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James Beers was born in County Down, Ireland, on June 2, 1807. Jane Ferguson was born in the same county on January 1, 1813. In 1827, James and Jane were married in County Down, and left the same year for America. They first landed in New Orleans and settled in Louisiana. Some time later they moved north to Saint Louis, Missouri where Samuel Beers was born in 1840. They moved back to Louisiana, and then to Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, where John Beers was born on May 24, 1842. In that same year, James Beers bought a farm in Adams Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, which became the family home-place. Margaret was born in 1849, Alexander in 1851, Robert in 1853, and Elizabeth in 1856. There were eleven children of the marriage, but only the six listed above are known from the 1870 census.
By 1860, the family was settled on a successful farm in Adams Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania.
The attack on Fort Sumter, in Charleston Harbor, on April 9, 1861, began the Civil War, and immediately attracted many Pennsylvania men to service against the rebels. On April 11, at Evansburgh, Captain William Stewart enrolled men to serve in the Connoquenessing Rangers, an infantry company. Both Sam and John Beers enrolled as privates. Sam’s enrollment was accepted, but John’s was rescinded because he was underage for army service.
In May 1861, Governor Curtin of Pennsylvania signed into law an act establishing the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps. Pennsylvania had enrolled many more men for service than President Lincoln had called for, and the State Legislature determined to take advantage of the over-enrollment to form a State Militia of 13 infantry regiments and a regiment of cavalry and one of artillery. On June 10, Sam Beers was called up to serve with the Connoquenessing Rangers as part of the Pennsylvania Reserves. The Rangers were designated Company D, 11th Pennsylvania Reserves.
On July 21, 1861, a great battle began along the little north Virginia creek called Bull Run. Northerners were so confident that this would be the end of the Confederacy that hundreds of civilians rode south from Washington City to the battlefield to watch the defeat of the south. For the first few hours the fight went the federal’s way, and the onlookers enjoyed a festive picnic atmosphere. In the early afternoon, General Johnston’s rebels arrived on the field and were committed to battle. The tide turned against the federals, and by late afternoon the battlefield resembled a poorly organized race as Yankee soldiers and civilians streamed north toward Washington City in a complete rout. President Lincoln, frantic for instant reinforcements, wired Governor Curtin of Pennsylvania and asked for the services of the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps. The governor immediately ordered the entire corps to entrain for Washington City as quickly as possible. |
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THE JAMES BEERS FAMILY |