Families Gather in Annual Meet

Beardslee-Sutton Reunion Was Held Near Clarkston.

The spacious farm lawn at the home of John O. and Mr. and Mrs. Casper Beardslee, about four miles north of Clarkston, was the scene of a large and happy family reunion on Saturday, August 2.  It was the annual gathering of the Beardslee-Sutton clan, and no more delightful spot could have been found, amid stately maple and broad evergreen trees.

An interesting program followed a bountiful dinner on the lawn, the main feature of which was a brief history of the Beardslee family presented by Mrs. Carrie Larned, of Detroit.  It set forth that the first record of the appearance of the family in the western hemisphere goes back as far as 1635, when William Beardslee and his wife and three children came to America and settled near Boston.  Old colonial papers show that William Beardslee and his four sons were prominent in the early history of New England.

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Samuel T. Beardslee Killed Instantly

Funeral Was Held Monday with Burial in Sashabaw Cemetery

Friends and neighbors of Samuel T. Beardslee were shocked to hear of his death late last Friday afternoon when he was run down by a team of horses.

Mr. Beardslee and his son, Grant, were plowing in the same field, with the son and his team some distance behind the father. Grant stopped to roll a stone from ahead of his plow when his team bolted and ran up the furrow, ran down Mr. Beardslee and into the second team. All four horses continued across the field dragging the older man for some distance.

The son ran for a car and took his father to the house but he was dead when taken from the car.

Mr. Beardslee was very active for his age and always tried to do his portion of his work about the farm. He was born in 1856, on the farm adjacent to the present Beardslee farm at 6650 Pine Knob off Sashabaw Road. He was married to Emma V. Wager in 1881 and she died in 1910. In 1916 he remarried to Estie Ford, who survives him.

Besides his widow he is survived by his son by his first marriage, five grandchildren and two sisters, Mrs. Carrie B. Larned of Ann Arbor and Mrs. Lucy McDermand of Fenton.

A prayer service was held at the home on Monday afternoon at two o’clock which was followed by a service at the Sashabaw Presbyterian Church with Rev. Clarence Sutton officiating. Burial was in Sashabaw cemetery. The Ogden Funeral Home in Clarkston had charge of the arrangements.

Source: Clarkston News, May 3, 1940.

Beardslee Family Meets At Clarkston

Clarkston, Aug. 4—The annual reunion of the Beardslee family was held at the farm home of Samuel T. Beardslee, near here. About 70 members enjoyed a pot-luck dinner. John W. Reid, of Detroit, was re-elected president and Mrs. Carrie B. Larned, of Ann Arbor, was chosen secretary and treasurer. Mr. Reid is a grandson of John W. Beardslee who selected near Pontiac in 1831.

The family history reveals that William Beardslee came with his wife and three children from England in 1635 in the ship Planter and settled near Boston. Colonial records give evidence that William Beardslee and his sons filled an important place in the early history of New England. The origin of the family name dates back to 1211 when it was adopted as a surname by the owner or lord of Bards’ Isle. The next reunion will be held at the same place the first Saturday in August, 1932.

Source: Detroit Free Press, August 5, 1931.

Small Town News—Beardslee & Beardsley

Wesley Stevens, James Poole and Mrs. Grant Beardslee went to Detroit Saturday for a conference with the New Era Church extension board. Arrangements were made for the continuance of the work for another year with W. H. Chambers as pastor. (Clarkston Community News, October 22, 1921)

John Beardslee and granddaughter, Lillian, were recent callers of Mrs. Myrtle Boomer. (Lake Orion Review, September 16, 1938)

Rollie Beardslee of Grand Rapids spent a portion of last week at Sidney Groover’s. (Orion Weekly Review, March 26, 1909)

Mr. and Mrs. Fred Beardsley and family, Mr. and Mrs. Donald Francis and family, Arthur Groover, Mrs. Edna Groover and son Marshall, plan to attend the Groover Sutton family reunion at Bloomer State Park at Rochester, Sunday. Potluck dinner at 12:30 p.m. (Lake Orion Review, July 26, 1940)

Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Beardsley and family of Elgin, Ill., were the guests of their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Beardsley, from Thursday until Monday. On Sunday all attended a family gathering and picnic dinner at Apland Beach, Bay City, the home of the latter’s granddaughter and husband, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Gustafson. Also attending were Mr. and Mrs. Howard Beardsley and son and Mr. and Mrs. Harold Beardsley and family of Oxford, Miss Helen Beardsley of Mt. Clemens and Mrs. Carol Beardsley and daughter, Cara, of Clawson. (Orion Weekly Review, June 6, 1952)

Runaway Team Kills Farmer

Samuel T. Beardslee, 83 years old, Independence Township farmer, was instantly killed last Friday when he was run down by a team of horses. His wife, Estie Ford, survives him, also a son, 5 grandchildren, and 2 sisters. Lake Orion relatives are Mrs. Frank Thurstin, Mrs. Will Schoff, Marion Sutton, and Mrs. Porter Faulkner. (Lake Orion Review, May 3, 1940)

Mr. and Mrs. Chester Johnson and Mr. and Mrs. Grant Brodt attended the funeral of their cousin, Samuel T. Beardslee, at the Sashabaw Church Monday afternoon. (Lake Orion Review, May 3, 1940)

Killed in 17-Foot Fall from Telephone Pole

Injuries received on Wednesday of last week when a telephone pole on which Casper C. Beardslee, of Clarkston, was working, resulted in his death Friday morning in Goodrich Hospital.  Mr. Beardslee, who lived on a farm 4 1/2 miles from Clarkston, with the help of Lewis Galligan, was repairing a telephone line.  He was standing on a ladder resting against the base of the pole when it broke at the base, throwing him 17 feet to the ground.  He struck his head in the fall and never regained consciousness.  Mr. Beardslee was born in Orion Township October 20, 1884 and had spent his entire life in Oakland County.  He attended the Block School and was married to Hattie Beardslee, who survives him.  He also leaves three children, Lillian, Earl and Ray, and his father, John O. Beardslee, who makes his home with the family.  Funeral services were held Monday afternoon with Rev. H.A. Huey of Ann Arbor, former Clarkston Baptist minister, officiated assisted by Rev. W.H. Stevens.  Burial was made in Lake View Cemetery.

Source: Lake Orion Review, April 16, 1937.