Dates

• Existence: 1851 August 30 (date of birth)
• Existence: 1941 July 14 (date of death)

Historical Summary

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, Nahua, 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. Beard died on July 14, 1941 in Fargo, North Dakota.

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