CAD ALLARD, the present Postmaster of Beardstown, and editor and proprietor of the Star of the West, was born in Virginia, Illinois, August 31, 1854. His father was Dr. L. S. Allard, one of the pioneer physicians and druggists of Cass county, and was one of the most forcible political writers of Central Illinois. He started and conducted for many years the Cass County Courier and was an active worker in politics. He served his country in the war of the Rebellion, entering it as a Captain and coming out a Colonel; also in the Mexican war as a Lieutenant. He is a Republican and is now a resident of Hot Springs, Arkansas. His mother was a Miss Sarah F. Payne, of Lexington, Kentucky, and is yet living. The complete history of Beardstown could not be given without a brief mention of the paper known as the Weekly Star of the West, a strong Republican paper, and the Evening Star, which is neutral. The energetic editor and proprietor, whose name heads this article, is entitled to the credit of making a success of a daily in so small a city and a weekly paper which is ready by an intelligent public throughout a wide territory. The daily Star is but one year old, but has already won the confidence of the people. The Weekly Star has had an existence since 1888, and is now one of the leading Republican sheets of the West. It has just moved into elegant new quarters on Main street, with editorial and counting room on the ground floor. The editor handles every subject ably and without fear or favor; he is a practical newspaper man, a strong and forcible writer; and his life from the time he was fourteen has been spent in newspaper work. He began work in his father's office in Virginia, Illinois, from whom in 1872 he leased it. Young Allard ran this paper for some time and then took a partner named Mat. Summers, changing the name of the paper to the Virginia Gazette. His health failing he went to Arkansas and took charge of the Fort Smith New Era, then the property of the United States Marshal of Western Arkansas and the Indian Territory, which was the oldest and first Republican paper of the State. Two years after he went to Hot Springs, where for six years he ran a paper called the Daily News. There he lost his wife and soon after closed out his interests and went to Kansas thence he returned to Cass county, where he has made some grand strides forward, not only as a newspaper man but as a local politician. His mode of handling the tariff question has attracted attention, and at the late State Convention, at which he was a delegate, he was one of the committee selected to draft the platform, which was accepted without a change or objection. He is the present treasurer of the Illinois Republican Press Association, and is a leading member of the K. of P., Beardstown Lodge, No. 207. It is worthy of remark that he is a newspaper man who neither drinks, smokes or chews.

He was first married to Libbie Peak, who died at Hot Springs, Arkansas. He was married a second time May 20, 1890, to Miss Annie Jockisch, a well known young lady of Beardstown, who was reared and educated in this city, and is especially skilled in music. Her father is William Jockisch, a retired farmer and one of the directors of the Fourth National Bank. Beardstown society would not be complete without them.