Son of William Beard and Mary Wilson, born in Lambeth Parish, Surrey Co., England. Married to Mary Bristow.
At the age of one year he was bereft of the tender care of his mother, and five years later was fully orphaned by the death of his father. He was then placed in the care of his paternal grandmother, who died two years later, when he went to live with his uncle, Thomas Beard, with whom he remained until age seventeen.

He was now desirous of doing something for himself, and as the sea had a special attraction to him, he shipped about the whaling vessel Folkstone, his first cruise occupied thirty-three months. His second cruise was aboard the Fawn and occupied a period of forty months, during this time he circumnavigated the globe three times.

Becoming dissatisfied with sea life, at the end of his second voyage, he engaged as a clerk for a firm who manufactured enameled leather, in London, which position he held until 1845, when he sailed for America, embarking in April and landing in May at New Orleans. From here he went direct to Keokuk, Iowa, and came to Cedar Township, Lee county, where he engaged in farming for one season, then returned to St. Louis and engaged in steamboating, being a first mate. Afterward worked in the machine shop at Gatz & McCune. Then clerked for Wilson & Robertson, dealers in hydraulic presses and lead pipe.

While in St. Louis, Oct. 23, 1847, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Bristow, a native of London, England. Mr. Beard returned to Cedar Township, Lee county, with his family, in 1848, and bought fifty acres of land on which he settled down permanently to farming. By industry and frugality he increased the original fifty to one hundred and fifty acres, all highly improved. Here he lived until January, 1891, when he retired from farming and removed to Bonaparte. They were blessed with 16 children. He leaves a wife and a family of six sons and six daughters to mourn his death. Two infant sons and two infant daughters precedes him: George (b.&d.1851), James (b.&d.1864), Susannah (b.&d.1865) and Ada May (b.&d.1873).

He was a consistent member of the Christian church for thirty-five years, and was a loving husband and an affectionate and indulgent father. He was ever ready to extend the hand of charity to the poor and needy, and no sick friend or neighbor was left without attention when he was able to wait on them. During his last illness his sufferings were terrible, but he bore it all with christian fortitude and patience, uttering not a single word of complaint, and deeply grateful for everything done for him. Death to him had no terrors and he died as only the Christian can, fully trusting in the words, "Blessed are they that die in the Lord."