From the "History of Steuben County, Indiana, 1885", pages 813-814.

Elijah Beard was born in the State of New Hampshire, Feb. 17, 1794, a son of Elijah Beard, who was a native of Scotland. Elijah Beard, Jr., and Lucy Horn were married in Stamstead, Canada East, in 1817. She was a native of Norwich, Conn., born in 1802. They lived in Canada a few years and there their three eldest children were born – Franklin, Charles B. and Jane. They subsequently moved to Vermont where three children, Phoebe, Elijah (who died in infancy) and Herman, were born. In 1832 they moved to Niagara County, N. Y., and remained a year, and while there Luman was born. In 1834 they moved to Huron County, Ohio, and five children, Mary, Harrison, Henry, Harriet and Albert, were born to them there. In 1849 they moved to Steuben County, Ind., and settled in Otsego Township, owning eighty acres on section 12. Some years before his death he sold his farm and afterward made his home with his children. He was very fond of out-door life and spent much of his time in his latter days in fishing. From early life he was a member of the Baptist church. He was a good man and was respected by all who knew him. He died at the residence of his son Franklin, Feb. 17, 1875, aged eighty-two years. His widow died at the residence of her daughter Harriet, Oct. 8, 1881. Of their children, Franklin is in Otsego Township; Charles B. is in Huron County, Ohio; Jane is the wife of Annaniah Gifford, of Scott Township; Phoebe was married three times and when she died was the wife of Samuel Langley; Herman is in Toledo, Ohio; Luman of this township; Mary is deceased, and was the wife of H. Foster, of Gilead, Mich.; Harrison lives in Charlotte, Mich.; Henry lives in Angola; Harriet is the wife of Henry Hanna, of Scott Township; Albert is in Iowa.

Submitted by: David D. Masterson