Person:Elizabeth Beard (16)

The following information was compiled by doreenmc@sbcglobal.net. Please do not use WITHOUT citation.

Elizabeth Beard was the daughter of Jacob Abraham Beard per his will dated 1831. Her mother may have been Jacob's wife, Barbara who was mentioned in the will. However, no marriage record has been found for this couple, so Barbara could have been a second wife. Per her daughter Lucy's obituary her mother "was born in Philadelphia of a Pennsylvania Dutch (German) Family." Only one census record is found which shows Elizabeth's age as 46, or born about 1804, in Pennsylvania.

The Beard's are very difficult to trace as it was a common German name and it is found spelled many different ways; Bard, Baird, Bare, Beard, etc. There are too many Jacob "Bards" found in records of the German immigrants into Pennsylvania in the early 1700's to determine the correct family for Elizabeth. Her siblings as listed in Jacob's will were: son Henry, son John, son Jacob Beard and wife Margaret, son Philip Beard and wife Anna, daughter Mary Smith and husband Michael Smith, daughter Barbara Young and husband Nicholas, daughter Eve Jones and husband Eli Jones.

HENRY MCMILLEN married ELIZABETH BEARD on 31 October 1820. (see www.familysearch.org, Columbiana Co., Ohio marriages.) The only document available from Columbiana County is a handwritten index which shows the exact spelling of their names as listed above and "James Vale" as Justice of the Peace and "Horace Potter", Clerk. No parents are listed. James Vale was a Quaker from York Co., Pennsylvania.

1830 US Census, Middleton Twp., Columbiana Co, OHIO: Henry McMullin age 30-39, one female age 30-39 assumed to be Elizabeth. (see Henry's records)

WILL DATED 1825. ESTATE PROBATED, AUGUST, 1831. Elizabeth and her husband Henry McMillin inherited part of her father's land and his house in Middleton Twp., Columbiana County. (see Jacob Beard)

1840 US Census, Middleton Twnshp, Columbiana Co, OHIO: Henry "McMillen" age 40-49, one female age 40-49 assumed to be Elizabeth. (see Henry's records)

Columbiana County, Ohio - Deed dated June 2, 1845 - Henry McMillin to George Bard: For the sum of three dollars, Henry McMillin and wife Elizabeth McMillin sold and quit claimed to George Bard undivided lots in Middleton township, being a part of the south west qtr. of section no. twenty-six Township No. eleven range no. first...etc. (NOTE: This is probably when Henry and Elizabeth moved from Columbiana County to Gallia County.)

1850 US Census, Huntington Township, Gallia Co, OHIO: Henry "McMillon" age 51, farmer born PA. Wife Elizabeth age 46, born PA. (see Henry's records)

Elizabeth was NOT found on the 1860 cenus in Crawford County, Wisc. with Henry McMillin. We believe that most of the McMillin's moved from Ohio to Wisconsin about 1857. It is possible that they were divorced and she remarried a "Mr. Smith". Her daughter Eva Copas' death record lists her mother as Elizabeth Smith, which has created confusion. But, four of her other childrens' death records lists their mother as Elizabeth "BEARD (or) BAIRD". I assume she died between 1857-1860 because of the obituary of her daughter Lucy Parsons which states that Elizabeth and Henry died in Crawford County, Wisconsin.

"Mrs. (Lucy) Parsons was a native of Pennsylvania, where she was born in 1821. She was the daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Beard) McMillan. Henry Parson (s/b McMillin), who was of Scotch parentage, was a native of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, and his wife was born in Philadelphia of a Pennsylvania Dutch Family. They spent their closing years in Crawford County, Wisconsin and both died there."

1. ↑ Columbiana County, Ohio Marriages.

   see www.family search.org. Also see photo of marriage record.