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SOURCE: History of St. Clair County, Mich.
        A. T. Andreas & Co., Chicago - 1883

  [557]
  
          JAMES BEARD, deceased; was one of the oldest settlers and
       most honored citizens of St. Clair County.  He was a native of
       Green, Chenango County, N.Y., and was born May 22, 1815.  His
       childhood was spent at and near the place of his birth.  Octo-
       ber, 1833, being then in his nineteenth year, he removed to
       Michigan with his brother DAVID, and they located in St. Clair
       County.  They landed at Port Huron in the morning, and as neither
       of the boys had money enough to board them in town until they
       could get a chance to ride to their father's mill, they walked
       that distance.  They went to work for $12 per month.  DAVID soon
       after returned to New York.  In 1842, JAMES and JOHN BEARD bought
       out their father in the saw mill and operated it together, one
       doing the sawing, the other rafting the lumber.  They had to raft
       their lumber to Detroit then, as vessels were scarce and freights
       high.  In 1845, Mr. BEARD removed to Detroit and started a lumber
       yard near where the old water-words dock is.  In 1846, he started
       a fire company, and was made foreman, and he held the position of
       foreman of Engine No. 7, as long as he lived in Detroit.  In 1853,
       he returned to Port Huron, and in 1856 he and his brother JOHN
       bought the Whitman Mill, and ran it until 1856, when the firm of
       J. & J. BEARD was dissolved, and E. R. HAYNES was taken in as
       partner.  In 1863, Mr. BEARD, with JOHN JOHNSTON, F. H. VANDER-
       BURGH and E. R. HAYNES, engaged in lumbering at Alcona, Mich.
       In 1872, Messrs. VANDERBURGH and JOHNSTON sold out, and HAYNES
       and BEARD continued the business.  Mr. BEARD was one of the first
       stockholders in the Port Huron Savings Bank, the Times Company,
       the Port Huron City Railway, and the Port Huron & Northwestern
       Railway.  He was elected Alderman of the Second Ward at the first
       election of the city of Port Huron, and afterward served in the
       same capacity.  In 1863, he was appointed Assistant United States
       Assessor, which office he held until the office was consolidated
       with that of Collector, excepting during one year of Johnson's
       administration.  When the offices were consolidated he was ap-
       pointed Deputy Collector, and held the office until 1878.  He was
       frequently offered the office of Collector for the district, but
       as often declined.  Mr. BEARD died April 29, 1882.  Of his father's
       family, only one survives - Mrs. LOUIS BROCKWAY, who has been a
       member of her brother's household during the present year.  Mr.
       BEARD leaves four children - FRANK, IDA (now Mrs. W. C. ANDERSON),
       ELLA and ALEXANDER.  Mrs. A. BEARD, who survives her husband, was
       his third wife.  In Mr. BEARD'S death, Port Huron loses a citizen
       whom every one respected and loved; generous to a fault, liberal
       in all public enterprises, genial in manners, kind and considerate
       under all circumstances.  He was truly, one of nature's noblemen.
       His kind, charitable acts, his good deeds and noble qualities are
       a lasting monument to all who knew him.
       
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