52 Ancestors Week 45: Bearded

Question

Time for the next 52 Ancestors challenge...

Please share with us a profile of an ancestor or relative who matches this week's theme:

Bearded

Share below.

You don't need to share every week to participate, but those who do will earn badges. If this is your first time participating and you don't have the participation badge, or if you pass a milestone (13 shared profiles in 13 weeks, 26 in 26, or 52 in 52) let us know here. For more about the challenge, click here.

Comments

After I looked for a picture of a relative with a beard, I realized this was supposed to be a story about someone with a beard, not just a picture. So I thought about famous people with beards. Were any of them related to me? Yes! Uncle Sam is my 8th cousin 5 times removed! Here is his Wikitree profile. And if you are ever in Troy, New York, you can see the vacant lot where his house once stood! And his chamber pot! And more! Here's that link.

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Meet my 2 bearded gentleman

https://chiddicksfamilytree.com/2020/11/04/52ancestors-week-45-bearded/

Answer 1

Hmmm… the ancestor I most closely associate with a beard is my great-great grandfather John Branham Lane (1846 - 1937), who apparently always had a beard. I've never seen a photo of him without a beard. In this picture it was neatly trimmed. In his old age he allowed it to grow into a big, bushy monster. 

My grandfather told me that he had unnatural strength in his upper body. Supposedly he could toss a full-grown man over his shoulder. Perhaps his beard growth gave him some type of Sampson-like strength.

Great topic for this week, because this month is No-Shave November, in which participants forgo shaving and grooming in order to evoke conversation and raise cancer awareness. I'm doing my part, even though it itches me a little now whenever I wear a mask.

Answer 2

I dont recall any male in my family ever having beards!!

Not my father, not my grandfather, not my uncles.

My son does grow a beard out, but he shaves it off when he has to go meet someone - which in 2020 is not happening terribly often LOL

In fact the only person in my family who currently has a beard is my spouse!!

Let me find a photo...

Answer 3

This is a photo taken of my great grandfather Seth Marvin II. His first wife was nine years his senior and had 4 children. They later had 5 children together. After her death he fathered 11 more children, so he helped raise 20 children. He died in 1915, and I think he must have been too busy farming in Pennsylvania to shave. 

 

Comments

Very handsome,  perfect beard.

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Thank you Peggy for your sweet comment. He must have been a wonderful man. I have a story about Seth pulling his 14 year old step-son out of the Civil War that I plan to use on one of these questions.

Answer 4

My 2nd Great Grandfather, Alton Clark. 

Answer 5

Well, this one took some serious research.  Apparently the men in my family were either clean-shaven or had neatly trimmed mustaches.  Then I found the obituary notice for 3G Uncle Charles Truslow whose newspaper obituary photo shows him with a fine set of whiskers:

https://www.wikitree.com/photo/jpg/Truslow-107-1

Answer 6

In my opinion the maternal grandfather of my father, August Friedrich Reher, had the most beautiful beard in my family.
This is at least true for the male ancestors of whom I have seen portraits.

Answer 7

My grandfather's grandfather, Michel Auger, had a nice beard. This picture was taken in Ottawa where he served in the House of Commons. According to one of his obituaries:

Many of our old readers will remember the fight in the county of Shefford in 1882. On that year, he ran as Independent against the Hon. Seth Huntington, who was one of Canada's most brilliant speakers. The fight was a hard one. On one side were ministers of the Crown and speakers in plenty, while on the other side Mr. Auger fought single-handed, canvassing his county on foot and speaking two or three times a night at joint meetings. He won the election by a handsome majority. This campaign is said to have cost him $13.50.

Comments

Great story!

Answer 8

My fourth great-grandfather Albion Hewett had a pretty good beard on him... We have a portrait of him as well as his wife Angeline stored safely in our house. He fought in the Civil War for the Union (specifically in Maine) and ended up getting discharged due to an injury to his foot if I remember correctly. After which, he actually became a steamboat pilot! He seemed like quite the interesting fellow, and I would've loved to have been able to meet him.

Answer 9

My uncle jim was in alaska during vietnam and when he came back had a big mountain man beard. He was not able to get a job until he shaved it off. He was able to find a job after he did that.

Answer 10

Stephen Coleman is an uncle, not a direct ancestor. He had the kind of beard that entirely masked the mouth, but was carefully tapered to show the cheeks.

Answer 11

Week 45 - Bearded. This week I don't have any good story, but will answer with a photo of Uriah Smith-138522, and his wife. Uriah has quite a distinguished growth on his face. Fortunately his wife does not, although she does look a little masculine.

Answer 12

My Great-Great-Grandfather, Charles Wesley Allison (1837-1919), didn't grow a beard until his later years of life.  But, it is told that he really enjoyed it.

In the small town of Paradise, Coles, Illinois he was well liked by the young kids.  They called him "Uncle Charlie".  It is told that he would sit outside of his Justice of the Peace Office in his rocker.  The kids would come to have him tickle them with his beard.

Below is a photo taken about 1918, which is a year or so before he left this earth ...  Also in the photo are 4 generations of this branch of my family:

1) his wife, who is my great-great-grandmother, Susan Jane Jones-Allison (1843-1925)

2) his son, who is my great grandfather, Francis "Frank" Asbury Allison (1871-1925)

3) his grand daughter, who is my grandmother, Oma M Allison-Rammel (1895-1995) 

3) his great-grand daughter, who is also my mother, Ruth Ann Rammel-Sims (1918-2006) .. the baby

Comments

I love multi-generational photographs. Thanks for sharing.

Answer 13

I wrote about my Navy dad, who always came home from sea with a beard. https://rhymeschemesanddaydreams.wordpress.com/2020/11/03/52ancestors-in-52-weeks-bearded/

William Hahn: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Hahn-1534

Answer 14

I have the best story ! I won't share the photo since my dad is still alive but my mom gave me a photo of him as a late teen and he had no beard! I know not bearded but knowing that for 30 years of my life (I'm 31) my dad has always had this thing hang from his chin that I pulled on it's just weird to see dad with a bare face.

Also to go with it his brothers are all bearded now and it's like triplets except 2 are white bearded now and dad is still getting to the white part of his grey years. He looks like he climbed down a chimney.

Answer 15

Bearded relatives from throughout time and space: https://allroadhaverhill.blogspot.com/2020/11/52-ancestors-week-45-bearded.html

Brought to you by Norelco razors.

Answer 16

I have two great " Beards" for you this week.......

https://chiddicksfamilytree.com/2020/11/04/52ancestors-week-45-bearded/

Answer 17

I have very few pictures of bearded direct ancestors. So, in honor of Election Day... er, Month... here follows a list of my distant cousins, who happen to be U.S. Presidents, who are bearded: 

• My 16th cousin 3x removed, 18th President Ulysses S. Grant
• My 6th cousin 4x removed, 19th President Rutherford B. Hayes
• My 7th cousin 5x removed, 20th President James A. Garfield
• My 8th cousin 3x removed, 23d President Benjamin Harrison

Honorable mention, no beards but other facial hair: 

• My 7th cousin 5x removed, 21st President Chester A. Arthur, who although he had no beard, sported impressive sideburns and a mustache.
• My 8th cousin 2x removed, 22nd President Grover Cleveland - (and 24th) also an impressive mustache
• My 14th cousin 3x removed, 26th President Theodore Roosevelt
• My 9th cousin once removed, 27th President William H. Taft

Many of the presidents with beards (and other facial hair) were also from Ohio, so I have that in common with them in addition to a common ancestor. (but no, no beard for me!) In fact, it does seem that the golden age of presidents from Ohio coincides with the golden age of presidents with full beards. Have I discovered a previously unobserved historical fun fact that will make me the life of parties?

Comments

Very creative answer! Yes, next time I throw a party I will invite you.

Answer 18

This is my grandfather's grandfather born in Steuben County,  He lived most of his life in Alexander in Genesee County, New York

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Comments

No picture

Answer 19

My Uncle Mac (Charles Asher McGregor) had white hair and a white beard. I've heard several people say he looked like the wizard of oz....(Personally I don't see it) lol

Answer 20

My 6th cousin 5x removed through MRCA Matthew Grant, Ulysses Grant. Only relative I know of with a beard!