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Below is a family biography included in The History of Texas County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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James W. Beard, an enterprising agriculturist of Texas County, Mo., was born in Williamson County, Tenn., December 11, 1830, being the son of Bird and Sarah (Kenneday) Beard, both natives of North Carolina. When young they went with their parents to Tennessee; were married in that State, and there the father followed agricultural pursuits. He was a Whig in politics, and lived to be about fifty-seven years of age. The mother was a member of the Christian Church, and died at the age of over seventy years. They were the parents of six children, five sons and one daughter, the fourth child being James W., the subject of this sketch. He grew to manhood on the farm, and received his education in the old subscription schools. At the age of seventeen he commenced for himself, by working out for wages, and in 1852 he came to Texas County, Mo., where the following year he brought his mother and sister, in a one-horse wagon, drawn by a blind mule. When they reached their place of destination $1.50 was all the available funds in their possession. During the war Mr. Beard served six months in the State Militia, Confederate army. Previous to this, in 1857, he married Miss Telitia J. Sisk, who bore him nine children, six sons and three daughters. His wife died in 1874, and the following year he married Miss Mary E. Giddeons, and by her became the father of five children, two sons and three daughters. Both wives were professing Christians. In 1881 Mr. Beard moved to his present property, and sometime after built a store, which he ran for two years. He owns eighty-five acres of land, and for thirty-six years has been a resident of this county. He is a Democrat in his political views.

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This family biography is one of 110 biographies included in The History of Texas County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Texas County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Texas County, Missouri family biographies, click here

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