Huldah Ford Beard Franklin, 1822-1905

Huldah Ford was born in December of 1822 in Livingston County, Kentucky the daughter of John Ford and Lucy Ford.  Huldah’s mother and father were first cousins, John Ford was the son of Jesse Ford, but I have yet to find who John’s mother was.  Lucy Ford was the daughter of William Ford and Mellion Simpson.  Jesse Ford and William Ford were the sons of William Ford and Elizabeth Tate.  Jesse Ford has a tombstone in the Pinckneyville Cemetery in Livingston County, Kentucky.

Huldah was the youngest of the six known children of John and Lucy.  Huldah’s known siblings were: Elias, Cynthia, Jackson, Arthena and Sarah.  All of Huldah’s siblings were born in Harrison County, Virginia before the family left for Kentucky.

Huldah’s parents, John and Lucy, were married in Harrison County, Virginia on 21 April 1810.  Harrison County is now in West Virginia.  In the marriage records it states that John Woodyard made an oath that Lucy is upwards of 21 years of age.  The marriage record also says that John and Lucy are of full age.  Lucy's brother-in-law, Lewis Woodyard was the bondsman with John Ford for their marriage.

John Ford died before 3 February 1823 in Livingston County, Kentucky in Order Book G, SLFHL Microfilm #7646976 - In the settlement of his estate it says the following: "On 3 February 1823, David W. McGee appointed guardian of the infant heirs of John Ford, deceased.  The following infant heirs were named: Elias, over the age of 14 years, Cynthia about age 12, has estate sufficient for support, Jackson, Artheny, Sally and Mahulda (Huldah).  What the cause of his death was is not known, I am just happy there was a court record that mentioned his death and even happier that his children were mentioned by name.

Huldah was married to Alexander Beard in Livingston County, Kentucky on 21 February 1838.  Alexander was 12 years older than she.  The marriage license states the following: “Alexander (made his X) Beard to Huldah Ford, married by William Pippin, Justice of the Peace.  Marriage bond dated 19 February 1838 and the bondsman was Cutchings Council (he was a brother-in-law to Huldah having married her sister, Sarah in 1836).  Alexander Beard of lawful age and Huldah Ford daughter of Lucy Ford whose consent was proven by Cutchings Council, dated 20 February 1838.  "Mr. James A. Dellem pleas to let Alexander Bearid have his lisons." signed Lusy (made her X) Ford, witnessed by John F. Beaird.  I left the spelling as it was.

In the settlement of Lucy Ford’s father's estate in 1839 in Monongalia County, Virginia (now West Virginia) it states that Lucy, her brother, William and sisters, Anna and Cynthia many years ago, perhaps 15 years ago, left for the Western Country and have not been heard from in 10 years or upwards.   All the rest of Lucy's brothers and sisters still lived in Harrison and Monongalia Counties in Virginia in 1839, (now West Virginia).

Huldah’s oldest sister, Cynthia had married one of Alexander’s older brothers, John F. Beard, also in Livingston County on 28 January 1833.  Cynthia Ford and John Beard had the following known children: Dilinic Jilena, Lucy, Richard, Mary, Nellie and James Beard.  Jackson Ford married a lady named Susan sometime in the mid 1830’s and they had at least the following known children: Franklin, Jane, Alexander, Margaret, George and Mary Ford.  Arthena Ford married James Swinney in Livingston County, Kentucky on 12 November 1837.  I have not been able to find them after their marriage, so I am not sure what if any children they may have had.  Sarah Ford married Cutchings Council in Livingston County, Kentucky on 23 March 1836, her mother, Lucy Ford also gave her consent for this marriage.  Cutchings Council was killed by a runaway team of oxen just a few days before his only child, James David Council was born.  After Cutchings died, Sarah went on to marry a widower by the name of John Gullic in Livingston County, Kentucky on 16 May 1842.  They had the following known children: Reece, Samuel, Richard, Dicy, Rody and Sarah Gullic. 

I have a picture of Cynthia Ford Beard’s tombstone and pictures of two of Sarah Ford Council Gullic’s sons, Richard Gullic and also Reece Gullic and his wife, Mary.

   

Cynthia Ford and John Beard and their family moved up to Illinois and died in Massac or Hardin County.  Jackson Ford apparently moved over to Missouri sometime before 1837 and his children were all born in Clark County where he died sometime before 1860.  Sarah Ford and John Gullic and their family also moved to Illinois and died in Hamilton County.  I still don’t know much about Elias Ford or Arthena Ford, but I am still looking.

After Huldah’s marriage she and Alexander were living in the Bizle Mountain area of Livingston County, Kentucky until sometime after May of 1854 when they moved over into Crittenden County and lived in the Crittenden Springs community.  Huldah and Alexander’s children born in Livingston County were: Julia Ann, Charlotte, Nancy Agnes, William J.  and Sarah P. Beard.  Their last two children were born in Crittenden County and were: Mary Ann and George Anderson Beard who was their youngest child and my great-grandfather.  Shortly after coming to Crittenden County in 1856, they lost their little girl, Sarah to dysentery, she was just two years old. 

Huldah and Alexander may have had other children since there is 4 years between their marriage and the birth of their first known child, Julia Ann and there may have been children born between child 4 and 5 since there is a six-year gap there.  If children were born, they more than likely died young. The infant mortality rates back then were pretty high unfortunately.

I am not sure what happen to Alexander, but all the records I have ever seen and the stories I have heard states he died in 1872 in Crittenden County, but no month, day or place of burial has ever been given.

After Alexander’s death, Huldah married a neighbor who was also widowed, named Anthony Franklin, they were neighbors there in Marion in Crittenden County.  Huldah and Anthony were married in Marion on 31 January 1875.  Anthony was about 24 years older than Huldah and they never had any children together that I am aware of.  After all Huldah would have been about 50 years old when they got married, not impossible but unlikely.  Huldah’s husband, Anthony Franklin died on 13 January 1890 and was buried at the Union Baptist Church Cemetery in Union, Crittenden County, Kentucky.

On a side note, my Daddy’s middle name was for his great-grandma, Huldah Ford Beard Franklin and he liked the name of Huldah’s second husband so much that he named my little brother, Anthony Franklin Beard, who we all called Tony.  Daddy also said that his Dad, Aubrey David Beard, called Huldah, Grandma Franklin, not Grandma Beard.  Aubrey would have been ten years old when Huldah passed away.

In 1900 Huldah was living with her daughter, Julie Ann Clark in Marion and family records state that Huldah died in 1905, but again no month or day has ever been given and they also state she was buried at Hurricane Cemetery there in Crittenden County.  However, if there was ever a stone to mark her final resting place it no longer exists.

The following is what I know so far about the children of Huldah and Alexander.

Julia Ann Beard was born 22 February 1842 (her tombstone says 1844) in Livingston County, Kentucky and was married to James Sisco on 6 January 1859 in Crittenden County, Kentucky.  James Sisco was born 30 August 1834 in Jackson County, Tennessee.  Julia and James only had one son, Thomas Hughey Sisco who went by James Hughey Sisco after his father’s death.  James Sisco may have died during the Civil War as Julia married the second time to George B. Clark on 11 May 1865 in Crittenden County.  Julia and George had the following children together: Ida Dean, Minnie, Dorsey Anderson, John Marion, Fannie Elizabeth and Leona Annie Clark.  George B. Clark was born 13 August 1840 in Livingston County and died 6 August 1893 in Crittenden County.

Julia died in Levias, Crittenden County, Kentucky on 4 July 1911 of a cerebral thrombosis.  Her obituary appeared in the Crittenden Record and Press, issue dated 6 July 1911 and reads as follows: “Mrs. Julia Clark, died Tuesday morning, July 4th at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Charles E. Davidson of Levias, besides whom she was the mother of Dorsey Clark of this city, Marion Clark of Sikeston, Missouri, and Hughey Sisco of this city.  The funeral arrangements were not made until the arrival of her son, Marion from Sikeston, Wednesday morning, interment Wednesday afternoon at the new cemetery.”  (She was buried in the Mapleview Cemetery just at the edge of town.)  In another issue of the paper dated – 13 July 1911 we read the following: “Mrs. Mollie Powell of Evansville, Indiana was here to attend the burial of her sister, Mrs. Julie Clark.  Mrs. J. M. Allison of Levias, Mrs. Oscar Turner of Crabbe Orchard, Illinois, Mrs. Claude Champion of Marion were here to attend the burial of their mother, Mrs. Julia Clark Wednesday morning.  - Card of Thanks - To the good people of Levias and Marion who were so kind to us in the sickness and death of our mother Mrs. Julie Clark.  We desire to return our thanks.  Her children.”

I have yet to find a picture of Julia Ann Beard, but I do have one of her youngest daughter, Leona Annie Clark Davidson.  You can definitely tell the Beard/Ford characteristics in this picture of Leona.

Charlotte Beard was born in about 1844 in Livingston County, Kentucky and died in 1879 in Elizabethtown, Hardin County, Illinois.  Charlotte married Lynn Burrell Anderson in Crittenden County on 21 August 1861.  Lynn was born 15 February 1840 in Marshall County, Kentucky and died 18 May 1929 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma at the Old Soldiers Home.  Lynn out lived his wife and all three of their children.  He had served in the Union Army during the Civil War and became a preacher in his later life.  Lynn wrote a memoriam to his brother-in-law, George Anderson Beard, after George died in 1924 which was placed in the Clarksville, Arkansas newspaper.  Charlotte and Lynn became the parents of three known children, Minnie, Dannie and Dickie Anderson.  The first two Minnie and Dannie were females and were married, but died young and the youngest a son named Dickie died at the age of four in Crittenden County.  The following is a picture of Lynn Anderson’s tombstone.

Nancy Agnes Beard was born in about 1846 in Livingston County, Kentucky.  I believe she maybe the Nancy Beard who married Francis M. Knight in Crittenden County on 23 August 1864.  I find who I believe is Nancy and Francis on the 1870 census living in Elkton, Todd County, Kentucky.  However, in 1880 I find who I believe is Francis Knight living in Gordonsville, Logan County, Kentucky but he has a wife named Mary E. instead of Nancy A.  Also, what is weird is that Francis Knight’s mother, Margaret, was living with them in 1870, but in 1880, Nancy is listed as single, living in the home of John and Adaline Grisham in Gordonsville, Logan County, Kentucky.  Francis' mother Margaret Knight, is also living in this home and she is listed as the mother-in-law and Nancy is listed as the sister-in-law of John Grisham.  Now this maybe a totally different family then the Beard/Knight combo from Crittenden County, but they are the only ones I have a found that come close to matching our Nancy Agnes Beard.  Todd and Logan counties are not far from Crittenden County.  I still need to do more research.

William J. Beard was born 1 March 1848 in Livingston County, Kentucky and died 21 November 1897 in Crittenden County, Kentucky.  He is buried at the Hurricane Cemetery where his mother, Huldah is also supposed to be buried.  In 1870 William was working as a farm laborer and living in the home of Anthony Franklin and his wife, Nancy.  William’s mother, Huldah would marry Anthony Franklin five years later and on[V1]  4 January 1871 in Crittenden County, William married Sarah C. Thompson.  From what I have been able to determine they never had any children or at least any that lived any length of time.  Sarah was born on 27 September 1846 in Crittenden County, but I am not sure when she died as there is no death date on her tombstone, but she was still living in 1900.

Sarah P. Beard was born at Bizle Mountain, Livingston County, Kentucky on 14 May 1854 and died of dysentery on 24 December 1856 in Crittenden County, Kentucky.

Mary Ann Beard was born in Crittenden County on 1 November 1856 and died 19 March 1940 of pulmonary tuberculosis of many years standing in Marion, Crittenden County, Kentucky.  Mary married first to Layton Bradford Powell, whose nickname was Lake, on 25 July 1872 in Crittenden County.  Lake was born in June of 1851 in Smith County, Tennessee.  Mary and Lake became the parents of six known children, namely: Charles, Nora Ellen, Emma, William Jesse, Mittie Agnes and Fred Ward Powell.  My grandfather, Aubrey Beard told his son, Frank, my Daddy, that he knew Willie, Fred and Nora quite well.  Lake died sometime before the 1920 census was taken as Mary is listed as a widow, but so far, I have not been able to find a death date or place for him. 

On the 4^th of July in 1920 Mary married William Wallace Harness in Arkansas County, Arkansas.  William Harness was born 20 September 1844 in Overton County, Tennessee and died 2 September 1942 in Marion, Crittenden County, Kentucky.  Mary and William did not have any children together as Mary was 63 and William was 75 when they got married.  Mary and William are both buried at Freedom Cemetery just outside of Marion on the road that goes to down to the ferry on the left-hand side of the road.

Thankfully I have some pictures of Mary Ann, as well as some of her children and her last husband William Harness.  The first picture is of Mary Ann Beard Powell Harness, the next two pictures are of her daughters, Mittie Powell Manning and Nora Powell Land Fritts.  The next pictures are of Mary and her husband, William Harness and the younger woman in the last picture is Mary’s daughter-in-law, Anna Black Powell, wife of her son, Fred Powell.

     

  

George Anderson Beard was born in Marion, Crittenden County, Kentucky on 14 April 1859.  He was my great-grandfather, his son, Aubrey David Beard was my grandfather.  George married first, Nellie F. Elder in Crittenden County on 18 April 1889.  Nellie was born in 1864 and died in September of 1890 shortly after giving birth to a baby girl who also died.  The baby died on a Saturday according to the newspaper.

Next George married Nellie’s cousin, Rose Etta Daniel in Marion, Crittenden County, Kentucky on 17 December 1891, George was 15 years older than Rose.  Rose was born 29 September 1874 in Marion and died 1 June 1939 in Woodlake, Tulare County, California.  George and Rose had eight children, namely: Nina Ruth, Aubrey David, Addie Lou, George Duell, Cleo Wilma, Daniel Nunn ‘Petie man’, and the twins, Mary Gwendolyn and Gladys Rosemond Beard.  I knew all of my grandfathers’ siblings except for Cleo who died in 1935.

After 1900 they moved back and forth between Kentucky, Missouri and then Arkansas.  While living in Clarksville, Johnson County, Arkansas George took sick and died on 24 April 1924.  From The Crittenden Press newspaper, the issue dated 23 May 1924 we read – “Former Marion man dies in Arkansas.  Through a Clarksville, Arkansas paper news reached here last week of the death of George A. Beard, who left Marion some five years ago for Arkansas, where with his family he has since resided.  His death occurred at his home in that city on April 24.  He was the son of the late Alexander and Hulda Beard and was born in this county 64 years ago.  His wife who was Miss Rosa Etta Daniel, survives him.  Interment at Oakland Cemetery, Clarksville.”

The following are some pictures I have for George, Rose and their children.

So, did these strong facial features you can see in some of these pictures come from the Beard side of the family or from the Ford side of the family?  Unfortunately, without having a picture of Huldah or of Alexander, it is hard to say what side of the family they may have taken these features from.  Look at the pictures of Leona, Mary Ann, George, Nina, Addie and Gwen, you can definitely tell that they were related to each other.

Huldah’s life was hard to say the least.  Her father died when she was just a month or so old.  Her mother was still living in 1840, but by 1850 I believe she had passed away.  Both of Huldah’s husbands died before her and four of her seven known children died before she did, plus at least four known grandchildren died before her as well.  The life of these early pioneers was not easy, but you made do with what you were dealt, good or bad, or something in between.

Since Huldah was born a Ford and both her parents were Ford’s we had always thought that we were closely related to the Ford’s Ferry Gang there at Cave-in-Rock.  We are related, but it is a distant relationship and not as close as we had always thought it was.  Huldah’s parents were first cousins and James Ford, leader of the Ford’s Ferry Gang’s parents were also first cousins.  James Ford’s line of the Ford families intermarried a few times and they were known as the black-eyed Ford's and the blue-eyed Ford's.

Huldah Ford and James Ford were 3^rd cousins once removed and so their relationship to each other was probably not known to each other while they were living.  Huldah’s family had come to Kentucky from the area of Virginia that is now part of West Virginia and James and his family had come from South Carolina to Kentucky.  The Virginia Ford’s had split up and Huldah’s lines had gone towards present day West Virginia while James’ lines had gone to South Carolina, before both ended up in Kentucky.

Huldah’s lines go back as follows:

*Huldah Ford, 1822-1905

John Ford & Lucy Ford

Jesse Ford & ???? = William Ford Jr. & Mellion Simpson (Jesse & William were brothers)

William Ford Sr. & Elizabeth Tate

Thomas Ford Jr. & Leah

***Thomas Ford Sr. & Ann Ambrose

James Ford of the Ford’s Ferry Gang & Cave-in-Rock lines go back as follows:

*James Ford, 1775-1833

Phillip Ford & Elizabeth Ford

James Ford & ???? = John Ford & Rachel Spencer (James & John were brothers)

Richard Ford & Eleanor ????

***Thomas Ford Sr. & Ann Ambrose

My line goes from me down to the following in this story:

Vickie Beard (me)

Duell Franklin ‘Frank’ Beard & Erma Jean Fraley (My parents)

Aubrey David Beard & Jessie Holeman Doss (My grandparents)

George Anderson Beard & Rose Etta Daniel (My great-grandparents)

Alexander Beard & Huldah Ford (My 2^nd great-grandparents)

 

 

Written by Huldah’s 2^nd great-granddaughter, Vickie Beard Thompson in 2022.