Bearden, Ebenezer S.

BEARDEN

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/26/2021 at 16:05:56

History of Warren County, Iowa from Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, by Rev. W. C. Martin, Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1908, p.957

EBENEZER S. BEARDEN
E. S. Bearden, who is now living retired in a comfortable home in Lacona, was for many years identified with agricultural interests and is still the owner of a well improved and valuable tract of land, comprising one hundred and sixty-two acres situated on the line of Lucas and Warren Counties. He was born in Lincoln County, Tennessee, June 10, 1836, a son of John W. and Mary (Cunningham) Bearden, the former a native of South Carolina and the latter of Tennessee. The father was taken by his parents to the latter state when but a small lad and was there reared and married. He farmed in that state for several years but in 1850 removed to Wapello County, Iowa, where he opened up a new farm, while later he lived for a time both in Decatur and Jasper Counties of this state. Both the parents are now deceased.
E. S. Bearden, whose name introduces this review, was reared in Wapello County, Iowa, where he also received the advantages of a common-school education, as well as an academic course. At the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted at Ottumwa on the 12th of July, 1861, becoming a member of Company F, Seventh Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He participated in many of the memorable battles of the war, including the engagements at Belmont, Fort Donelson, Pittsburg Landing, Shiloh and the two days' engagement at Corinth, Mississippi, and he was also in the Atlanta campaign. After the expiration of his term of enlistment he was detained for a month to help General Sherman after which he was mustered out at Chattanooga and honorably discharged at Louisville, Kentucky.
Following his return from the war, Mr. Bearden was married in Wapello County, in September, 1864, to Miss E.[Elizabeth] A. Newell, who was born in Indiana but was reared in Wapello County, Iowa. Following that important event in his life he engaged in farming in Decatur County, owning a tract there comprising one hundred and sixty-six acres. He later sold that farm, taking up his abode in Marion County, in the fall of 1871, where he purchased a tract of fifty-three acres, which he brought under a good state of cultiva­tion. He later added to his landed possessions and eventually became owner of eighty-seven and a half acres, which he improved and cultivated until 1892. He disposed of that property and bought the farm which he still owns, this constituting one hundred and sixty-two acres situated on the line of Lucas and Marion Counties. He placed many improvements thereon, built fences and brought the land under a good condition, farming the same until 1907, when he leased the farm and removed to Lacona, where he now occupies a comfortable home, enjoying in well earned rest the fruits of his former toil.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Bearden has been blessed with two sons and two daughters, namely: Virgil M., who is married and carries on farming in Davis County ; Edgar, who is married and operates the homestead property; Alice, who was educated in the Shenandoah schools and has been engaged in teaching for twenty years, being now engaged in Holton (Kansas) College; and Annie M., who follows dressmaking and is at home.
Politically Mr. Bearden is a Republican, having cast his first presidential vote for Abraham. Lincoln in 1864 and has supported every candidate of the party since that time. He was elected and served as justice of the peace and also filled the office of assessor for one term. He also served as a delegate to the Republican national convention. He and his family are all members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, while his fraternal relations are with the Grand Army Post, No. 309, at Lacona. He is justly accorded a place among the representative citizens of Warren County, for he belongs to that class of men whose enterprising spirit is used not alone for their own benefit but for the advancement of the general good and the promotion of general prosperity.