Bio: Beardsley, Corydon (1914)

Contact: Crystal Wendt

----Surnames: Beardsley, Greeley, Hathaway

----Source: History of Eau Claire County Wisconsin (1914) pages 649-650

Corydon L. Beardsley. In perpetuating in words more enduring than monuments of stone the memory of men of prominence whose active and valuable lives have been spent in Eau Claire county, the pages of this volume would be incomplete were mention not made of the honored pioneer whose name is here recorded.

Mr. Beardsley was born in the state of New York, May 21, 1839, and on both sides is descended from sterling New England families, good loyal citizens and most exemplary characters. Corydon L. received his primary education in the common schools of his neighborhood, and early in life, imbued with the spirit of the late Horace Greeley, he turned his face to the setting sun. Landing in Wisconsin, he followed the occupation for a time of well digging, and during the civil war he enlisted in Company F. Thirtieth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and proved a brave and efficient soldier.

In 1865 he came to Eau Claire county and settled on a farm in Pleasant Valley township, which he improved and where he lived, engaged in general farming until 1907, when he retired from active labor, moved into the city of Eau Claire, where he now resides in the enjoyment of his family and the fruits of his many years of toil. Mr. Beardsley was united in marriage to Miss Hannah Hathaway, a very estimable lady of Pierce county, Wisconsin, by whom he had nine children, viz: Elmer E., born May 5, 1862; Ella A., born October 29, 1864; Viola E., born October 17, 1866; Effie H., born October 2, 1868; Clifford J., born September 16, 1870; Henry L., born July 2, 1873; Lettie S., born June 16, 1876; Lillian F., born December 30, 1879, and Bertha O., born December 25, 1883. The mother of these children, who was a lady of rare womanly graces and domestic virtues, died January 21, 1896, loved and respected by all who knew her. Mr. Beardsley has been a resident of Eau Claire county for nearly fifty years and is one of the energetic, thrifty and highly respected men. He is a member of Eagle Post, No. 52, Grand Army of the Republic, of Eau Claire.