George Beyers, born George John Beier, was a son of German immigrants Mary S. (née Zweng) and John Frederick Theodore Beier. He was born on 16 October 1877 in East Bend Township, Champaign County, Illinois, where the Beier family farmed on 120 acres.

George "Beier" of Fisher, Champaign County, and Miss Lena Stagen of Farmer City, DeWitt County, Illinois, were married on 2 November 1895 in Dewey, East Bend Township. The couple were the parents of two sons and a daughter (who died at age 13).

George Beyers began working as farm laborer, then farmer, and later turned to plaster and concrete work, and masonry. In 1930, George and Lena Beyers were enumerated in the portion of Fisher in East Bend Township. (He was not employed, reportedly disabled by stroke.) The couple resided with their son Roy and his family. Their son John and his family were enumerated in the preceding household.

George Beyers died in 1931 at the age of 53, survived by his wife and their two sons.

Notes

Surname has many variant spellings. "Beyers" became the preferred spelling by about 1918.

"Mr. Beier was married in 1868 [sic, 1866] to Miss Mary S. Swain, a native of Bavaria, and the five children born to them are Laura, Ida [Henrietta], Amelia [Emma], George and Mary [Maria]. Mr. Beier votes the Republican ticket, and with his worthy wife is a member in good standing of the Lutheran Church." (John T. Beier bio. in: Portrait and Biographical Album of Champaign County, Ill. (Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1887), p. 423.)

1880 U.S. Census, E.D. 9, East Bend Twp., Champaign Co., Illinois; dwelling 50, family 52, lines 22-27, p. 124B (printed), p. 6 (written), 5 Jun 1880.

22. Beier, John, 41 [head], farmer; self and parents born in Prussia.

23. ----- Mary, 36, wife, keeping house; self and parents born in Bavaria.

24. ----- Laura, 13, daughter, Illinois.

25. ----- Etta, 6, daughter, Illinois.

26. ----- Emielie, 4, daughter, Illinois.

27. ----- George, 2, son, Illinois.

Beier, George & "Stajen," Lena, 1 Nov 1895, Champaign Co., Illinois (Illinois State Archives, Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900) Marriage ceremony on 2 Nov 1895.

"George Biers is husking corn for G. A. Howard. George is a hustler since he got married." ("Dewey," Champaign County Gazette, Champaign, Illinois, 27 Nov 1895, p. 5.)

1900 U.S. Census, E.D. 13, East Bend Twp., Champaign Co., Illinois; dwelling 43, family 43, lines 34-38, p. 26 (printed), p. 3 (written), 13 Jun 1900.

34. Beier, George, head, Oct 1877, 22, married 5 years; born in Illinois, parents in Germany; farmer.

35. ----- Helena, wife, Aug 1875, 24, married 5 years, 2 children (living); self and parents born in Germany.

36. ----- Roy W., son, Feb 1897, 3, Illinois.

37. ----- John H., son, Sep 1898, 1, Illinois.

38. Bowley, Kern, f. laborer, Sep 1882, 17, single, Illinois.

1910 U.S. Census, E.D. 2, Brown Twp., Champaign Co., Illinois; dwelling 268, family 712, lines 44-49, p. 27 (printed), p. 12A (written), 29 Apr 1910.

45. Beier, George J., head, 32, first marriage, married 14 years; born in Illinois, parents in Germany; plasterer, house.

46. ----- Lena, wife, 32, first marriage, married 14 years, 3 children (living); born in Illinois, parents in Germany.

47. ----- Roy W., son 13, Illinois.

48. ----- John H., son, 11, Illinois.

49. ----- Myrtle B., daughter, 8, Illinois.

"—George Beiers and family have their goods packed and will move to Bloomington soon." ("Fisher," The Weekly Pantagraph, Bloomington, Illinois, 27 Feb 1915, p. 14.)

George Beyers; age 40; born 16 Oct 1877; concrete worker, Dewey, Champaign Co., Illinois; Lena Beyers (wife), Dewey; short, medium build, dark brown eyes, black hair. (U.S. Draft Registration Card, 12 Sep 1918, Champaign Co., Illinois.)

1930 U.S. Census, E.D. 31, Fisher, East Bend Twp., Champaign Co., Illinois; dwellings 12-13, families 12-13, lines 53-59 & 60-67, p. 1B (written), 2 Apr 1930.

53. Beyers, John, head, 31, first married at 19; self and parents born in Illinois; day laborer, odd jobs.

54. ----- Pearl, wife, 32, first married at 20; self and parent born in West Virginia.

55. ----- Earl, son, 9, Illinois.

56. ----- Raymond, son, 8, Illinois.

57. ----- Wanda, daughter, 5, Illinois.

58. ----- Maxine, daughter, 4 6/12, Illinois.

59. ----- Junior, son, 2 10/12, Illinois. [Leslie]

60. ----- George, head, 52, first married at 19; born in Illinois, parents in Germany; [occupation:] none.

61. ----- Lena, wife, 52, first married at 19; born in Illinois, parents in U.S.

62. ----- Ray, grandson, 11, Illinois.

63. ----- Roy, son, 33, first married at 22; self and parents born in Illinois; farm laborer.

64. ----- Essie, daughter in law, 30, first married at 20; self and parents born in Illinois.

65. ----- Lorene, granddaughter, 7, Illinois.

66. ----- Lyle, "granddaughter," 6, Illinois.

67. ----- Robert, grandson, 4 8/12, Illinois.

• George Beyers had been disabled by a stroke.

• Ray, on line 62, was the son of John and Pearl Beyers.

"Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NQ4D-WSN : 27 December 2014), George John Beyers, 27 Aug 1931; Public Board of Health, Archives, Springfield; FHL microfilm 1,653,946.

"George Beyers, Once Resident Here, Dies," The Daily Pantagraph, Bloomington, Illinois, 28 Aug 1931, p. 16.

Reviewed 8 May 2024.