This photo was taken in early 1970's. The farm was known as the William & Eliza (Miller) Beard farm in the mid 1880's. Around 1919 the farm was owned by William's son, John Beard and his wife, May. The farm was sold in 1958.

The Bluffs Road runs through the back of the farm, where a large boulder provided a landmark letting pioneers traveling west know they had 100 miles to go till they reached Council Bluffs, Iowa. Bluffs Road was the main thoroughfare through Southern Iowa, as covered wagons went West. Pioneers going west camped along the road and grazed their stock as they went along.
.