July 26, 2025

Introducing Margaret Elizabeth Kern

🪶 Introduction: Margaret Elizabeth Kern

1855 – 1919
Matriarch. Fighter. Furnace of the family forge.

You don’t make it through the late 1800s raising seven children, surviving the loss of three, working a poultry house, and making headlines for smacking someone with “colorful words” unless you’re made of tougher stuff than most. And Margaret Elizabeth Kern? She was steel wrapped in homespun.

Born in Indiana in November of 1855 to German immigrant parents (names still unknown), Margaret carved her place in Columbus, Indiana, first as a Beyl bride in 1871, then as the powerhouse matriarch who held the household at 228—and later 542—Jackson Street. She bore five children who lived to adulthood, ran a household even when her husband was maimed, and outlived him by nearly a decade. Her life was marked by love, labor, loss, and, yes… a legal scuffle or two.

She wasn’t invisible. She wasn’t passive. She wasn’t background.

She was the keeper of the hearth, the mother of carpenters, the grandmother with the sharp tongue and sharper elbows when needed. She was the one who fed the chickens and the children, who paid the bills and buried her dead, who showed up in every census with a new job title and a house still full of kin.

There’s more to find—we’re still tracing her German roots and looking for a glimpse of the girl she was before she became “Mrs. Beyl.” But for now, we remember her here, not just as a name on a stone at Garland Brook Cemetery, but as the force that shaped a family.

🕊️
If you’ve got stories, memories, photos, or even family whispers about Margaret Elizabeth Kern, we’d love to hear them. Please leave a comment below or visit her Family Page for more on the children she raised and the life she built, one Jackson Street address at a time.

With curiosity and reverence,
~Kris

July 26, 2025

Introducing Jacob William Beyl Jr.

🌿 Jacob William Beyl Jr.

Born in 1876 in Columbus, Indiana, Jacob William Beyl Jr. was the son of French and German immigrants who built a life—brick by brick, board by board—in the American Midwest. He worked as a carpenter, a laborer, and a woodworker throughout his life, often living in the company of his family but rarely mentioned outside the census forms and city directories that documented his comings and goings.

Jacob’s life was marked by simplicity and struggle. He never married, and by the end of his life in 1921, he was unemployed, isolated, and battling inner turmoil that few seemed to see coming. He died by suicide at the age of 45.

His death left behind not only grief, but also questions, heartbreak, and—eventually—this effort to understand and honor him.

We remember Jacob Jr. not for the manner of his death, but for the fullness of the life he lived before it. He was a son, a brother, an uncle. He was a craftsman whose hands built things—quietly, steadily. His story matters, and we’re here to keep it from being forgotten.

You can read the full story of his life and legacy on his Family Page.

💬 Tell Us What You Know

If you knew Jacob—or even if his story simply resonates with you—I hope you’ll share your thoughts in the comments below. Every thread, every memory, every fragment helps us piece together the human story behind the name.

🧡 If You’re Struggling

If you or someone you know is experiencing thoughts of self-harm or suicide, please know that you are not alone.

In the U.S., you can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7 and free of charge.
For more information or resources, visit: 988lifeline.org

There is hope. There is help. And there are people who care.

With care,
~Kris

July 26, 2025

Introducing Viola Mildred Beyl

Featuring: Viola Mildred Beyl (1914–2000)

Pull up a chair and settle in—this page begins with Viola Mildred Beyl, though you may know her simply as Mildred. Born in 1914 to a bakery family in Indiana, she grew up with flour in the air, laughter in the kitchen, and a head full of curls.

She went on to become a Buchanan, a mother, a homemaker, and the heart of every room she entered. Her life stretched across nearly a century of change—but no matter where she lived (and oh, did she move!), Mildred left a trail of kindness, food, and unforgettable stories.

This space is part of an ongoing tribute to the Beyl family line, starting with Mildred and branching outward to include the many names and generations connected to hers.

✍️ Share Your Memories

Did you know Mildred? Have a favorite story, recipe, or quirky family trait that reminds you of her? Add your voice in the comments section below. Even a single word—like “gardening” or “card shark”—helps keep the past alive.

🌿 Want more than just the highlights?
Visit the Family Page for Viola Mildred Beyl to see the timeline, photos, and deeper roots of her story.

📜 What’s Inside

Family records & photos
Census and city directory entries
Connections to the Buchanan line
Grave marker & Find A Grave memorial
Personal stories and reader memories

Whether you’re part of the Beyl family or just wandering through the branches, you’re welcome here. Mildred’s story is the starting point—but this tree has deep roots and plenty of shade.

With care,
Kris

July 26, 2025

Introducing John Edward Beyl

John Edward Beyl

1887–1966
📍 Columbus & Indianapolis, Indiana

Before becoming a bakery foreman, a World War I registrant, and the backbone of a growing Indiana household, John Edward Beyl was just a kid on Jackson Street with a pencil-thin frame and a future full of hard-earned chapters.

He lived through two World Wars, a Great Depression, and more address changes than a census clerk would care to count. Along the way, he raised a family of five, built a life out of labor, and left behind just enough paper trail to frustrate future researchers (present company included).

This page is the place to share memories, ask questions, or throw your theories into the ring—especially if you’ve got thoughts about the Margaret-vs-Mary E. mystery, or can help track down the elusive “liquor factory” job in 1910.

📝 Ready for a deeper dive?
Read John Edward Beyl’s whole life story here →

💬 Want to leave a note or connect with others?
Drop a comment below. We’re all just stories waiting to be remembered—and you might have a piece of his.

—

Originally published July 26, 2025
Page maintained by Kris
Narrative assistant: Bones (resident rascal & record-chaser)

July 26, 2025

Introducing Mary Elizabeth Beyl (1879–1916)

She was born the daughter of a French immigrant and a woman who changed names like seasons. Raised in a modest house on Jackson Street in Columbus, Indiana, Mary Elizabeth Beyl lived a life that rarely made headlines but quietly shaped the generations that followed her.

The records call her Mary, while her grave calls her Mollie. Her death certificate names one woman as her mother, while the census suggests another. And somewhere in the shuffle, a baby girl named Helen appeared in the household before Mary had her own children.

She married a wagon driver. She bore a daughter late in her twenties. She died too young, with illness written on her death certificate and love written on her stone.

Hers is not the story of a scandal or a rebellion—but of a woman who left behind just enough questions to keep a genealogist curious.

🕯️ Want to meet Mollie properly? Her full story—names, mysteries, and all—is waiting on her family page.

🔗 Read Her Full Story »

💬 Did you know Mary? Hear stories about her, or her daughters, or the Blake family? We’d love to hear what you remember. Leave a note in the comments—every memory helps bring her closer.

July 25, 2025

Introducing Grover Thomas Beyl

🧵 Meet Grover Thomas Beyl: The Meandering Butcher of Marion County

Today would have been Grover Thomas Beyl’s birthday—born July 25th, 1891 (or possibly 1892; the records squabble about it). He was a butcher by trade, a husband and father by heart, and a man whose journey through Columbus and Indianapolis left a trail of addresses, trades, and—eventually—tragedy.

Grover’s life wasn’t grand in the traditional sense. He didn’t leave behind books, buildings, or fame. What he did leave behind were butcher knives dulled by honest work, sidewalks warmed by decades of footsteps, and a family stitched into the fabric of Indiana history.

From carpentry to meat cutting, city directories to censuses, Grover’s story is one of movement—up Jackson Street, down Bates and Cruft, over to Kelly and Tabor. A map of his life reads like a humble heartbeat across Marion County. And his final chapter? A car crash on a late August day in 1938, ending his life but not his story.

This month, we’ve revisited Grover’s life in detail—from census records to draft cards, addresses now lost to parking lots, and one very poignant obituary. You can view the full timeline, explore his mapped journey, and dig into his story in the complete profile post here ➤.

🕯️ Did You Know Grover?

If you’re a descendant, distant cousin, neighbor, or just someone with an old family story tucked away—we want to hear from you.

Did your grandparents ever mention Grover? Do you have a family photo or recipe that might relate to this branch of the tree?

Drop a comment below or send a message. Sometimes the smallest detail—a tool brand, a street name, a whispered memory—can help us bring someone back to life more vividly than any document ever could.

Grover’s story is still unfolding—and you might just hold the next piece.

~Kris
🕵️‍♂️ Someone Peed in My Gene Pool

March 9, 2017

Beyl Family History

Beyl Surname

I haven’t found much about the Beyl surname online yet. I am still in the early stages of my research on this line. Quick searches on the history of the name Beyl yield very few results, if any, which makes it challenging to determine its origin.

I’ve only found one website that provides any description for the name, but it isn’t a reliable site for genealogical purposes. It is more of a touristy site that encourages you to purchase memorabilia featuring what they claim is your coat of arms. Anyway, it stated that Beyl is a Danish name derived from the word “bayer.” Bayer means one who came from Bavaria.

However, I found that Ancestry.com lists the meaning of the Beyl name as a variant of German Beil.

So, naturally, I queried the site for the meaning of the Beil surname:

In the limited research I’ve done on this line so far, I’ve found that the Beyls immigrated to the United States from France. So the question is, can I trace them from France to Germany? Only time will tell at this point.

Ancestry also provides a helpful page with basic statistics for the Beyl line in the United States. According to the United States Federal Census, most Beyl families resided in the northeastern region.

The New York Passengers List indicates that most immigrants came from Germany, with some also arriving from the Netherlands, Prussia, and Italy. So far, I’ve only traced my line back to France. According to Ancestry.com, the Beyl Family Origin comprises four families from Germany, three from the Netherlands, two from Prussia, and one from Italy.

They also show that there are three Civil War Service Records for the Beyl surname, all of which are on the Union side.

Interestingly, I found that one person in my line, Jacob Beyl, who was listed as an Unassigned Indiana Volunteer for the Union side, appears to have been injured in the war. I haven’t found much on that, but I will be doing further research to see if I can identify what happened.

Ancestry reports that most of the Beyl ancestors were farmers. A good portion were laborers. I have found both in my line. There were also some Saloon Keepers as well as horse car drivers.

I did find a site that listed a couple of Beyl settlers in the United States during the 18th Century. One was Johan Peter Beyl, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1747. Another was Johannes Beyl, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1754.

I do not yet know if either of these is related to my line, but I will attempt to confirm or deny this during my research.

Beyl Members I’ve Researched So Far

- Jacob William Sr

Ultimately, it seems that the Beyl family’s life expectancy has been relatively similar to that of the general public. Some died young, around 50 years old, while others lived to be around 90 years old. But the majority seem to pass away around 70 years old.

I know this is very little information to provide so far. However, as I mentioned earlier, I have only recently begun researching this line and hope to add a great deal more information shortly.

It would be nice to know more about these ancestors. Where did they originate before arriving in France? Why did they immigrate to the United States?

I hope to find a wealth of information on this line, as it holds particular significance for me. Have you found Beyl in your family tree yet? If so, I’d love to hear from you!

Even if you haven’t, have you found reliable places to research the history of your family name? I’d love to know where to find accurate information about surnames and their history. Do share and let us know how you do it.

That’s all for now, I’ll check back regularly and update this page as I find additional information.

I’ll leave you with a common Genealogy phrase:

This packrat has learned that the next generation will value most is not what we owned, but the evidence of who we were and the tales of how we loved. In the end, it’s the family stories that are worth the storage. – Ellen Goodman, The Boston Globe

Happy searching!

~Kris