Will L. Beardsley

Will L. Beardsley, shingle-maker, resident in Hersey, mills on sectrion 29, Cedar Township, was born Aug. 21, 1842, in albany, N.Y. He is the son of Leonard and Gertrude (Lamphier) Beardsley. His father was a merchant in Albany and died there in 1852. Both parents were natives of the State of New York. The mother is still living, in Cannonsburg, Kent Co., Mich. She was born in August, 1824, and has been the mother of three children. One daughter, Catherine C., is living; another daughter Carrie, is deceased.

Mr. Beardsley came with his mother when 11 years of age, in 1853, the year succeeding the death of his father, to Grand Rapids, removing the following year to Cannonsburg. His mother bought a farm and established thereon a mill for carding wool, in which pursuit, combined with farming, Mr. Beardsley was engaged about seven years. Within the first year of the war he enlisted in Co. H., 21st Mich. Inf. The regiment was assigned to the Third Brigade, Second Division and in the corps of General McCook, attached to the Western Army. Among the most important battles in which he was under fire were those of Perrysville, Chattanooga, Chickamauga and Lookout MOuntain. He was in service throughout the war and received an honorable discharge in May, 1865. He returned to Cannonsburg and resumed the occupations of former years.

In 1866 he began to operate as a land locater in the northeastern part of Michigan, in which he met with success until the financial stringency of 1873, which terminated his labors in that direction. He engaged a year in farming, and in 1875 he opened a mercantile enterprise at Ada, Kent County. He sold his business at the end of a year and became interested in lumbering at a point 15 miles north of Grand Rapids. Four years later he erected a steam shingle-mill at the same point, where he operated a year, removing the mill thence in 1880 to Cedar Township, where it is still operating. The business is prosperous and bids fair to be a permanency. Mr. Beardsley is a Republican in political principle and action. He served four years as Township Clerk while resident in Cannonsburg.

He was married Jan. 1, 1868, to Victoria Bell Livingston, and they have four children, viz: Orolo M., Adazell, Ella Bell and retta N. Mrs. Beardsley was born Sept. 16, 1848, in Canada, and is the daughter of John and Malinda (Woods) Livingston. Her parents died in Richmond, Ont. Their other children were named as follows: Nancy M (deceased), Sarah, Carrie E., Hapy L., Ada, Harvey and John V.

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