Christena Beeker ^{2 3 4 5}

   FamilySearch ID: KJ8N-B8K.

  Noted events in her life were:

1. Census in 1840 in , Tippecanoe, IN. ⁶ The 1840 census recorded two Beeker households living near John Pruitt who married John Beeker's daughter Barbara.
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The census lists John Becker [sic, indexed as Becker but handwriting is Beeker] with a household as follows:
Home in 1840 (City, County, State): Tippecanoe , Indiana
Free White Persons - Males - 5 thru 9: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 14: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 50 thru 59: 1
Free White Persons - Females - Under 5: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 5 thru 9: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 14: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 15 thru 19: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 40 thru 49: 1
Persons Employed in Mining: 3
Free White Persons - Under 20: 6
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49: 2
Total Free White Persons: 9
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Next door is son Leonard Beckers [sic, handwriting is Beeker] with this household:
Name:Leonard Beckers
Home in 1840 (City, County, State): Tippecanoe, Indiana
Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 20 thru 29: 1
Persons Employed in Mining: 1
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49: 2
Total Free White Persons: 2.

2. Census in 1850 in Tippecanoe Township, Tippecanoe, IN. ⁷ The 1850 census recorded mother Christian Becker [sic, surname is Beeker handwritten poorly but given name is written Christian, not Christina], 59, born in North Carolina, living with her children born in Indiana: Samuel, farmer, 25; William, 21; and daughter Christian, 16. The mother had no real estate value listed but each of the 3 children had $3000.

3. Census in 1860 in Milford, Iroquois, IL. ⁸ The 1860 census recorded George M. Laird, farmer, 27, living with wife Christina, 26; daughter Orle Ann, 3; and son Leonard, 2. George and Christina were born in Indiana and their children in Illinois. George's real estate is valued at $2900 and personal estate $616. On the same census page is Elisha Laird, 33, with his family, and Charles Laird, 23, with his wife. On the following census page is George's father, Samuel Laird, with his family.

4. Residence: in 1861 in Otterbein, Benton, IN. ²

5. Census in 1870 in Bolivar Township, Benton, IN. ⁹ The 1870 census recorded George Laird, farmer, 37, living with wife Christina, 36; Oley Ann, 13; Lenard, 12; Clarinda, 8; Ida, 6; and twins Elmer and Elmira, 1. Everyone was born in Indiana. George's real estate is valued at $1400 and personal estate $400. Next door is Christina's brother, William Beeker, farmer, 39, with his family living on an real estate valued at $10,000. The post office was Pond Grove.

6. Residence: in 1875 in Otterbein, Benton, IN. ²

7. Census in 1880 in Bolivar Township, Benton, IN. ¹⁰ The 1880 census recorded Christenia Laird, 46, living with daughter Orlean, 23; Leonard, farming, 21; Clarinda, 18; Ida, 16; Elmer, 11; and Frank, 7. Christenia was born in Indiana and her parents in North Carolina. Orlean and Leonard were born in Ilinois, their father in Ohio and mother in Indiana. Clarina, Ida, Elmer and Frank and their mother were born in Indiana, their father in Ohio.

8. Residence: in 1888 in , Benton, IN. ⁵

9. Census in 1900 in Otterbein, Benton, IN. ¹¹ The 1900 census recorded Christina Laird, widowed, 66, born Aug 1833, living alone. She was born in Indiana and her parents in North Carolina. The census columns say she had given birth to 8 children, 5 alive in 1900.

10. Census in 1910 in Otterbein, Benton, IN. ¹² The 1910 census recorded owning a home: Christina Laird, widowed, 76, living with daughter Clara, 48. Neitehr had an occupation. Christina was born in Indiana and her parents in North Carolina. Clara and her mother were born in Indiana and her father in Ohio.

11. Census in 1920 in Otterbein, Benton, IN. ¹³ The 1920 census recorded owning a home on Oxford street: Christena Laird, widowed, 86, living with her daughter, Clarinda, single, dressmaker at home, 58, both born in Indiana. Christena's parents were born in North Carolina. Clarinda's father was born in Ohio and mother in Indiana.

12. Cause of Death: chronic valvular heart disease, contributory rheumatism, 11 Jun 1923, Otterbein, Benton, IN. ⁴

13. Obituary: Journal and Courier: Grandma Laird Dies at Otterbein At Age of Ninety on 11 Jun 1923 in Lafayette, Tippecanoe, IN. ² ---
"Grandma" Laird Dies at Otterbein At Age of Ninety
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Mrs. Christena Laird, pioneer, died at the family residence in Otterbein Monday morning. "Grandma" Laird, as she was usually known, almost realized her ambition to celebrate her 90th birthday. The funeral will be held Wednesday morning at 10 at the M. E. church.
Mrs. Laird was born near Battle Ground, August 3, 1833. On Dec. 11, 1855, she was united in marriage to George W. Laird, also of Battle Ground, and to this union eight children were born, five surviving as follows: Leonard of Chicago; Clara, of Otterbein; Mrs. Clara Holliday, Marion, Ind; Elmer of Otterbein and Frank of King Hill, Idaho. Of nine grandchildren but three survive; she leaves great grandchildren. In I860 Mr. and Mrs. Laird located on a farm one mile north of Otterbein, and following his death 35 years ago, she moved to Otterbein, remaining until her death. Mrs. Laird was the sole surviving member of the original Beeker Chapel, established a short distance north of Otterbein about the year 1860.

Christena married George William Laird, son of Samuel W. Laird and Delilah Albin, on 3 Dec 1855 in Battle Ground, Tippecanoe, IN.^{1 2} (George William Laird was born on 30 Jun 1833 in , Guernsey, OH,¹⁴ died on 24 Sep 1874 in Otterbein, Tippecanoe, IN ¹⁴ and was buried in Montmorenci, Tippecanoe, IN ¹⁴.)