Biographical Sketch of George H. BEAVER (1893); Chester County, PA

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Source: "Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chester County, Pennsylvania,
comprising a historical sketch of the county," by Samuel T. Wiley and edited by
Winfield Scott Garner, Gresham Publishing Company, Philadelphia, PA, 1893, pp.
381-2.

"GEORGE H. BEAVER, one of the prosperous farmers residing near New Centreville,
is the only son of Charles and Catharine (Spare) Beaver, being born March 31,
1858, near Centreville, Tredyffrin township, Chester county, Pennsylvania.  The
Beaver family is of original German descent, but this branch was planted in
America by members who emigrated from England at an early day, and settled in
Pennsylvania.  Tradition says five brothers of the same name came over from
England and settled in various parts of this State.  Among them was Devault
Beaver (great-grandfather), who located above Howellville, Tredyffrin township,
this county, where he died at an advanced age.  By occupation he was a farmer,
and in religion a member of the Lutheran church.  He married and reared a
family of five sons and four daughters.  Among his sons was Daniel, born in
1789, married Catharine Detwiler, by whom he had four sons, and died October
22, 1861, on the old homestead; and George Beaver (grandfather), who was born
in Tredyffrin township, this county, and died there in 1848, at the age of
eighty-one years.  The latter was a farmer, and also built and for many years
operated a tannery in that township.  He was a member of the Great Valley
Baptist church, and a democrat in politics.  His wife was Susanna Houseman, by
whom he had a family of ten children, six sons and four daughters.  Among the
sons was Charles Beaver (father), who was born January 1, 1806, in the house
where the subject of this sketch now resides, which had been built by George
Beaver (grandfather).  Here Charles passed his entire life engaged in agricul-
tural pursuits, dying November 6, 1881, in the seventy-fifth year of his age.
His farm operations were conducted on an extensive scale and he became quite
prosperous.  He was a democrat until 1861, when he voted for Abraham Lincoln,
and afterward adhered to the Republican party.  In religious faith he was a
Baptist, and was a prominent member and deacon of the Great Valley church of
that denomination for many years.  He was married twice, first wedding
Catharine Spare, in 1855, by whom he had one son, the subject of this sketch.
Mrs. Beaver died April 14, 1872, aged fifty-two years.  In 1875, Mr. Beaver
married for his second wife Sarah A. Miller of Harrisburg, who survives her
husband and now resides in her native city.

"George H. Beaver was reared on the old homestead in Tredyffrin township, and
obtained his early education in the public schools of the neighborhood.  Later
he took a course of training in the Tremont seminary at Norristown, under Dr.
John W. Loch, and afterward attended Bryant & Stratton's Business college in
Philadelphia.  Leaving school he returned to the home farm, which he had in-
herited, and has since been almost exclusively engaged in agricultural pur-
suits.  The farm contains one hundred and fifteen acres of valuable land,
eighty-five of which are improved and in an excellent state of cultivation.
Politically Mr. Beaver is a republican, and while not taking any active part
in politics, yet always gives his party a loyal support.

"In 1881 Mr. Beaver was married to Ida E. Smith, a daughter of Jesse and Julia
A. Smith, of Centreville, Chester county, this State.  To Mr. and Mrs. Beaver
has been born a family of five children, three sons and two daughters: Anna M.,
born November 18, 1881; Eva G., born April 1, 1884; Charles R., born July 2,
1887; H. Norman, born December 16, 1889; and Devault, born July 26, 1892."