BEARDSTOWN, p-v., Cass co., Ill., on the E. side of Illinois r., 48 W by N. Springfield, 826 W. It has 13 stores, a Methodist and an Episcopal church, 2 sch. 73 scholars. Pop. 336. (Haskell's Complete Descriptive and Statistical Gazetteer of the the United States...,1840)
BEARDSTOWN A thriving town, the capital of Cass county, is situated on the Illinois river, 50 miles W.N.W. from Springfield. It contains, besides the county buildings, several churches, hotels, stores and fine residences. The surface is diversified, soil rich and is fast increasing in population. A paper is published here called the Central Illinoisan. There is also here two lodges of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, one lodge of Independent Order of Odd Fellows, one lodge of Good Templars, and one of Sons of Temperance. Population, 2,000. James Shaw, Postmaster. (Hawes' Illinois State Gazetteer...,1859)