Mrs. Abby Wilson Beard Obituary

President of the Social Benevolent Circle

May 30, 1938

Death of Mrs. Abby Wilson Beard.

Our community was greatly shocked Monday upon learning of the death of Mrs. Abby A. Beard. She had been living alone since the death of her husband, Eugene B.. Beard, in the late fall. Attending the regular meeting of John Everett Chapter O. E. S. on Thursday night, she went home apparently in perfect health, and had not been seen since until neighbors, friends and relatives, fearing something had happened, broke into her house and found her body in bed. She had probably died in her sleep Thursday night.

Mrs. Beard was born in New Ipswich on August 8, 1874, the daughter of Charles F. and Mary Adelaide (Bennett) Wilson. On March 2, 1903, she married Eugene B. Beard and the couple lived in their little home on Temple road until the death of Mr. Beard last fall. One child was born to them, living only a very short time.

Besides being a charter member of John Everett Chapter O. E. S., in which she has filled some office nearly every year since its institution, she was a member of the Congregational church and has served as president of the Social Benevolent Circle of that church and has had charge of many suppers given by the S. B. C. She was also a member of the Parent-Teacher association.

She is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Grace K. Young of Temple and Mrs. Eugene Gravlin of Rhode Island, also two brothers, Ernest G. Wilson and Charles L. Wilson, both of Townsend, Mass.

The death of Mrs. Beard is hard to believe, she seemed so much a part of the town.

The funeral was held in the Congregational church Wednesday, and burial was in the Beard lot in the Center cemetery.

Sewing Circle

Abby Beard on left

Back Row (L-R) - Abby Beard, Ruth Clapp, Esther Smith. Front Row (L-R) - Genevieve Hastings, Mary Hopkins, Eva Willard, Caroline Lowe, Margaret White, Carrie Wheeler. Given by Miss Caroline Lowe.

James Roger diary entry

30th June 1913

Fair and warm; wind west. David and W. Hardy at Spoffords’ and cutting John Preston's lawn. I went to Greenville and got bills printed for the sale of our hay, and Alice and I partly papered the sitting room. Carrie Lowe called at night. Got letter from Hamish and Mrs. Spofford.

---