By Matt Barnes

For many years, readers of The Atchison County Mail have delighted in the historical reflections of Beverly Clinkingbeard, whose articles on the history of Atchison County have brought the past back to life. Over the past 15 years, Beverly has interviewed and written about more than 30 individuals preserving their stories for future generations. However, it recently came to my attention that Beverly’s own remarkable life had yet to be documented.

Beverly Edwards Clinkingbeard was born north of Blanchard to Dean and Blanche Edwards. Her father purchased the Clark farm in 1940 on what is now Highway M. Beverly started school at North Star Country School at the age of 5. The schoolhouse, she recalled, was right next door to her home, making for an easy commute, while other students had to either walk or ride horses from over a mile away. Predictably, her favorite subjects in school were history and writing, noting that she wrote her first book at the age of 6.

Beverly graduated from 8th grade at North Star in 1951, being one of two graduates. That year, the North Star School district was consolidated into the Westboro school district, and with the paving of the dirt road that ran in front of her home, “transportation became much less of an issue,” Beverly said.

Going from a class of two at North Star to a class of 20 at Westboro didn’t seem to bother Bev, who enjoyed all of her classes except arithmetic. While in high school, she became heavily involved in school publications, serving as editor of both the school yearbook and newspaper during her junior and senior years. While Beverly was in high school, her mother became bedridden from polio, a contagious disease that attacked the nerves along the spinal cord, which was common before the implementation of a vaccine in 1955. As a result, Beverly and her sisters had to take part in more of the chores in addition to taking care of their mother.

It was during high school that Beverly met Jay Clinkingbeard, the love of her life. After graduation, Jay enlisted in the Navy and was stationed in San Diego while Beverly pursued secretarial training and briefly worked in Omaha. The couple married in 1957 in Rock Port during Jay’s military leave.

In 1966, the Clinkingbeards answered a higher calling: missionary work. They relocated, along with their children, to Chicago to study at the Moody Bible Institute and, upon completion, joined Wycliffe Bible Translators. Jay served as a pilot and mechanic for JAARS (Jungle Aviation and Radio Service), while Beverly worked in the flight office handling paperwork and preparing translation materials.

Their first assignment was in Mexico. Prior to departure, the family underwent a jungle survival training course – an experience that only deepened their anticipation (and nerves). Over the next 13 years, their work took them to remote parts of the world, including Liberia and Nepal.

“Jay and I had the privilege of working alongside linguists who were smart, dedicated, and persevered, so that those who live in remote areas of the world could have what we do – the ability to read the scriptures in their own language. The older I get, the more I treasure the marvel that I was born in a place where my language is written, the matter of reading not questioned, and I could learn of God’s mercy, love, and peace through His Son, Jesus Christ,” Bev stated.

Following their time as missionaries, the Clinkingbeards returned to the United States, settling in Bloomington, Indiana, where Jay worked as a construction superintendent. Following Jay’s retirement, they moved back to Atchison County in 2005, where Beverly quickly became engrossed in local history. She began writing articles in the newspaper in 2012, sharing stories about Atchison County’s past. When asked what spurs her interest to write on a topic, Bev stated, “I’m not sure.” Some events, such as the “Plane crash of 1944,” she recalled from her childhood; others, such as “The Old Hog Law,” were articles that simply stood out to her when reading the newspaper archives at the library. Her favorite subject to write about is the veterans of Atchison County. “ Every veteran contributed to making this country and the world a better place,” Bev stated. “I think it’s important to honor and document those contributions before they are lost to history.”

Jay passed away in 2022, but Bev continues to write articles for the paper, and plans to continue to do so “as long as people will read them,” while also noting that she already has several ideas for future articles.

Thank you, Bev, for telling our stories. It’s an honor to share yours.