Laura Beardsley Christie
Birth: 11 Jun 1803 New Fairfield, Fairfield County, Connecticut, USA
Death: 22 Mar 1888 (aged 84) Springfield, Clark County, Ohio, USA
Burial: Ferncliff Cemetery, Springfield, Clark County, Ohio, USA
Memorial #: 38971248
Bio: joined 1st Presbyterian Church August 1826
sister: Fanny Beardsley Aley buried next to her
From Genealogical History of the Beardsley-Lee Family in America by Isaac Haight Beardsley:
"Mrs. Laura Christie, formerly of Springfield, Ohio, under date of Sept. 12, 1884, describes their first settlement in Ohio, Dec., 1811. Two brothers had preceded them and located in the beach woods between Worthington and Berkshire, near the north line of Franklin county.
'We found them in a log cabin about 20 feet square, with a floor of logs split open in the middle, with the flat side up. We ascended to the loft above on pegs driven in the wall. Fourteen of us lived there until April, among the wolves, panthers, coons, opossoms, deer, wild turkeys and wild hogs.
'I was a little girl in my ninth year. It was the fashion to send a bunch of flax to the neighbors to be spun into thread, and take it home on a certain day, and then have a good time. My mother not being well enough to go to the party, sent me through the woods. When about half way I saw a drove of wild hogs coming towards me with their noses up snuffing the air, grunting loudly. I was directed by Providence to a large tree that had fallen. I climbed into the roots, and sat there on my perch until the hogs got tired watching me and went to their lodgings. My mother became uneasy about me, and sent my brother, Havilah, to hunt me. I was glad to see him. I do not remember just how I felt, but I was a noted character for some time.
'The next spring we moved about eight miles into another house, similar to the one we had left. I think it must have had a larger door and fire-place, for father used to blindfold an old horse and haul in the back logs to burn in the fire-place, which was made of sticks and daubbed with mud, and extended clear across the end of the house.
'The war of 1812 commenced that year. My father used to prepare for war every night by getting tubs of water in the house in case the Indians should set us on fire before morning, and slipped each one of us with implements of one kind or another, such as pitchforks, shovels, tongs, axes, guns for himself and Havilah. We little ones felt pretty brave.
‘The next year we moved to Urbana, and there remained until the war closed; then came to Springfield, Clark County, Ohio, where father, mother, and other members of our family lived, died, and are buried.
‘My father was in the Revolutionary War. He was one of the boys that helped to throw the tea overboard in Boston Harbor. My brothers, Darius and Heman, were in the war of 1812, and three of my sons were in the Civil War, enlisting in 1861.
‘Our family has been justly celebrated for their Christian virtues. They were mostly Presbyterians. We have a good hope that our children and relations, gone before, are safe in heaven.
‘I am, your sincere friend,
Laura Christie'
"This interesting letter was written at the remarkable age of 81."
Family Members
Parents
Elijah Beardsley 1760-1826
Sarah Hubbell Beardsley 1763-1823
Spouse
James Smith Christie 1798-1884
Siblings
Ruth Beardsley Frisbee 1779-1859
Ezra Beardsley 1782-1849
Parreck Beardsley 1783-1864
Clara Beardsley Frisbee 1791-1814
Havilah Beardsley 1795-1856
Sarah Beardsley Paige 1799-1877
Fanny Beardsley Aley 1801-1870
Elijah Hubbell Beardsley 1807-1885
Children
Edward P. Christie 1836-1899
James Brainerd Christie 1843-1883
Maintained by: Carol CJC (47024242)
Originally Created by: Robert (46505507)
Added: 2 Jul 2009
URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/38971248/laura-christie
Citation: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/38971248/laura-christie : accessed 02 February 2022), memorial page for Laura Beardsley Christie (11 Jun 1803–22 Mar 1888), Find a Grave Memorial ID 38971248, citing Ferncliff Cemetery, Springfield, Clark County, Ohio, USA ; Maintained by Carol CJC (contributor 47024242) .
