John Wheeler Beardslee1,2,3

M, b. 18 August 1799, d. 24 January 1883
FatherWilliam Beardslee b. 1763, d. a 1830
MotherMary Wheeler b. c 1773
     John Wheeler was born on Sunday, 18 August 1799 in Hardyston, Sandyston Township, Sussex County, New Jersey. John married Elizabeth Ann Carpenter, daughter of Townsend Carpenter and Elizabeth Truesdell, on 26 November 1828 in Genova, Ontario County, New York.4 John was raised at Hardyston, New Jersey but was residing at Horseheads, New York at the time of his marriage. He was the second one to purchase land in Independence Township but the first to reside on it. On 1 September 1826, John W. Beardslee of Tioga County, New York, purchased 160 acres in the northeast quarter of section 35 t4n r9e in Independence Township, Oakland County, Michigan [no. 101], at the same time becoming owner of forty acres in Shawnee town. Erecting a small shanty, ten by twelve feet, in the midst of the dense wilderness, he occupied it for one winter. In the summer of 1831, he worked on his land cutting hay on the marsh bordering the creek & made other preparations for moving that fall. In October, he & his family moved from Elmira, New York. His cousin, Thomas Beardslee & family, Marcus Riker moved with them to this locality called Sashabaw Plains. They built a shanty on John's land which was near the Sashabaw Creek which they all occupied when finished. Later the others built & moved into their own homes but John's family resided in it all winter. The Beardslees' were natives of Sussex County, New Jersey & Riker's of Chemung County, New York. It was noted by an old resident of the plains: "Mrs. B. was truly a helpmate for she built the first haystack in the town, her husband pitching the hay to her. It is also a fact that her son, Townsend, was the first white child born in Independence. John later built a house for his family but the shanty remained on his property. In June of 1832, another cousin of John's, Aaron Beardslee & his family, came & stayed with them until they were able to get settled. On 12 August 1837, John Beardslee of Oakland County, purchased 29.5 acres in the north west quarter of the southwest quarter of section 18 t4n r10e. John's brothers: James & Jeffrey & his sister, Elizabeth moved near here a few years later. It is quite possible that his father also came. A William Beardslee is buried In Sashabaw Cemetery next to Jeffrey, his wife & some of their children. There are no dates on his stone just "Grandfather". The 1830 U.S. Federal Census enumerates at Big Flats, Tioga County, New York, the family of John Bardsley [000001:10011].5 The 1840 U.S. Federal Census enumerates at Independence Township, Oakland County, Michigan, the family of J. W. Beardslee [2100010:0101100].6 1845, John was listed on the State of Michigan Census at Independence Township, Oakland County, Michigan. Enumerated in this household were John W. Beardsly [21100:11100]. 22 July 1850, John and his wife, Elizabeth, were listed on the U.S. Federal Census in Independence Township. Enumerated in this household were John W. Barsley [49 New Jersey][farmer], his wife: Elizabeth [40 New York], children: Harriet [20 New York], Townsend [18 Michigan], Robert [14 Michigan], Noah [12 Michigan], Ann [10 Michigan] & Henry [3 Michigan]. Their property value was $5000.00.7 26 June 1860, John and his wife, Elizabeth, were listed on the U.S. Federal Census in Independence Township. Enumerated in this household were John W. Beardslee [60 New Jersey], his wife: Elizabeth [50 New York], children: Harriet [30 New York], Townsend [28 Michigan-clerk, personall property $300.00], Noah [22 Michigan-personal property $100.00], Ann [20 Michigan], Henry [14 Michigan] & Jennett [9 Michigan]. Their property was valued at $7,000.00 & personall property $2,000.00.8 8 August 1870, John and his wife, Elizabeth, were listed on the U.S. Federal Census in Independence Township. Enumerated in this household were J. W. Beardsley [71 New Jersey], his wife: Elizabeth [59 New York], children: Noah [32 Michigan], & Henry [21 Michigan]. He was a farmer. Property value $10,000.00 & personal property $1,000.00.











0.9

17 June 1880, John and his wife, Elizabeth, were listed on the U.S. Federal Census in Independence Township. Enumerated in this household were John W. Beardslee [81 New Jersey], his wife: Elizabeth [69 New York], son: Noah [40 Michigan], daughter-in-law: Josephine [35 New Jersey], grandsons: Mortimer [7 Michigan], & Heber [4 Michigan].10 John departed this life on Wednesday, 24 January 1883 in Pontiac, Oakland County, Michigan. He had moved from his long time home in Independence Township just three months prior. John was buried at the Sashabaw Cemetery in the Sashabaw Plains, Independence Township, Oakland County, Michigan. Alongside his wife, his daughter & some grandchildren.11

Family

Elizabeth Ann Carpenter b. 8 Oct 1810, d. 1892
Children

Citations

  1. [S52] S. Whitney Phoenix, The Whitney Family of Connecticut and Its Affiliations, page 493.
  2. [S25] Isaac Haight Beardsley, Genealogical History of the Beardsly/lee Family In America, page 246 - John W. Beardsley [s/o William, Charles, John, John, Joseph, William ] b. 1799 Hardeston, Sussex County, New Jersey; m. Elizabeth Carpenter; resided Elmira, New York until 1831 then moved to Independence, Michigan; has never used tabacco, liquors, or glasses; Children: Harriett, Townsend C., Robert [b. 1830], Annie, Noah, Henry, & Nettie. Townsend was a Captain in the 22nd Mich. Vol., and d. in Union Army. Robert enlisted 1861; discharged 1863; entered US Navy 1864 & discharged 1866.
  3. [S575] History of Oakland County, Michigan : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interets, page 467 - The first white settlers were little more than squatters, mostly on section 20, the site of the Clarkston of today. Linus Jacob, one of the number. built a cedar-pole shanty on the southwest quarter of that section, planted a few potatoes among the trees, and then sold his claim to Butler Holcomb for fifty dollars. James Cronk, another temporary settler, also sold out to Mr. Holcomb. In 1831 Marvin Greenwood and Roswell Holcomb moved into the cabin built by Mr. Jacob and commenced making improvements for Butler Holcomb, the purchaser of the property.
    In the same year John W. Beardslee and wife came from Elmira, New York, and settled on the northeast quarter of section 35, in the Sashabaw plains. As stated by an old resident of the plains: "Mrs. B. was truly a helpmate, for she built the first haystack in the town, her husband pitching the hay to her. It is also a fact that her son, Townsend, was the first white child born in Independence. Townsend raised and was captain of Company D, Twenty-second b Michigan infantry in the War of the Rebellion. He died from disease in the hospital at Nashville, Tennessee." Townsend Beardslee located on section 26, where he built a log house eighteen feet square, in the early part of the winter of 1832.
    page 614 - John W. Beardslee was born in New Jersey, which was likewise the birthplace of his parents. In 1825, soon after his marriage, he came to the wilds of Michigan with his young wife, stopping first at Detroit. Starting from there with ox teams, he journeyed slowly to Pontiac, spending one night in Royal Oak Township and one at Hadsell's farm. He immediately entered from the government one hundred and sixty acres of land in Independence Township, at the same time becoming owner of forty acres in Shawnee town. Erecting a small shanty, ten by twelve feet, in the midst of the dense wilderness, he occupied it for one winter. He had no neighbors excepting the Indians, who were plentiful and often times quite annoying to the newcomers. He labored heroically in his efforts to eliminate a farm from the wilderness, being ably assisted in all of his work by his energetic wife, who built, it is said, the first hay stack in Independence Township. He continued on his farm until long past the allotted three score and ten years of man's life, removing to Pontiac about three months before his death, which occurred in 1883, at the age of eighty-four years.
    The maiden name of the wife of John W. Beardslee was Elizabeth Carpenter. She was born in Orange County, New York, about 1810, and died in Oakland County, Michigan, in 1892. They were the parents of seven children, of whom Henry C., the subject of this sketch, and his brother, Robert Beardslee, of Pontiac, are the only survivors. Three of the sons, Townsend C., Noah C. and Robert, served as soldiers in the Civil war.
  4. [S1973] 10,000 Vital Records of Western New York, 18091850: Item Number 613 - John W. Beardsley of Big Flat m Elizabeth Carpenter in Havana, NY [11/26/28] - [Genova Gazette, Genova, New York][Note - Havana was a mistranscription of Genova - KLM].
  5. [S672] 1830 United States Federal Census: Tioga County, New York - page 299 - transcribed by Larry & Kathy McCurdy.
  6. [S673] 1840 United States Federal Census: Oakland County, Michigan - page 147 - transcribed by Larry & Kathy McCurdy.
  7. [S674] 1850 United States Federal Census: Oakland County, Michigan - page 318a, line 31 - transcribed by Larry & Kathy McCurdy.
  8. [S675] 1860 United States Federal Census: Oakland County, Michigan - page 304 - transcribed by Larry & Kathy McCurdy.
  9. [S676] 1870 United States Federal Census: Oakland County, Michigan - page 292 - transcribed by Larry & Kathy McCurdy.
  10. [S677] 1880 United States Federal Census: Oakland County, Michigan - Enumeration District 256, sheet 27, line 33 - transcribed by Larry & Kathy McCurdy.
  11. [S8] Daughters of the American Revolution. Ponitac, Michigan - present to the Michigan Historical Commission - 1938 Richardson Chapter, Cemetery Records of Oakland County, Michigan, Volume V: page 344 - Sashabaw Cemetery - Beardslee, J. W. 18 Auguat 1799-24 January 1883; Elizabeth, his wife, 8 October 1810- --; Hariet, d/o J. W. & E., 8 October 1829-22 August 1862; other markers on lot - Tinie L., Lizie R., Herbie R., & Willie L. [Note: Tinie Leggett & Willie Leggett, Lizie Reid & Herbie Reid - klm]