Elizabeth Beardsley

Ruthmere Mansion, now Ruthmere Museum, was the home of Elizabeth Beardsley (and her husband, Albert). Witty, intelligent, unique, and dynamic, Elizabeth was one of the most well-known women in Elkhart at the turn between the 19th and 20th centuries.

Elizabeth was always an Elkhart native, born in 1850 to pioneer citizens Silas and Jane Baldwin. Her father held quite a few important titles in the town throughout his life, including the postmaster and the first local station agent for the railroad company. For that reason, Elizabeth grew up within a wealthy home and became integrated with many of the well-to-do members of society at the time. All four of her siblings predeceased her. Most tragic was the death of her brother, Frank, who was killed at the age of 18 during the Civil War. Some surmise that Elizabeth developed her patriotic nature because of her brother’s untimely death. She expressed her patriotism by donating American flags to local public schools and other city buildings.

In 1872, Elizabeth married Albert R. Beardsley of Elkhart’s founding family. They moved into a new home at 311 W. High St., which was later donated to the League of Women Voters and still stands today. Albert helped to run the family businesses, eventually joining up with Dr. Franklin Miles in 1889 to form the medical company, Miles Laboratories. The business proved to be a national success. With their accumulating wealth, Elizabeth and Albert commissioned E. Hill Turnock to build a new home, Ruthmere Mansion. The mansion was completed in 1910 and was named after Elizabeth and Albert’s only daughter, Ruth, who died in infancy in 1881.

While Albert ran the business, Elizabeth bloomed into a socialite and suffragette. Ruthmere’s lavish parties would often make local newspapers – Elizabeth would regale her guests with tales of her travels across the world and the rich details of the art and architecture within her elegant home. But even beyond the social extravagance, Elizabeth was politically involved, working for women’s rights - including the right to vote. She often paid for the education of local young women and opened her home as a venue for them to practice their musical arts. Her civic activities included being the first president of the Indiana Department of the Woman’s Relief Corps and the first president of the Shiloh Field Woman’s Relief Corps. She was also credited with supporting the public library’s first form of bookmobile and being a member of the library’s board of trustees.

Unique for her time, Elizabeth smoke, drank champagne and swore when the spirit moved her. She cultivated her own garden in Ruthmere’s greenhouse and was often seen pampering her Chow dog, Wang. Under her direction, Ruthmere became a gathering place for the Elkhart community – artists, businessmen, and politicians. She and Albert both passed in 1924, but their home is still one of culture, art, and music.