productive lives and contributing to their communities.

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John Henry Beard Sr.: A Life Through History

John Henry Beard Sr.: A Life Through History

1837 – 1916: Seventy-Nine Years of American Transformation

From the tail end of Andrew Jackson's presidency to World War I, John Henry Beard Sr. witnessed America's greatest century of expansion and change. Here are the major world events that shaped the backdrop of his remarkable 79-year life.

🌟 John Henry Beard Sr. (1837–1916)

Born into a nation of 26 states and horse-drawn transportation, he lived to see 48 states and the dawn of the automobile age.

A Nation Divided

1837 – 1861 • John Henry's Birth & Youth
1837
John Henry Beard Sr. is Born
Into a world where Martin Van Buren is president and America consists of 26 states. The telegraph hasn't been invented yet.
Birth Year
1838
Father David Dies in Railroad Explosion
When John Henry is only one year old, his father David Beard is killed in a tragic railroad boiler explosion, leaving him to be raised by his widowed mother Catherine.
John Henry is 1 year old
1844
Telegraph Revolutionizes Communication
Samuel Morse sends the first telegraph message "What hath God wrought" from Washington to Baltimore, beginning the era of instant long-distance communication.
John Henry is 7 years old
1849
California Gold Rush
The discovery of gold in California triggers the largest migration in American history as hundreds of thousands rush west seeking fortune.
John Henry is 12 years old
1860
Lincoln Elected President
Abraham Lincoln wins the presidency, prompting South Carolina to secede from the Union and setting the stage for civil war.
John Henry is 23 years old
1861
John Henry Marries Elizabeth Jane Weaver
John Henry begins his family life in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, just as the Civil War erupts at Fort Sumter.
John Henry is 24 years old

Civil War & Reconstruction

1861 – 1877 • Building Family During National Crisis
1861-1865
American Civil War
The bloodiest conflict in American history tears the nation apart. Over 620,000 Americans die as the Union fights to preserve the nation and end slavery.
John Henry is 24-28 years old
1862-1885
John Henry & Elizabeth Raise 12 Children
Through the Civil War, Reconstruction, and America's Industrial Revolution, John Henry and Elizabeth welcome twelve children who will carry the Beard family legacy into the 20th century.
John Henry is 25-48 years old
1869
Transcontinental Railroad Completed
The First Transcontinental Railroad is completed at Promontory Summit, Utah, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific coasts for the first time.
John Henry is 32 years old
1876
Alexander Graham Bell Invents the Telephone
Bell makes the first successful telephone call, saying "Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you," revolutionizing human communication.
John Henry is 39 years old

The Gilded Age & Industrial Revolution

1877 – 1900 • America Becomes an Industrial Power
1879
Edison Invents the Light Bulb
Thomas Edison creates the first practical incandescent light bulb, beginning the transformation from gas lighting to electricity.
John Henry is 42 years old
1886
Statue of Liberty Dedicated
France's gift to America is dedicated in New York Harbor, becoming a symbol of freedom and democracy for millions of immigrants.
John Henry is 49 years old
1898
Spanish-American War
America emerges as a world power after defeating Spain, gaining territories including Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines.
John Henry is 61 years old

The Dawn of the Modern Age

1900 – 1916 • John Henry's Final Years
1903
Wright Brothers' First Flight
Orville and Wilbur Wright achieve the first powered, sustained, and controlled airplane flight at Kitty Hawk, ushering in the age of aviation.
John Henry is 66 years old
1908
Ford Model T Revolutionizes Transportation
Henry Ford introduces the Model T automobile, making cars affordable for ordinary Americans and transforming society.
John Henry is 71 years old
1912
Elizabeth Jane Beard Passes Away
John Henry loses his beloved wife Elizabeth after more than 50 years of marriage and raising twelve children together.
John Henry is 75 years old
1914
World War I Begins
The Great War erupts in Europe, though America won't enter until 1917. The conflict will reshape the world order.
John Henry is 77 years old
1916
John Henry Beard Sr. Passes Away
After 79 extraordinary years, John Henry Beard Sr. passes away, having witnessed America's transformation from a young agricultural nation to a modern industrial power.
John Henry is 79 years old
2025
John Henry's Legacy Lives On
More than a century after his passing, John Henry Beard Sr.'s descendants preserve his memory and family history, ensuring his legacy endures through the digital age.
His family continues his story
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Explore the Beard Generations

Explore the Beard Generations

Johan Wilhem Barth1st Hanß Philips Barth2nd Johann Wendell Barth3rd Georg Barth4th Nichlaus Beard (Bard)5th John P. Beard6th Frederick Beard Sr.7th David Beard8th John Henry Beard Sr.9th John Henry Beard Jr.10th Allen John Beard11th