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Below is a family biography included in The History of Madison County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889. These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary. Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more. There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.
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Joseph D. Bevers was born in Jacksonville, Ill., November 12, 1846, and is a son of George and Elizabeth (Halliday) Bevers. The father was born in Polington, Yorkshire, England, and in 1833 came to America, locating in West Virginia, where he took charge of a wagon yard some time. In 1835 he located on a farm in Morgan County, Ill., and in 1855 located on a farm in Wisconsin, returning to Illinois a year later, and remaining there until 1881. He next located in Hindsville, and is now making his home with our subject. The mother was born in Morgan County, Ill., and was there married. She had five sons and three daughters, Joseph D. being the oldest child. He was educated in the State University at Jacksonville, and in 1862 enlisted in Company A, Sixty-eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. After serving four months he enlisted in the Fifty-first Illinois, and did active duty until the close of the war, taking part in the battles of Fort Donelson, Pittsburg Landing, siege of Vicksburg, Atlanta, Stone River, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, and was wounded at Franklin, Tenn., November 30, 1864, losing the use of his left leg. June 22, 1865, he was discharged. He then took a course in the Jacksonville Business College, and in 1867 came to Arkansas, and taught five years in Madison County, having the first free school of the county. He also taught in the high-school at Huntsville. In 1869 he married Ada Vaughn, and located on a farm near Hindsville. In 1869 was appointed Deputy United States Marshal. From 1879 to 1887 he was engaged in the mercantile business, retiring in the latter year. From 1881 to 1885 he was postmaster of Hindsville, at the end of that time resigning the position. Mrs. Bevers was born in the county in 1851, is a daughter of George W. Vaughn, and the mother of four children: Amy, Cora, Ada and Albert. Mr. and Mrs. Bevers are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, in which the former is a deacon and the clerk. He is a strong Republican, a member of the G. A. R., and belongs to the Little Springs Lodge No. 230, A. F. & A. M., being secretary in the Chapter and recorder in the Council.
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This family biography is one of 99 biographies included in The History of Madison County, Arkansas published in 1889. For the complete description, click here: Madison County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps
View additional Madison County, Arkansas family biographies here: Madison County, Arkansas
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