Noel Monroe Beardsley

BEARDSLEY, BONNET, HANN, REED

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 9/2/2004 at 14:46:34

“History of Madison County Iowa and Its People”
Herman A. Mueller, Supervising Editor
Chicago, The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1915

The farmers of Madison county are, on the whole, characterized by progressiveness and energy and such an agriculturist was Noel M. Beardsley, who was born on the 16th of May, 1831, in Ohio. When a young man he removed to Chandlerville, Illinois, where he was married. Later he became a resident of Boone county, Iowa, settling at the old town of Boonesboro, where he worked at the butcher's trade and also operated a small farm which he owned. In 1874 he came to Madison county and bought one hundred and twenty acres of land in Scott township. There was already a small log house upon the place and there the family took up their residence. Much remained to be done before the farm could be successfully cultivated and first of all it was necessary to clear it of the hazel brush which abounded and which was as high as a man s head.

A year after his removal to this county he was called to Chandlerville, Illinois, by the death of his father. He resided there for two years, settling up the estate, and then returned to his farm in this county. His crops were good and brought a good price upon the market and, as he was careful to save as much as possible each year, he was able to add to his holdings from time to time, owning at the time of his death two hundred and forty acres. He improved his place, erected a fine frame residence and good outbuildings and did much to make his farm an attractive one. He carried on general farming until his health failed and for the last nine years of his life was unable to work. He passed away on the 3d of October, 1905, on the anniversary of his marriage and about the same hour of the day.

Mr. Beardsley was twice married, his first wife being Miss Julia A. Bonnet, who became his wife on the 26th of March, 1856, when about twenty years of age, her birth having occurred on the 12th of September, 1836. The marriage was solemnized in Chandlerville, Illinois, but the greater part of their wedded life was passed in this state. She died in 1869, leaving three children, namely: James M., who was born on the 31st of March, 1860, and passed away on the 27th of March, 1907; Louis W., who was born October 9, 1861, and is living at College View, Nebraska; and Wilamina, who was born February 18, 1867, and is now the wife of Smith Hann, a hotel man of Winterset. Three children preceded their mother in death; one who died in infancy; David M., whose birth occurred on the 18th of May, 1858, and who died on the 26th of December, 1862; and Cynthia, who was born April 20, 1864, and died May 16, 1866.

Mr. Beardsley was married on the 3d of October, 1869, to Miss Martha J. White, who was born on the 29th of January, 1841, a daughter of Ozias and Sarah (Thompson) White. The father, who was born in the state of New York on the banks of the Niagara river, came to Iowa in 1851, settling in Buchanan county, where he engaged in blacksmithing. His wife was a native of Indiana. Six children were born of the second marriage of Mr. Beardsley, namely: Sissy, whose birth occurred on the 24th of July, 1870, and who died on the 2d of August, 1870; Altha, who was born on the 15th of August, 1871, and is now the wife of Austin Reed, of Peru, Iowa; Almena, whose birth occurred on the 23d of August, 1872, and who died on the 2d of September, of the year following; Eddie, who was born May 31, 1875, and is living with his mother; Theodore, whose birth occurred on the 26th of May, 1876, and who lives on a part of the home farm; and Almon, who was born July 28, 1880, and died on the 21st of August, of that year.

Mr. Beardsley was a democrat and served on the school board, in which connection he did everything in his power to secure the advancement of the public schools. He was upright and industrious and merited and received the respect of those who were brought in contact with him. Mrs. Beardsley gave him the best of care during the nine years of his illness and proved in all respects a true helpmate. She has always been a hard worker and still does her house work, as she could not be content with a life of inactivity and as she is in excellent health. She sold her share of the old home a number of years ago and now resides in a comfortable residence on North Fourth street, Winterset.

Madison Biographies maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
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