My Genealogy Hound

THOMAS W. BEVAN, A. M., is Supervising Principal of the Catasauqua public schools, a position he has held with great success since 1882. For a number of years he has been actively interested in educational work, and has few superiors in the state. A native of Pottsville, this state, he was born August 11, 1854, his parents being W. E. and Ann (Evans) Bevan. The former was born in South Wales, and the latter was also a native of that country, her death occurring in the year 1891 at Mauch Chunk. Soon after their marriage they removed to the United States, Mr. Bevan following his business as mining contractor for a long time in Schuylkill and Carbon Counties, and later, going to Alabama, took charge of a soft-coal mine in that state. At the age of fifty-five years he departed this life at Catasauqua. A stanch Republican, he served for one term as County Treasurer of Carbon County, the only Republican to fill that office up to that date. For two terms he was Justice of the Peace, and for many years served as a School Director of Banks Township, Carbon County. E. J., the eldest son, served as a clerk for Thomas John & Co., Audenried, Pa., and afterward removed to California, where he successfully engaged in merchandising. John T. was Principal of the schools at Berwick, Pa., and is now Principal at Biggs, Cal. James J. is Principal of the schools at Mauch Chunk. W. E. has charge of the Second Ward School in the same borough. Kate is Mrs. James Howell, of Leadville, Colo., and Miss Olive makes her home in Mauch Chunk.

Reared in the neighborhood of Hazleton, Professor Bevan received a superior education, and on arriving at a suitable age was appointed as a cadet to West Point by General Albright, of Mauch Chunk, who was a Member of Congress at large. Later he engaged in teaching, and soon after attaining his majority he became Principal of the high school of the Hazel District, where he remained for two years, then being elected Superintendent of the schools of the district. This important position he held for two years, supervising forty-two schools, and then was elected Principal of the high school of Catasauqua. In 1886 Mr. Bevan was given the additional office of Supervising Principal, being the first to occupy such a position in this city. Under his charge there are seven hundred and twenty-five pupils and fourteen teachers. A regular course of study, with uniform text-books, is prescribed.

In 1877 Professor Bevan married Miss Kate, only daughter of D. C. Tubbs, of Mauch Chunk. He was a Captain during the late war, taking part in every important battle of the Army of the Potomac. Mrs. Bevan was educated in Carbon County, and by her marriage has become the mother of four children, Ethel M., Mabel, Edgar Arleigh and Raymond T. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

For one year our subject was Vice-President of the State Teachers’ Association, has been placed on the programme at two of their meetings, and has occupied a place on the County Institute programme many times. Fraternally he is a member of Porter Lodge No. 284, F. & A. M., of which he is Past Master, and is a member of the Grand Lodge. A member of the Royal Arcanum, he was elected a representative to the Grand Lodge.