My, what a wonderful response to my request for help! Thank you all for your advice. It's nice to know that there are so many helpful people out there. We certainly aren't quiet anymore, are we? My Beard family's name was originally spelled Baird, so variations in the spelling are possible. Alfred N. Beard's brother was Thomas, founder of Beardstown in Cass Co., Illinois. Their parents were Jedediah Beard and Charlotte Nichols Beard who moved to Burton, Ohio, from Granville, NY, in 1800. Jedediah and Charlotte's children were Thomas (1894-1849), Thalia (1897-1860), Amey (1899-1877), Charlotte (1801-1853), Hannah (1803-1864), Alma (1806-1827), Paulina (1810-1878+), Salina (1812-1886), and Alfred N. (Nichols?) who was born in 1813 in Burton, Ohio. Many of these people moved to Beardstown and are buried there. There is a wonderful Baird/Beard website that tells more about Beardstown and lists some of the family members buried in the Thomas Beard Cemetery. http://www.outfitters.com/~chelle/chelle.htm If anyone feels that they might be connected to my Beard family, I would be happy to add their Beards to my database with the hope of connecting them eventually. Please feel free to email me directly if that is easier. Thanks again for all of your help. You are a wonderful group! Sydney