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.