Observer, Petersburg, IL Friday, March 10, 1916 Page 1 Col.
Obituary of Hiram A. Beard
Who Passed Away On Friday, March 3, 1916
Funeral on Sunday Afternoon
Burial at Oakland
Hiram Andrew Beard, son of Frederick and Nirah Beard, was born in New Hampshire, April 15, 1866, and with his father's family came to Illinois when two years of age, and here on the farm just west of this city he grew to manhood. On November 18, 1880, he was united with Lilly F. Simons, and to this union were born two sons, Dennis Ortman, who died at the age of 5 months and Leon LeRoy who survives. Immediately following the marriage he took up his residence on the farm where he spent the remainder of his life.
He confessed his faith in his Savior and united with the Christian church during the great Lucas meeting in 1874, and was a most earnest believer in the faith of the church. He was true to his religious conviction to the end of life's uneven way, which he reached on Friday afternoon, March 3, 1916, at the age of 59 years, 10 months and 18 days. The decedent was an enterprising citizen and was always found on the right side of every moral question. His disposition was full of goodness and his warmest and closest friends at the close of his life were friends of his early youth and manhood. He was of deep convictions, always honest and upright in his dealings. He was a man greatly beloved for his many sterling qualities. He had a wide acquaintance and was held in the highest esteem by all. He is survived by the widow, one son, Leon, four grandchildren, Anna F., Leona M. Charles A., Ralph E. Beard and a great number of very warm friends. Funeral services were conducted at the house on Sunday afternoon by Elder W. M. Groves. The music was by a quartet consisting of Mesdames Apkin and DuBois and Messr's Warnsing and Harold Smoot; Miss Beulah Combs at the piano. Interment at Oakland cemetery.Observer, Petersburg, IL Friday, March 10, 1916 Page 1 Col.3
HIRAM A. BEARD COMMITS SUICIDE Body Found By His Wife Friday Afternoon, Hanging in the Barn,
Life Entirely Extinct.
CAUSE: ILL HEALTH AND DESPONDENCY
Coroner Moulton Held Inquest Friday Afternoon. Funeral At Home Sunday Afternoon. Largely Attended.
This community was terribly shocked late Friday afternoon to hear of the death by suicide of Hiram A. Beard, a highly respected farmer and one of the substantial citizens of this county, which occurred shortly after 2 o'clock, but which was not discovered till three hours later.
The details of the tragedy are best obtained from the verdict of the coroner's jury, impaneled at once by Dr. H.P. Moulton, county coroner and from the testimony of the witnesses given at the inquest, which will be found below.
The funeral of Mr. Beard was held on Sunday afternoon from the house conducted by Hon. William Melvin Groves. The body was laid tenderly away in Oakland cemetery.
The obituary proper will be found in another column of this paper.
Lilly Frances Beard
Being duly sworn, said Residence, Petersburg, Illinois. Occupation,
housewife. Mr. Beard was not here at his usual time to do chores today and
I wondered where he was. I thought perhaps he had gone to Leon's. I kept
waiting and he did not come and finally I went out looking after the
chickens, etc., and finally went to the barn and looking in saw a body. At
first I did not recognize who it was. On looking further I saw that it was
Mr. Beard's body. I saw him last about 2 o'clock this p.m. He had been to
Petersburg. Went about 7 a.m. He seemed to be the same as usual. He had
been feeling bad for a day of two. For some time he had had a poor
appetite. He had a rope about his neck, the other end tied about a joist.
His body was in a crouching position. It looked as if the rope would have
been slack if he had stood upright. It was about 5 o'clock when I found
his body. He was dead apparently at that time.
Mrs. Lilly Frances Beard
Leon LeRoy Beard
Being duly sworn said: Residence, Petersburg, Illinois. Occupation,
farmer. About 5 o'clock p.m. The phone rang our ring. My wife answered
'phone and I heard her say I'll send him down right away. I saw father
about 10 a.m. Yesterday. He was not well. Today he was not up as usual.
My wife said to go down as soon as I could, your father has hung himself.
I met my mother at the house and she said to go to the barn as she could
not go again. When I got to the barn I found his body being in a crouching
position, his hands hanging over the manger. He was cold at the time and
was apparently dead. He has often felt bad but never had said or done
anything unusual.
Leon L. Beard
Marshall A. Smedley
Verdict of the jury.
In the matter of the inquisition on the body of Hiram Andrew Beard deceased, held at his residence near Petersburg on the 3rd day of March A.D. 1916.
We the undersigned jurors, sworn to inquire of the death of Hiram Andrew Beard, on oath do find that he came to his death by strangulation from hanging himself with a rope to a joist in his barn.
J.A. Smedley, Foreman,Submitted by: Alyce Beggs