Ezra Beardsley (1781 - 1849)

Born 17 Oct 1781 in New Fairfield, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Nancy (Brush) Beardsley — married 26 May 1803 in Delhi, New York

Descendants

Died 12 Dec 1849 at age 68 in Honey Creek, Walworth County, Wisconsin

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Biography

Ezra Beardsley was born in 1781. He was the son of Elijah Beardsley and Sarah Hubbell. He passed away in 1849.^[1][2]

From Beardsley Genealogy, by Nellie Beardsley Holt, Pg. 278:

In 1825, he was the first settler on what was called Beardsley Prairie, Michigan, later the present site of Edwardsburg. He planted the first crop of wheat and built a crude log cabin for his family bringing them there the following spring. Until a year later, when four other arrived, they were the only white persons in the territory.

Soon the rising tide of civilization pushed the Chicago road past the little settlement, and to accommodate the large number of emigrants, Beardsley built the first tavern.

The first marriage ceremony in the town took place, the winter of 1828-29. It was a double wedding, Ezra’s daughter Lovica and Thomas H. Edwards, the first merchant; and Hannah Niblick, (Mrs. Beardsley’s daughter by her first husband) and Sylvester Meacham, the bride wearing a new silk dress, which was unusual.

From Commemorative Biographical Record of Prominent and Representative Men of Racine & Kenosha Counties", Pg. 207: (excerpted)

Ezra Beardsley, well know as a prominent agriculturist of Waterford twp...He was born in Caledonia twp, April 1,1839, son of Elam and Naomi (McMillan) Beardsley...

The paternal grandfather of our subject was Ezra Beardsley, a native of Delaware county, N.Y., and when a young man, a school teacher. He afterward became a farmer, and came to Wisconsin among the pioneers, dying in Waterford township, when about sixty-five years of age....

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Sources

1. ↑ Beardsley Genealogy: The Family of William Beardsley, One of the First Settlers of Connecticut. Compiled and edited by Nellie Beardsley Holt and Charles Eleazer Holt. Published at West Hartford, Connecticut, 1951. Ezra Beardsley is Holt Record #679, Pg. 278.
2. ↑ Genealogical History of the Beardsley-lee Family in America by Rev. Isaac Haight Beardsley. Published 1902. Ezra Beardsley, Pg. 164.

See also:

• Commemorative Biographical Record of Prominent and Representative Men of Racine & Kenosha Counties Wisconsin, J H Beers & Co., Chicago, 1906, Ezra Beardsley, Pg. 207. Original data: Prominent and Representative Men of Racine & Kenosha Counties Wisconsin, Pg. 207
• Portrait and Biographical Album of Racine and Kenosha Counties, Wisconsin, published by Lake City Publishing Company, Chicago, 1892. Mary (Chatfield) Niblick/Beardsley, wife of Ezra Beardsley, is the mother of Marilla Beardsley, who married Hiram David Morse, Pgs. 571, 572.- Original data: Biographical Album of Racine and Kenosha Counties, Pg. 571
• 1830 US Census: Ontwa, Cass, Michigan Territory. Ezra Beardsley; Total Persons 9.Males - Under 5: 1; Males - 10 thru 14: 2; Males - 20 thru 29: 2; Males - 40 thru 49: 1; Females - 10 thru 14: 1; Females - 15 thru 19: 1; Females - 40 thru 49: 1; Persons - Under 20: 5; Persons - 20 thru 49: 4; Total Persons: 9. - Original data: Fifth Census of the United States, 1830. (NARA microfilm publication M19, 201 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.; Series: M19; Roll: 69; Page: 186; FHL microfilm: 0363348
• 1840 US Census: Racine, Wisconsin Territory. Ezra Beardsley. Males - 10 thru 14: 1; Males - 20 thru 29: 1; Males - 50 thru 59: 1; Females - 15 thru 19: 1; Females - 50 thru 59: 1; Persons Employed in Agriculture: 2; Persons - Under 20: 2; Persons - 20 thru 49: 1; Total All Persons - 5. - Original data: Sixth Census of the United States, 1840. (NARA microfilm publication M704, 580 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.; Roll: 580; Page: 81; FHL microfilm: 0034498
• U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1885: Mortality Census 1850, Racine Co, WI. Ezra Beurdsley; Age: 68; Male, Month of Death: Dec; State of Birth: CT; ID#: 44_189; Occupation: farmer; Cause of Death: conaumption. Original data: Jackson, Ron V., Accelerated Indexing Systems, comp.. AIS Mortality Schedules Index. Compiled and digitized by Mr. Jackson and AIS from microfilmed schedules of the U.S. Federal Decennial Census, territorial/state censuses, and/or census substitutes.
• Find A Grave: Memorial #51726221; Ezra Beardsley, Honey Creek Cemetery, Rochester WI

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