• Born: May 8, 1891
• Died: September 20, 1951
• Buried: Pennsburg UCC
• Spouse: William Beard
  • Born: March 4, 1896
  • Died: June 20, 1962
  • Parents: Lewis F & Flora (Bitting) Beard
• Married: July 4, 1914
• Children: Ethel (see below), Vincent, Fern, Bernard*, Galen

---

Emma Mabel was born on May 8, 1891. Like many young people at the turn of the 20th century, Emma left school early – the 7th grade in her case – in order to work. In 1900, at the age of 18, she worked in a shirt factory. Later, she worked in a cigar factory.

In 1914, Emma married William Beard. The couple lived in Red Hill, just a few doors down from William’s parents, Lewis & Flora. Both families can be seen on the 1920 & 1930 censuses. In 1940, records include that Emma and William lived at 634 Main Street. At the time, William was a loom fixer in the local silk mill.

Children of Emma Mabel and William

1. Ethel May was born on November 1, 1910 and died just shy of her 100th birthday on June 28, 2010. Ethel was Emma’s first child, but not William’s. Ethel’s father was Ray Needham (1889-1929), a salesman from Indiana (insert joke about the traveling salesman here). By all accounts, however, William Beard raised Ethel as his own. Ethel married Robert Saul (1910-1972); their son is Rex. Ethel and Robert are buried at Keelys Church Cemetery in Schwenksville, Montgomery Co.

2. Vincent Lamar Beard was born on August 19, 1915 and died on September 11, 1979. He married Katherine Schoenley (1915-1981). Their daughters are Sharon and Emmy. Vincent and Katherine are buried at Pennsburg UCC.

3. Fern Violet was born on March 14, 1919 and died on October 14, 2016. She married John Hauck. their daughter is Jacqueline. Early in life, Fern was a weaver at the Red Hill silk mill. She was a member of the Pennsburg UCC choir for over 50 years and played piano. Fern and John are buried at Pennsburg UCC.

4. Bernard was born in 1927 and died in 2015. He married Eleanor Grace Custer (known as Grace), a direct descendant of Schwenkfelder families. Their sons are Brian, Blair, and Bruce (my father).

5. Galen Richard was born on July 11, 1931 and died on March 24, 1998. He was born and resided in Red Hill, a self-employed barber from 1961 to around 1997. He married Hazel Cressman (1931-2020). Their children are Glenn and Bonny. Galen and Hazel are buried at Pennsburg UCC.