JAMES ALBERT AND MARY ELIZABETH GEAR BECKLEY

James Albert Beckley was born April 11, 1878 in Thomas Township, Saginaw County, Michigan to Robert and Anna Roach Beckley. James married Mary Elizabeth Gear on September 16, 1902 in Hemlock, Saginaw County, Michigan. Mary was born November 29, 1875 in Ingersoll Township, Midland County, Michigan to John R. and Catherine Burns Gear. Catherine Burns Gear was born in the County of Kilkinney, Ireland on January 12, 1841 to Thomas and Elizabeth Ryan Burns. Mary Elizabeth's sisters were Margaret Genack and Catherine Jacobs; they were all neighbors to one another; living in Lakefield Township in 1916.

James and Mary had the following children:

1. Vincent Beckley was born in 1903 and married Mabel O'Brien on December 26, 1927 in Saginaw, Michigan. Vincent also married Helen Drake Tool.

2. George Beckley was born in 1905.

3. Charles/Carl Beckley was born 1907.

4. John Arthur Beckley was born May 6, 1909 and died June 12, 1910 in Lakefield Township.

5. Francis Raymond Beckley was born August 30, 1913 in Lakefield Township and died November 18, 1932 in Dearborn, Wayne County, Michigan.

6. James Leo Beckley was born June 26, 1916 in Lakefield Township.

In 1916, James and Mary owned and operated an 80 acre farm in Section 14 on Chapin Road between Roosevelt and Lakefield Roads. Their neighbors were: George Miller, Dan H. McLeod, Jay Schoonmaker, L.J. Pratt, Thomas Genack, John Liebrock, Lewis Liebrock, Patrick Crowley and Edward Jacobs.

Albert and Mary's children went to the Bastedo School on Lakefield Road.

By 1930 the family was living in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan.

Mary died on May 24, 1954 in Detroit, Michigan.

SOURCES: James and Mary Gear's marriage record; Tress Gear McNenley's genealogy; 1916 Lakefield Plat Map; United States Census; James Gear's WWI and WWII draft registrations; Mary Elizabeth Gear's birth record, John Arthur Beckley birth and death records; Francis Raymond Beckley birth record and SS Death Record.