Roots of our American Beard family

Our family name Beard is a simple English translation of the German word Bart, meaning Beard. The history of the Bart family name begins in the German province of Bavaria. Bart is a nickname surname, a class of German names derived from "eke-names", or added names, that described people by a personal characteristic or other attribute. Bart is a name for a bearded person, derived from the old German word "Bardo", which means "bearded one".

Jacob Beard (Jr.) was our ancestor who came to America from Germany. Following is an article written in 1893 and found in portrait and biographical record of Johnson, Poweshiek and Iowa counties 1893, excerpt pages 734-735

We are pleased to present to the readers of this work a brief biographical sketch of a gentleman who has made his mark in Johnson County in the line of agriculture. Mr. Beard, who has made for himself by perservering industry and skillful management a good competence, is now retired from actual toil and is enjoying a comfortable abode, is situated on Section 8 Scott Township.

Our subject is of German birth, having been born in Baden September 8, 1815, where he was reared to a noble manhood. At the age of twenty three years he boarded a steamer, and after a long and tedious voyage set foot on America's shores. He located in Montgomery County, Ohio and there worked at his trade, that of a stone mason, for seven years. In the meantime he wedded the lady of his choice, Miss Minnie A Spohn, in the year 1844, and a year later removed to Johnson County, settling in Iowa City. In 1862 he located in Scott Township, where he has since made his home and realized a profitable income.

The worthy wife of our subject was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, February 6, 1817. Their union was blessed by the birth of eight children, five of who are living: Benjamin F. who married Lizzie O'Brien; Frank, who wedded Amanda O'OBrien; Salem, who married Emma Matthews; Emma, the wife of S.H. Daniels, and John, who married Carrie Woltz. The other children died in infancy. Mr. Beard is a member of the German Lutheran Church. He was bereft of his companion October 29, 1879 and the following spring went to the old country on a visit, remaining there about three months. Since 1887 he has led a quiet, peaceful life, and is recognized as one of the honored citizens, as well as one of the oldest settlers of Johnson County.

(from the book "Jacob Beard and His Descendants", compiled by Donna Wilcox Morgan)
While in Iowa City, in about 1850, Jacob constructed his home on the SE corner of E. Ronald and N. Van Buren, where it stands in great condition today.
Jacob's birthplace was at Dürn in the state of Baden (which is now the state Baden-Württemberg) not far northwest of Stuttgart. His wife was a widow with 3 children. When they moved to Iowa in 1845, she left her two youngest children with their grandparents. Jacob worked as a stonemason in Iowa City for 17 years before moving and taking up farming in Scott township east of Iowa City.






                                           Dürn Baden-Württemberg Germany

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