Mahoning County OhArchives Obituaries.....Beardsley, Mary Parthena Dean  December 7 1905
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Mahoning Dispatch 15 Dec 1905
“Mrs. Almus Beardsley”

Mary Parthena Dean was born in Canfield, O., April 15, 1833, and died in 
Canfield, Dec. 7, 1905. She was the daughter of Hiram and Rheuby Dean, the 
fifth and last survivor in a family of seven. In early womanhood, Sept. 26, 
1854, she was mated to her young neighbor, Mr. Almus Beardsley. Six children 
came to bless their home, three of whom survive her-Mrs. W.C. Wilson, Ensign 
Beardsley and Hiram J. Beardsley.
In this land and time of roving habits it is refreshing to note that Mrs. 
Beardsley passed the 72 years of her life within five minutes walk of the spot 
where she was born, and on the old Dean homestead. And in this connection it 
is also of interest to state that, including her own grandchildren of whom 
there are eight living, six generations of Dean descendants have lived on the 
old homestead. In 1810 William and Parthena Dean came from Cornwall, 
Litchfield county, Conn., and settled on this place. With them came the aged 
parents, Benjamin and Ruth Tanner Dean, and four children, among whom was 
Hiram, the father of Mrs. Beardsley.
Mrs. Beardsley’s educational advantages were such as were common on the 
Western Reserve fifty years ago-the country school and a term or two at an 
academy. She taught for two or three summer terms, during one of which it was 
my privilege to be her pupil.
Coming from good New England stock on both sides, she developed high religious 
and domestic traits. At the early age of fourteen she professed her christian 
faith and united with the Disciple of Christ, worshipping in the little church 
on Dean Hill. After the church there disbanded in 1865 she transferred her 
membership to the church that had grown up at the Center. Her christian life 
was not obtrusive, but it was consistent and steadfast. She did not blow a 
trumpet before her, but her character was richly adorned with those christian 
graces that make for the betterment of the home, the church and the state. Her 
home was her true kingdom; and even there she rather ministered as servant 
than reigned as queen. As wife and mother she spared not herself but gave of 
her best to the very uttermost. Of her it may be said without exaggeration-
“None knew her but to love her,
None named her but to praise.”
“One by one we are leaving these houses over which there flit the sunshine and 
the shadow for that home that knows no shadow but only the sunshine of God’s 
eternal love.
One by one we are dropping out of the narrowing circles of earth to enter the 
ever widening circle of our Father’s children in the mansion above.
How soon the summons shall come to us we know not; we only know that for some 
of us it can not be long delayed. God grant that when it comes it may find us 
ready.”
These last services were conducted by Prof. B.S. Dean at the old home and were 
attended by a large company of friends and neighbors. Her form rests with 
those of her children and parents and many other kindred at that Mecca of the 
Dean family, Dean Hill Cemetery.





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