52 Ancestors Week 2: Favorite Family Photos

What's the story behind one of your favorite family photos?

It is nearly impossible for me to choose just one favorite family photo out of the many that I have; however, among my favorites are those of family reunions. They even provided me with the inspiration I needed for coordinating a family reunion in 2013.

The first photo was taken at the 50th anniversary party of my 2nd great grandparents, William and Olive (LaGrange) Beard (seated in the center of the photo) in 1949. The couple married on 11 March 1899 and together had nine children. My great grandmother, Elizabeth, who is standing between William & Olive's heads, once wrote a poem about eight of the children (the 9th was either a still birth or died very shortly after birth). Click here to read her poem.

The next reunion photo I have was taken at the 40th anniversary party for my great grandparents, George and Elizabeth (Beard) Baker in 1972. You may recognize Elizabeth from the previous photo. In this photo, the happy couple is surrounded by their 11 children. The eldest 5 children were from my great grandfather's first marriage to Ruth Miller (1903-1931). Following Ruth's death, George married Elizabeth and she cared for Ruth's children as if they were her own.

The final photo was taken at the Baker/Beard family reunion I coordinated in 2013 on the grounds of the Lamoille County Field Days in Johnson, Vermont (I am standing to the far left in the brown shirt). You can read about the reunion by clicking here.

Surname Saturday: Descendants of Elijah and Jane Beard

Disclaimer: As always, my genealogy is a work in progress. There is a lot of information I have yet to locate and possible discrepancies in information already found. While all of my information is sourced in my genealogy software, I am not going to take the time to type all that out here. If you would like a source citation for a particular event, please ask.

If you are related to this family, I want to hear from you!

My fifth great grandparents were Elijah E and Jane Beard (I know nothing of Jane except her first name). Elijah was born about September 1764 in Scotland and died on 14 Jun 1853 in Berkshire, Franklin, Vermont. He is buried in the Berkshire Center Cemetery (his tombstone is on FindAGrave.com).

Children of Elijah and Jane Beard were:

1. Elijah Beard: b. abt. Sept 1794 in New Hampshire, m. Lucy Horn 
2. David Beard (my 4th great grandfather. See below).

Young David Beard

David Beard was born abt. 1819 in Stanstead, Quebec, Canada. He married Jane Doan/Dean(e). He died on 18 Aug 1899 in Barre, Washington, Vermont.

       Jane Doan/Dean(e) was born in Underhill, Chittenden, Vermont.

Children of David and Jane Beard were:

1. Huldah Ann Beard: b. 09 Aug 1842 in Brome, Quebec, Canada. She m. Willam John McMurray on 13 Mar 1860 in Vermont. She d. 23 Aug 1925 in Coventry, Orleans, Vermont.
2. Eliza Beard: b. abt. 1845 in Quebec, Canada
3. Myron B. Beard: b. Nov 1846. He d. 25 Jul 18448 in Coventry, Orleans, Vermont.
4. Henry Harrison Beard: b. abt. March 1849 in Underhill, Vermont. He m. Nina Danforth on 28 Jun 1911 in Lowell, Middlesex, Massachusetts
5. Roland Smith Beard: (my 3rd great grandfather. See below).
6. George W Beard: b. abt 1854, m. Ida Bundy on 15 Apr 1876 in Swanton, Franklin, Vermont
7. Young David Beard: b. abt. Nov 1855. d. 25 Feb 1877 in Coventry, Orleans, Vermont.

Seated: Roland Beard and
Florence Kittell

Roland S Beard was born on 4 Jun 1851 in Underhill, Chittenden, Vermont. He married Florence Eliza Kittell on 4 Jun 1872 in Sheldon, Franklin, Vermont. He died on 20 May 1930 in Lamoille County, Vermont and is buried in Pleasant View Cemetery in Morrisville, Lamoille, Vermont.

        Florence Eliza Kittell was born in 1850 in Fairfield, Franklin, Vermont to         William Riley Kittell and Elizabeth Eliza Lanpher. She died on 18 May             1927 in Morrisville, Vermont and is buried in Pleasant View Cemetery in         Morrisville.

Children of Roland S Beard and Florence Eliza Kittell were:

1. Marcia Eliza Beard: b. 16 May 1874 in Sheldon, Franklin Vermont, m. Herbert Robbins, d. 1 Sept 1956 in Wolcott, Lamoille, Vermont
2. Melvin H Beard: b. 1876 in Vergennes, Addison, Vermont, d. 1901
3. William Riley Beard (My 2nd great grandfather. See below)
4. Harry Beard: b. and d. in 1881.

William Beard and
Olive "Grace" LaGrange

William Riley Beard was born on 4 Dec 1877 in Sheldon, Franklin, Vermont. He m. Olive Elizabeth LaGrange on 11 Mar 1899. He died on 12 Feb 1956 in Waterbury, Washington Vermont. He is buried in Pleasant View cemetery n Morrisville, Vermont.

        Olive Elizabeth "Grace" LaGrange was born on 4 May 1878 in Sheldon,             Franklin, Vermont to Abraham LaGrange and Elizabeth Isabel Renney.               She died on 9 Sept 1963 in Morrisville, Lamoille, Vermont. She is buried           in Pleasant View Cemetery in Morrisville.

Children of William Beard and Olive LaGrange were (see a poem my great grandmother, Elizabether (Beard) baker wrote about her siblings here: Our Family Tree):

1. Clyde Archival Beard: b. 13 Jan 1900 in Palmer, Massachusetts, m. Lula Mae Melvin, d. 18 Mar 1957 in Chelsea, Orange, Vermont
2. Beulah Olive beard: b. 5 Jan 1902 in Sheldon, Franklin, Vermont, m. Harold Allen on 2 Jul 1921 in Morrisville, Vermont, d. 4 Sep 1994 in Bradford, Orange, Vermont
3. Wilma Rita Beard, b. 16 Apr 1903 in Hyde park, Lamoille, Vermont, m. Rufus W. Stancliffe on 16 Apr 1921 in Morrisville, Vermont, d. 16 Aug 1984 in Morrisville, Vermont
4. Infant Girl Beard: b. 23 May 1905 in Hyde Park, Vermont (probably stillborn)
5. Lillian W. Beard: b. 1906, m. Edward Peterson, d. aft. 1963
6. Gerald William Beard: 30 Oct 1906 in Morrisville, Vermont, m. Mildred E Willis on 7 Mar 1926 in Morrisville, Vermont, d. 19 Jul 1972 in Bristol, Hartford, Connecticut
7. Elizabeth Florence Beard (My great grandmother): b. 16 Oct 1911 in Morrisville, Vermont, m. George Dewey Baker on 23 Aug 1932, d. 22 Dec 1995 in Morrisville, Vermont. She is buried in Pleasant View Cemetery in Morrisville, Vermont
8. Ardell Floye Beard: b. 20 Feb 1918, m. Raymond Rebman, d. abt. 1987
9. Robert Melvin Beard: b. 26 May 1921 in Morrisville, Vermont, m. Mabel Beardsley Rouse on 8 Sept 1942, d. 3 Dec 1991

William and Olive Beard (Center) 50th Wedding Anniversary in 1949.

The Book of Me, Prompt 7 - Grandparents (Part 1)

These Book of Me posts are inspired by weekly prompts provided by Julie at Angler's Rest.

My earliest memory is of my grandmother getting a wooden puzzle out of a closet for me. That's actually the only memory I have of her. She died when I was 3 of a brain tumor that was caused from lung cancer. Her name was Esther (Wallace) Baker, and she was the daughter of Hezekiah Truman Wallace and Gladys Baker.

Four short years after my grandmother's death, her husband, my grandfather, died of prostate cancer. His name was Gary Baker and he was the son of George Baker and Elizabeth Beard.

Both of my grandparents were from Lamoille County, Vermont. They purchased a home together in Pinewood Estates in Morrisville, just off the Needle Eye Road.  It was a single story, white ranch. I remember a half wall as you came in the living room door. There was also a basement door in the kitchen, near the kitchen door. I remember my grandfather coming home from work one day in his coveralls (he worked for Bourne's Oil company), walking through the kitchen door and proceeding into the basement. It's funny the things you can remember.

I remember my grandfather gave me a pink bike with a banana seat for my 7th birthday. It was my first 2-wheeler bike, and I had it for several years. I loved that bike, mostly because it was the last gift he ever bought for me. My father sent it to the scrapyard when he sold my childhood home. It broke my heart.

I was very close to my grandparents from what I am told, and I was the apple of their eyes. My grandfather used to carry a siily photo of me in the tub when I was around 2 or 3. My hair was spiked with shampoo, and he would proudly show the photo off saying, "this is my Poopsie." I wish they would have lived longer. I would have loved to have gotten to know them better and be able to write out a long post about them.

Baker/Beard Family Reunion 2013

It has been several months since about 50 descendants of William & Olive Beard came together. Our family reunion was held on 24 Aug 2013 at the site of the Lamoille County Field Days in Johnson, Vermont. It was a great afternoon filled with stories, hugs, and laughter.
One of the personal highlights of the day for me was meeting some cousins for the first time. This included a couple of cousins I met while researching genealogy. What amazing moments to be able to talk to these wonderful women in person!
Another of my favorite parts of the day is when one of the aforementioned cousins gifted to me a jewelry box that was handmade by my great grandfather about 60-70 years ago. The box is now sitting high on a shelf in my living room and is cherished immensely!
Here are some photos from the reunion. Enjoy!

From Hobby to Business: My Great-Grandfather's Talent for Woodworking

My great-grandfather, George D. Baker (born George D. Holcomb) created beautiful wooden crafts. His craft began as a hobby after purchasing a small wood kit, and eventually turned into a small business for himself.

My great-grandfather was the father of 11. His oldest five children were with his first wife, Ruth Miller, who died a little more than a week after the birth of their last child. The infant was placed for adoption, and my great-grandfather cared for the others, as a single father, until he married my great-grandmother, Elizabeth F. Beard, who he had seven more children with (one whom was born still).

My great-grandfather began making items, such as cigarette boxes, sewing kits, bookends, and more. My great-grandmother was quite confident in her husband's wood-crafting skills, and suggested that he market his crafts to people around his hometown. A few weeks prior to Christmas 1945, she brought some of his creations into town where she was able to gather multiple orders, keeping my great-grandfather busy for several weeks.

Orders for his wood products continued to come in, keeping my great-grandfather busy in his woodworking shop each morning. He eventually started making and selling large items, such as corner closets. In a newspaper article, published in the News and Citizen on 29 July 1946, he quoted "I built the first one for my wife, then several persons visited here, saw them and ordered them for their own homes." (Oh, how I would love to have one of his corner closets).

Below are photos of a jewelry box he made. The box is currently in the possession of my grandfather's cousin in Florida. (Update 01/01/2014: During a family reunion in Aug. 2013, the box was gifted to me by the aforementioned cousin. It now sits proudly on my living room bookshelf. Thank you so much, Mona!

The Second Great American Local Poem And Song Genealogy Challenge Part II

In my previous post, I briefly described the Second Great American Local Poem And Song Genealogy Challenge, and posted a poem that was written by my great-grandmother, Elizabeth (Beard) Baker.

As a follow-up, I also want to post a bit of genealogy about my great-grandmother, her parents, and her siblings. I am eager to fill in the missing blanks, so if you are researching this family and can provide me with any information, I am happy to hear it!

1. William Riley Beard was born on 04 Dec. 1877 in Sheldon, Vermont. His parents were Roland S. Beard and Florence Eliza Kittell. William married Olive Elizabeth "Grace" LaGrange on 11 Mar.1899. He died on 12 Feb. 1956 in Waterbury, Vermont.

2. Olive Elizabeth "Grace" LaGrange was born on 4 May 1878 in Sheldon, Vermont. Her parents were Abraham LaGrange and Elizabeth Isabel Rainey/Renney. She died on 9 Sep. 1963 in Morrisville, Vermont.

Their Children:

3. Clyde Archival Beard was born on 13 Jan 1900 in Palmer, Massachusetts. He married a woman named Lula M. He died between 1956 and 1963.

4. Beulah Olive Beard was born on 5 Jan. 1902. She married Harold Allen, and died on 4 Sep. 1994 in Bradford, Vermont.

5. Wilma Rita Beard was born on 16 Apr 1903. She married Rufus W. Stancliff on 16 Apr 1921 in Morrisville, Vermont. She died on 16 Aug 1984 on Morrisville, Vermont.

6. Lillian W. Beard was born in 1906. She married Edward Peterson, and died sometime after 1963.

7. Gerald William Beard was born on 23 May 1905 and died after 1963.

8. Elizabeth "Beth" Florence Beard was born on 16 Oct 1911 in Morrisville, Vermont. She married George Dewey (Holcomb) Baker on 23 Aug 1932. She died on 22 Dec 1995. Elizabeth is the author of the poem listed in my previous post.

9. Ardell Floye Beard was born on 20 Feb 1918. She married Raymond Rebman, and died about 1987.

10. Robert Melvin Beard was born on 26 May 1921 and died after 1963.

The Second Great American Local Poem And Song Genealogy Challenge

I am so sorry for having been so neglectful of this blog. I'd like to say that my neglectfulness will improve, but I can not be certain of that. I am still working diligently on my own personal genealogy, as well as projects I have been contracted for on a professional level, however, due to life circumstances, I have not had a lot of time for blogging.

I did want to post for the Second Great American Local Poem And Song Genealogy Challenge that is hosted by West in New England. The challenge is simply to locate a poem or song that was written by a poet/song writer in the area where your ancestor lived.

I have decided to put my own spin on the challenge by posting a poem that was written by my great-grandmother, Elizabeth (Beard) Baker. The poem is included in a book she compiled and gave away to family members as Christmas gifts in 1990. Really, what poem could I possibly find to better represent a time in my ancestor's life than this one about her parents and their eight children? I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Our Family Tree
By Elizabeth “Beth” (Beard) Baker

The arithmetic of marriage is a quiet thing;
Strange things begin with a bride’s wedding ring.

‘Twas fifty years ago and they were two
Who, on the morrow, found they were but one
To travel on together, man and wife,
Through storm and sunshine ‘till the setting sun;
They would be one forever – so they vowed –
But marriage has mathematics all its own;
And soon they found they had a little son;
And now were three, and were no more alone.

He was a smart one – that boy, Clyde;
His mother told him not to run away,
As his red hat upon his head she tied,
Then sent her little fellow out to play;
When, later on, she called him to come in
He wasn’t there! But when she found him, talked,
“But, Mamma, I didn’t run away,
I didn’t run, why no, I only walked!”

Then, later on, a little girl was born,
And little Beulah made their number four;
But when she was just a little babe,
Long days she lay beside death’s door;
She gained, and grew, and soon was growing up
To help her mother care for all the brood
That followed her, to clean, and tend, and sew,
And help prepare their daily food.

Wilma was the next to come along;
Another girl to wear a dainty dress;
But when Mother dressed her up to go to town,
Then dressed the others, she was oft a mess;
It seems that they then lived upon a farm,
And on a farm it seems that cows abound,
And when they dressed in her best to go away,
A fresh cow manure she nearly always found!

Another girl – are there nowhere any boys?
She should have been one maybe – I don’t know –
But Lillian was always full of life,
And who was best man would her brother show;
She would hold her own in any tricks;
In pranks or mischief she was often first;
When she and Stub got in a friendly row
It wasn’t always her that came out worst!

At last another boy was brought to them,
And he must bear a special kind of stamp,
For Gerald was always getting cut or hurt,
But didn’t seem to mind – the little scamp;
He had a teacher once he didn’t like,
And in her desk he’d put a little snake
With a red belly – or sometimes a frog!
A slap she paid him with – sometimes a shake.

Some five years later came another girl,
And e’er Beth went to school her mother found
It wasn’t safe to leave a dress grown old,
Or scrap of cloth, or bits of thread around;
She loved her dolls and liked to make them clothes,
And dress them up, and this was but a start
Toward times ahead, with children of her own,
To make things for them from things she’d torn apart.

When Ardell came, and Mother had to leave
And stay in the hospital quite awhile;
But she came back, and Ardell grew,
And kept things humming with a happy smile;
When she was young they had a little pup
Who grew to be to all the kids a “chum”;
‘Tis sure, if dogs can go to Heaven, he
Will someday have a happy home

Robert finished up this crew of eight;
He was a sturdy lad and full of fun;
Of all the kids this boy has traveled most,
And yet his traveling days may not be done;
Whoever thought, when he was just a lad,
A minister this boy would be one day?
I’m sure he’s with us in his thoughts tonight
Though, in reality, he’s far away.

Best wishes to these two who gave us birth;
Long years of happy life we wish for them;
We are but branches of our family tree,
And, joined by marriage, they are still the stem;
They once were two and marriage made them one,
But in the coming years who is to know
How far the reach, how great the work they’ve done!
“Great oaks from little acorns grow!”

I have posted the genealogy of the people listed in this poem on my next post.

Wordless Wednesday: The Old Gray House

The old Gray House: Cadys Falls, Morrisville, Vermont. This is the home where my great-grandparents, George and Elizabeth (Beard) Baker raised 11 kids! The house no longer exists.