In 1850 a young man named William J. Beard, age 17, born Tennessee, lives in Itawamba County MS. In 1870 a man named William J. Beard, age 36, born Tennessee, lives in Lamar County TX with Sarah C. Beard, age 26, also born Tennessee. Wish we could fin him on the 1860 census.

From the little bit we know about him -- and it isn't much -- he doesn't appear to have had the education to have been a physician. Beard seems to have been anxious to stay out of Confederate service and was not with his command long enough to recall its name when asked.

Since his second oath gave his residence as McNairy County TN, it would seem that he had decided not to return to Mississippi at that time.