James Walker Beardsley

James W. Beardsley was a wealthy cattle farmer and landowner who is best remembered as a philanthropic benefactor of Bridgeport, Connecticut, where institutions he established or funded include the Beardsley Zoo and Beardsley Park. He also served as a state legislator, representing Bridgeport, in 1848.

Per a cited entry on Wikipedia:

"In 1878, James W. Beardsley, a wealthy farmer, donated over 100 acres (40 ha) of hilly, rural land bordering on the Pequonnock River, with a distant view of Long Island Sound, to the city of Bridgeport on the condition that 'the city shall accept and keep the same forever as a public park.' In 1881, the city contracted Frederick Law Olmsted, famous for creating New York City's Central Park, to create a design for Beardsley Park."

On 23 December 1892, Beardsley was mortally wounded during a home invasion. Per Connecticut State Historian Walt Woodward:

"On December 23, 1892, two men burst into Beardsley’s Bridgeport mansion while he and his sister were home and ransacked the place looking for cash and valuables. After finding only $60 and a gold watch, the frustrated robbers became violent, threatening and then beating Beardsley to try and get him to divulge the location of his valuables. They were unaware the 77-year-old philanthropist had spent the majority of his wealth on the development of Beardsley Park and had virtually nothing of value on hand. The men eventually fled, leaving behind a mortally wounded Beardsley, who died seven days later from internal injuries suffered during the home invasion."

Beardsley died on 1 January 1893; his murder was never solved.

In the 1920s, Beardsley Zoo was named in his honor and used land he had donated.

Sources

• "Beardsley Zoo." Wikipedia, revision of 8 December 2021. < link > Accessed 14 December 2021.
• Beardsley, John. "James Walker Beardsley (1820 - 1893)." WikiTree, published 27 May 2017. < link > Accessed 14 December 2021.
• Woodward, Walt. "Bridgeport Benefactor Beardsley Brutally Beaten in Break-in." Today in Connecticut History, published 23 December 2020. < link > Accessed 14 December 2021.