Beard, Reuben Alview. Collection, 1873-1945.

Description

Historical Note

Reuben Alview Beard was born in Marysville, Ohio on August 30, 1851. Beard's first career was in law. He practiced in Ohio from 1872-1876. He graduated from Oberlin College, Oberlin Seminary in 1879 and ordained Congregational at Brainerd, Minnesota on September 10 of that year. His pastorates included Brainerd, Minn., 1879-1883; First church, Fargo, North Dakota, 1883-1888; Pilgrim church, Nashua, New Hampshire, 1894-1897; Prospect Church, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1897-1903; and again at Fargo, North Dakota, 1906-1930. He served as pastor emeritus at Fargo from 1930-1940. In 1891 he received honorary degree from Whitman College. Other professional activities included acting as superintendent for the Home Missions in Washington, 1888-1891; President of Fargo College, 1891-1894; eastern representative for the Congregational Home Missions Society from 1903-1906; director of the Red Cross for North Dakota from 1916-1918; and chaplain for the Masonic Grand Lodge of North Dakota, 1931-1941. He married Lucinda E. Barton of Sparta, Ohio in 1870. She died the same year. Later Beard married Mary Emma Smith of Romeo, Michigan in 1879. Together they had four children: Margeurite, Roy, Ralph, and Hubert. Barton died on July 14, 1941 in Fargo, North Dakota.

Scope of Collection

Included here are bulletins and programs, a handwritten oration, a scrapbook of news clippings, photographs, a guestbook and remarks from Beard's 60th wedding anniversary, correspondence, loose newspaper clippings, church resolutions passed upon Beard's resignation, and certificates of membership to the Oddfellows. Most of the programs are from Fargo, North Dakota's First Church. One of the letters includes Beard's resignation in 1904 to the Congregational Home Missions Society. That letter had been part of the Small Collections (RG 0160) collection until the new donation arrived. There are two photographs in the collection that are dated 1945, and are presumably members of Beard's family.

Further Searches

Subject Headings

Beard, Reuben Alview, 1851-1941.

First Congregational Church (Fargo, N.D.).

Ministers - United States.

Congregational Home Missionary Society.

Fargo (N.D.) - Church history.

Congregational churches - North Dakota - Fargo.

Clergy - Congregational - Pictorial works.

Clergy - Correspondence.

Related Materials

Fargo, ND : First Congregational Church. (17.11.1 F22.5 FIRCC)

Arrangement

Folders are in alphabetical order.

Contents