The David Beard Family
A life cut tragically short, but a legacy that endured through four remarkable children
David Beard's life was cut short at age 30 in a railroad explosion near Gettysburg in 1838, leaving behind his young wife Catherine and four small children. Despite this devastating tragedy, his legacy lived on through his children who carried forward the Beard family name and traditions into the modern era.
David Beard & Catherine Eyler
(1807–1838) & (1806–1894)
Buried at State Line Union Cemetery, Franklin County, Pennsylvania
Their Four Children
Left orphaned at young ages, they carried forward the Beard name despite early tragedy
Adeline (Adelia) Beard Robinson
Born in Emmitsburg, MD • Married Edward F. Robinson
•Husband killed in Civil War • Mother of 4 children
Louisa Ann Beard Carty
Married Samuel Carty • Member of Zion Evangelical Church
•Mother of 5 children • Lived 80 years, 10 months, 6 days
Mary Jane Beard Linn
Age 2 when father died • Married Linn
•Mother of 13 children • Preserved family memories
John Henry Beard Sr.
⭐ Continued the Beard lineage
•Father of 12 children • Age 1 when father died
David & Catherine's Legacy
Triumph Over Tragedy
From the ashes of the 1838 railroad tragedy rose an extraordinary family legacy. Catherine's strength in raising four orphaned children alone led to an explosion of descendants: 34 grandchildren from Adeline's 4, Louisa Ann's 5, Mary Jane's remarkable 13, and John Henry Sr.'s 12 children. One tragic death ultimately created dozens of descendants who carry the Beard heritage across America and into the modern era.
A Life Cut Short
The tragic railroad explosion that ended David Beard's life at age 30
On January 23, 1838, David Beard was working on Pennsylvania's ambitious Tapeworm Railroad project near Gettysburg when tragedy struck. A spark ignited gunpowder during blasting preparations, causing a fatal explosion that took his life and left his young family devastated.
January 30, 1838
The Infamous Tapeworm Railroad
Pennsylvania's ambitious and ill-fated infrastructure project that claimed David's life
A Grand Vision Gone Wrong
In the early 1830s, Pennsylvania embarked on one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in American history. Led by state legislator and canal commissioner Thaddeus Stevens, the state planned to connect its diverse regions through an elaborate network of canals and railroads.
Among these projects was the Gettysburg Extension of the Pennsylvania Main Line of Public Works—a railroad that would wind through the challenging mountainous terrain of South Central Pennsylvania. The project quickly earned the nickname "Tapeworm Railroad" due to its serpentine route that seemed to twist and turn endlessly through the landscape.
The Fatal Section 5
- David Beard worked on Section 5 near Gettysburg
- Involved dangerous blasting through rocky terrain
- Required gunpowder to blast through stone and earth
- Site of the January 23, 1838 explosion that killed David
Construction began in earnest in the mid-1830s, requiring massive engineering feats including deep cuts through mountainous terrain, elaborate stonework, and ambitious tunnels. Workers like David Beard faced dangerous conditions daily, using gunpowder and primitive tools to carve passages through Pennsylvania's rugged landscape.
Despite the state's enormous investment and the sacrifices of laborers like David, the Tapeworm Railroad was plagued by political opposition, massive cost overruns, and the sheer difficulty of the challenging geography. The project was ultimately abandoned in the 1840s, leaving behind a legacy of stone bridges, unused railbeds, and partially constructed tunnels.
Project Legacy
- Abandoned due to cost overruns and political opposition
- Left behind stone bridges and tunnel remnants
- Some remains still visible around Gettysburg today
- Remembered as one of Pennsylvania's greatest infrastructure failures
Learn More About the Tapeworm Railroad
David Beard: A Life Through History
1807 – 1838: Thirty-One Years During America's Growing Pains
From Thomas Jefferson's presidency through Andrew Jackson's era, David Beard lived during America's formative decades of westward expansion and industrial beginnings. Though his life was tragically brief, these were the pivotal events that shaped his world.
💔 David Beard (1807–1838)
Born during Jefferson's presidency into a nation of 17 states, he died tragically young during the economic Panic of 1837, leaving behind a widow and four small children.
Childhood in Jefferson's America
Young Manhood & Nation Building
Family Life & Tragic End
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