Rhoda Belle McDonald was born to James McDonald and his second wife Lucinda T. Lemon Cole. His first wife, Mourning Hughes Bobbitt, had given birth to 8 children, while including Rhoda, Lucinda had provided him with 7 more.

James McDonald
birth: November 1, 1819 Mercer County, Kentucky
death: February 6, 1893 Southeast TWP, Valeene, Orange County, Indiana
burial: Bluff Springs Cemetery, Valeene, Orange County, Indiana

spouse 1: Mourning Hughes Bobbitt
birth: February 11, 1820 Shelby County, Alabama
marriage: September 1, 1842 Orange County, Indiana
death: November 13, 1859 Southeast TWP, Orange County, Indiana
burial: Bluff Springs Cemetery, Valeene, Orange County, Indiana

spouse 2: Lucinda T. Lemon Cole
birth: February 1844 Harrison County, Indiana
marriage: November 21, 1862 Paoli, Orange County, Indiana
death: 1928 Valeene, Orange County, Indiana
burial: Bluff Springs Cemetery, Valeene, Orange County, Indiana

half-siblings born to Mourning Hughes Bobbitt:
1. Marthy McDonald
birth: May 21, 1843 Southeast TWP, Orange County, Indiana
death: March 9, 1875 Southeast TWP, Orange County, Indiana
burial: Bluff Springs Cemetery, Valeene, Orange County, Indiana
2. Margaret McDonald Kelley Cogswell ("Meg")
birth: March 19, 1845 Southeast TWP, Orange County, Indiana
death: May 4, 1908 Southeast TWP, Orange County, Indiana
burial: Old Town Cemetery, Paoli, Orange County, Indiana
3. Catherine M. McDonald Line ("Kate")
birth: January 20, 1847 Southeast TWP, Orange County, Indiana
death: 1916 Orange County, Indiana
burial: Bluff Springs Cemetery, Valeene, Orange County, Indiana
4. Jonathan McDonald
birth: February 7, 1849 Southeast TWP, Orange County, Indiana
death: July 5, 1925 Southeast TWP, Orange County, Indiana
burial: Bluff Springs Cemetery, Valeene, Orange County, Indiana
5. Nancy McDonald Noblitt
birth: December 27, 1850 Southeast TWP, Orange County, Indiana
death: November 30, 1930 Paoli, Orange County, Indiana
burial: Rock Springs Community Church Cemetery, Southeast TWP, (near Valeene), Orange County, Indiana
6. Dr. John Winfield McDonald
birth: November 2, 1853 Southeast TWP, Orange County, Indiana
death: December 6, 1918 Valeene, Orange County, Indiana
burial: Bluff Springs Cemetery, Valeene, Orange County, Indiana
7. Mary Ann McDonald
birth: September 7, 1856 Southeast TWP, Orange County, Indiana
death: April 8, 1876 Southeast TWP, Orange County, Indiana
burial: Bluff Springs Cemetery, Valeene, Orange County, Indiana
8. Elizabeth L. McDonald Moon ("Lizzie")
birth: October 29, 1858 Valeene, Orange County, Indiana
death: January 10, 1933 Valeene, Orange County, Indiana
burial: Bluff Springs Cemetery, Valeene, Orange County, Indiana
***note: Since age 4, Lizzie was raised by her step-mother Lucinda T. Lemon Cole McDonald.

children born to Lucinda T. Lemon Cole McDonald:
1. William E. McDonald
birth: October 1, 1863 Valeene, Orange County, Indiana
death: 1938 Orange County, Indiana
burial: Bluff Springs Cemetery, Valeene, Orange County, Indiana
2. Emma Cole McDonald Vance
birth: January 8, 1865 Valeene, Orange County, Indiana
death: 1928 Marengo, Crawford County, Indiana
burial: Bluff Springs Cemetery, Orange County, Indiana
3. Charles H. McDonald
birth: April 18, 1870 Valeene, Orange County, Indiana
death: 1912 Orange County, Indiana
burial: Bluff Springs Cemetery, Valeene, Orange County, Indiana
4. Frances Elzora McDonald King ("Elzora")
birth: September 9, 1871 Valeene, Orange County, Indiana
death: December 30, 1896 Orange County, Indiana
burial: Patoka Chapel Cemetery, French Lick, Orange County, Indiana
5. RHODA BELLE MCDONALD BEARDSLEY
6. James I. McDonald
birth: March 9, 1875 Valeene, Orange County, Indiana
death: March 22, 1903 Orange County, Indiana
burial: Bluff Springs Cemetery, Valeene, Orange County, Indiana
9. George D. McDonald
birth: June 18, 1879 Valeene, Orange County, Indiana
death: November 2, 1901 Orange County, Indiana
burial: Bluff Springs Cemetery, Valeene, Orange County, Indiana

Rhoda Belle McDonald and Arthur Livingston Beardsley married May 21, 1902 in Glenwood Springs, Garfield County, Colorado. She was 28 years old when they married and he was 40 years old. Rhoda had been a school teacher and had taught both in Kentucky and, later, in Carbondale, Garfield County, Colorado. Arthur had been an attorney and was eventually elected as the county judge of Garfield County.
Two children were born to them:

Arthur Livingston Beardsley, Jr.
birth: May 12, 1903 Glenwood Springs, Garfield County, Colorado
death: 1903 Glenwood Springs, Garfield County, Colorado
burial: Rosebud Cemetery, Glenwood Springs, Garfield County, Colorado

Rhoda Belle Beardsley Levis
birth: 1904 Glenwood Springs, Garfield County, Colorado
death: 1962
burial: unknown at this time
***Rhoda Belle McDonald Beardsley died during childbirth.

After Rhoda's death, her husband married Bertha Adriance in Grand Junction, Mesa County, Colorado. She bore him two additional children:
Elizabeth A. Beardsley (1907-1966)
Henrietta Beardsley Durell Tansey (1909-1982)

Arthur Livingston Beardsley
birth: January 26, 1860 Newark, Essex County, New Jersey
death: November 16, 1931 Denver, Denver County, Colorado
burial: undetermined at this time