Born: Jan, 4, 1795 in Guilford County, North Carolina
Died: September 27, 1874 in Crawfordsville, Indiana
Parents: Thomas & Elizabeth (Dicks) Beard
Siblings: Martha, Hannah, Mary Spouse: Maria Burroughs
==========================
JOHN BEARD, son of Thomas Beard, came with his father from North Carolina, where he was born Jan, 4, 1795.
In the spring of 1816, three months after he attained his majority, he cast his first ballot for delegates to the convention that framed the first constitution of the state.
He was a few years after, though young, elected a justice of the peace. There being little litigation, his official business was chiefly the posting of stray horses, and in the absence of the minister, marrying some of the young people, with whom, being himself young, he was rather a favorite. For this service no charge was ever made nor fee received.
There having been for several years an unusual amount of sickness, from which his family had greatly suffered, and hoping to find a more healthful locality, he followed some of his .friends to Montgomery county, and settled, in the fall of 1823, near Crawfordsville, a new town just laid out, where he still resides.
In 1827, he was elected a representative from that county in the legislature, and, with a single exception, was continued in one of the other branch, for fifteen consecutive years, most of the time in the senate. Of all the members with whom he served the first term, but one besides himself is now living; and he is a citizen of Wayne county - John Jones, of Center township.
He attained a high reputation as a legislator. Bills for the abolition of imprisonment for debt; liberal exemptions of property from liability to execution; investing the governor with power to commute capital punishment for imprisonment for life, and the free school system received his active and efficient support.
He rendered very effective service in the passage of the bill for the construction of the Wabash and Erie Canal. The most formidable opposition to this measure came from James Rariden, a representative from Wayne county; the other two members, Wm. Elliott and John Finley, being friendly to the measure.
In 1833, Mr. B. being then in the senate, a bill to incorporate a state bank had passed the house, and was sent to the senate, The great loss sustained by the general government from the old State Bank at Vincennes with her branches, induced Mr. Beard and other senators to oppose it; and it was defeated by a single vote. But believing that the people were determined on having a bank, he offered a resolution, which was passed, providing for the report, at the next session, of a plan designed more effectually to secure the public against loss. The measure was a complete success. The advantages to the people of this state of that institution are well remembered by the oldest citizens of the state.
In 1841, Mr. Beard was appointed by President Harrison to the office of Receiver of Public Moneys at the land-office at Crawfordsville; in consequence of which, he resigned his office of senator two years before the expiration of
the term. He held the office until after the accession of Mr. Van Buren to the presidency; and in 1846 he was returned to the senate.
The remainder of his legislative career was no less successful than the former part had been. Several measures of great public importance adopted during his last term in the senate, were largely indebted for their success to the influence which he had acquired in that body.
Although Mr. Beard many years ago ceased to be a resident of the county, he is remembered and esteemed by many of its old citizens-some of them his associates in the Legislature. This fact, together with that of his having been one of the earliest settlers of the county, for which he still entertains a warm regard, seems to justify a compliance with the expressed wishes of his old friends that his name be given a conspicuous place in our county's history.
Born: Jan, 4, 1795 in Guilford County, North Carolina
Died: September 27, 1874 in Crawfordsville, Indiana
Parents: Thomas & Elizabeth (Dicks) Beard
Siblings: Martha, Hannah, Mary Spouse: Maria Burroughs
==========================
JOHN BEARD, son of Thomas Beard, came with his father from North Carolina, where he was born Jan, 4, 1795.
In the spring of 1816, three months after he attained his majority, he cast his first ballot for delegates to the convention that framed the first constitution of the state.
He was a few years after, though young, elected a justice of the peace. There being little litigation, his official business was chiefly the posting of stray horses, and in the absence of the minister, marrying some of the young people, with whom, being himself young, he was rather a favorite. For this service no charge was ever made nor fee received.
There having been for several years an unusual amount of sickness, from which his family had greatly suffered, and hoping to find a more healthful locality, he followed some of his .friends to Montgomery county, and settled, in the fall of 1823, near Crawfordsville, a new town just laid out, where he still resides.
In 1827, he was elected a representative from that county in the legislature, and, with a single exception, was continued in one of the other branch, for fifteen consecutive years, most of the time in the senate. Of all the members with whom he served the first term, but one besides himself is now living; and he is a citizen of Wayne county - John Jones, of Center township.
He attained a high reputation as a legislator. Bills for the abolition of imprisonment for debt; liberal exemptions of property from liability to execution; investing the governor with power to commute capital punishment for imprisonment for life, and the free school system received his active and efficient support.
He rendered very effective service in the passage of the bill for the construction of the Wabash and Erie Canal. The most formidable opposition to this measure came from James Rariden, a representative from Wayne county; the other two members, Wm. Elliott and John Finley, being friendly to the measure.
In 1833, Mr. B. being then in the senate, a bill to incorporate a state bank had passed the house, and was sent to the senate, The great loss sustained by the general government from the old State Bank at Vincennes with her branches, induced Mr. Beard and other senators to oppose it; and it was defeated by a single vote. But believing that the people were determined on having a bank, he offered a resolution, which was passed, providing for the report, at the next session, of a plan designed more effectually to secure the public against loss. The measure was a complete success. The advantages to the people of this state of that institution are well remembered by the oldest citizens of the state.
In 1841, Mr. Beard was appointed by President Harrison to the office of Receiver of Public Moneys at the land-office at Crawfordsville; in consequence of which, he resigned his office of senator two years before the expiration of
the term. He held the office until after the accession of Mr. Van Buren to the presidency; and in 1846 he was returned to the senate.
The remainder of his legislative career was no less successful than the former part had been. Several measures of great public importance adopted during his last term in the senate, were largely indebted for their success to the influence which he had acquired in that body.
Although Mr. Beard many years ago ceased to be a resident of the county, he is remembered and esteemed by many of its old citizens-some of them his associates in the Legislature. This fact, together with that of his having been one of the earliest settlers of the county, for which he still entertains a warm regard, seems to justify a compliance with the expressed wishes of his old friends that his name be given a conspicuous place in our county's history.
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Bio info courtesy of Jayne Beers.
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