The parents of Nathaniel M. Beard
Nathaniel M. Beard was born about 1838, either in Bedford County, Tennessee, or in Panola County, Mississippi. In the 1850 census at age twelve, he was listed born in Mississippi. In the 1860 census, he is listed born in Tennessee. He was probably the first child of Hugh to be born in Mississippi after the move from Tennessee. In 1860, he was a married man of 22 with his own land. He was married to Melinda A. before 1857, and in their home in 1860 they had a daughter of three years old. Melinda was born in Tennessee about 1842. On that 1860 census, they were living between the Mary Beard and the Seralda Houston households, his mother and his sister. He is probably the N. M. Beard who is listed with the Mississippi Devils, Company I of the First Alabama, Tennessee, and Mississippi Infantry, also known as the Fourth Confederate. Nathaniel may have perished in the War as we find no trace of him or his family afterwards. The daughter was:
1. Eliza M. Beard was born about 1857 in Panola County, Mississippi.