Harold Tyson Bücher

"In 1819, Thomas Beard decided to build his town along the Illinois River. He was able to finance it immediately by selling lumber and honey, which were abundant in the region. On Main Street, next to the riverbank, Beard had a ferry and a hotel. Business was good. The town was platted in 1829, and by 1833, a pioneer wrote that people were living in tents because they could not build houses fast enough to meet the demand. Soon there were farms, orchards, flour mills, and a pork-packing plant. Most of the supplies for the inland farms and even Springfield came through the Beardstown waterfront. Beardstown has lost most of its industry, but it still has a pork-packing plant. The company hires a number of foreign employees, and when they retire, many choose to stay in Beardstown. It remains a safe, pleasant place to live"--Back cover.

Thomas Beard was a young man of 24 years who was determined to find a place on the Illinois River where he could build a town and make a living. There were no roads, only Indian paths, so it is a wonder that he found his spot. If he had traveled by river, it would have been much easier, as the waterway was already a main artery from St. Louis to Chicago. If Beardstown's elevation had been 40 feet higher, away from possible flooding, the town could have been a candidate for the state capital. All of the supplies and produce for central Illinois came through Beardstown and Meredosia. Beard was fortunate to have capable and willing friends who helped develop the town. Some of the early pioneers were Enoch C. March, Horace Billings, Sylvester Emmons, John A. Arenz, and John's brother Francis Arenz, the founder of Arenzville.