Biography of
Dr. Harry Lee Beard
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Dr. Harry L. Beard, of Lewisburg, was one of the best beloved physicians of the Greenbrier Valley. During the World War he served the Medical Corps of the United States Army . |
References
| Obituary : Dr. Harry L. Beard, aged 63 years, of Lewisburg, one of the best beloved physicians of the Greenbrier valley, died at his home on Tuesday morning, August 16, 1932. For two years and more he had been suffering from an internal cancer. Thursday morning his body was laid to rest besides the graves of his father, mother, and sister, the service being conducted by Dr. Smith of the Methodist Church and Dr. French Thompson of the Presbyterian Church. Dr. Beard was the son of the late John Jordan Beard and Minerva Edminston Beard. he was born at Renicks Valley, Greenbrier County. His father served as clerk of the courts of Pocahontas County and his boyhood and early manhood was spent in Huntersville. His mother preceded him to the grave four years since. His brother is Fred Beard. his sister, Mrs. Mollie Beard Moore, wife of Judge Forest Moore, died many years ago. he never married. Dr. Beard was educated at the West Virginia University and the University of Virginia. he settled in Lewisburg for the practice of medicine and soon took rank as a leading and beloved physician. During the World War he served the Medical Corps of the United States Army. One whom we love lies anguished -- no human power Can help him now who gave his life for others. No skill or care or tenderness Can bring him ease -- Only the merciful slow passing Of life itself can bring him reset again. Unselfish, patient, wise -- he lived a hero. Facing great pain, waiting alone for darkness. Still loving life, Always will we remember. Always strive. To put aside the ... in our hearts. To live for others in our smaller way. To follow in the path he went so long. Silently, bravely, So we can honor him. Dr. Thompson read these lines at the grave of Dr. Beard. he does not know the author. he writes me. I think that if I had been writing a eulogy of Dr. Beard, it would have been fashioned something after that immortal story as told by Ian McLaren's "The Doctor of the Old School." In one sentence I would say "He saved others, but himself he would not save." A great and good man has gone, but I do not believe as the poet would say "into darkness" Reason, justice and faith would all cry against it. |
ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/wv/greenbrier/bios/wvoldnew/beard.txtGreenbrier County, West Virginia Biography of HARRY L. BEARD, M. D. This file was submitted by Valerie Crook, E-mail address: <[redacted]> The submitter does not have a connection to the subject of this sketch. This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. All other rights reserved. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. This file is part of the WVGenWeb Archives. If you arrived here inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/wv/wvfiles.htm The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 613 HARRY L. BEARD, M. D., a representative physician engaged in successful general practice at Lewisburg, the county seat of Greenbrier County, expresses in unostenta- tious and effective service his professional and personal stewardship. He is a native of this county, his birth having occurred September 7, 1869, and he is a scion of one of the old and honored families of Greenbrier County. Here was born his father, John J. Beard, and also his grand- father, Joseph Beard, whose father, William Beard, was the founder of the family in this section. Joseph Beard, a farmer and stock-grower, removed to Pocahontas County just prior to the outbreak of the Civil war, and there he passed the remainder of his life. John J. Beard likewise was a representative of farm industry in the earlier part of his career, and after his removal to Pocahontas County lie was there elected clerk of the courts. He served as a soldier of the Confederacy in the Civil war, in which he was made lieutenant in a cavalry regiment, and he took part in numerous engagements, in one of which, near Winches- ter, he was wounded. He was one of the honored and influential citizens of Pocahontas County at the time of his death, in 1898. His wife was Minerva A. Edmiston. Of their three children two are living. Doctor Beard was reared in Pocahontas County. He advanced his education along academic lines by attending Hillsboro Academy, the University of West Virginia and the historic old University of Virginia. While a student at the last named institution, in 1891, he entered its medical department, and in the same he was graduated as a member of the class of 1893. After thus receiving his degree of Doctor of Medicine he entered the United States marine-hospital service at New Orleans, and while there holding the position of interne he gained most valuable clinical experience. In 1895 he returned to Lewisburg, where he has since continued in the active practice of his profession and where, in years of consecutive practice, he now has priority as the next oldest physician of the city. When the nation became involved in the World war Doctor Beard promptly tendered his services by entering the medical corps of the United States Army, his preliminary training having been received at Camp Greenleaf, at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. Thereafter he was stationed in turn at Camps Hill and Stuart. In May, 1918, he entered active service as ship's surgeon on a transport assigned to the conveying of troops from the United States to France, and he continued his service in this important capacity until the close of the war. Doctor Beard has been a close student of the best standard and periodical literature of his profession, has taken various post-graduate courses and has kept in close touch with the advances made in medical and surgical science. He is a Knight Templar Mason, and as a citizen he is loyal and public-spirited. |
