Margaret Bevan

Margaret Bevan (born c. 1894 – died before July 1954) also called Maggie Bevan and later Maggie Bevan Gealy, was a Welsh-born child evangelist and singer, who twice toured the United States as a teenager, giving sermons and recitals in churches.

Margaret Bevan
Margaret Bevan Gealy, from a 1916 newspaper.
Bornabout 1894
Porth
Diedbefore July 1954
NationalityWelsh, American
OccupationChild evangelist, singer

Early life

Margaret Bevan was born in about 1894, at Porth,[1] and raised in Caerphilly. Her father was Rees Bevan, an optician,[2] watchmaker and jeweller.[3] Her uncle was Dr. Gomer Lewis, a preacher in Swansea.[4] A pastor's advice moved her to evangelism.[5]

She earned a certificate from the Glamorgan Welsh Baptist Association in 1909, for passing the examination for entry into the ministry.[6] She was hailed as a "pulpit prodigy" when she preached at Barry Docks later in 1909.[7]

Career

Her mother accompanied her when, in 1910, she embarked on a preaching tour of American cities, especially in New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio.[8] She also sang, with her mother providing piano accompaniment.[9] That tour was judged a "triumphant" success,[1] and she was encouraged to return for another tour in 1911-1912.[10] On this second tour, she visited the western United States, including an appearance in Denver, Colorado.[11]

Margaret Bevan was still preaching and singing in America in 1914 and 1915, while living in Scranton.[12][13][14] Her parents were living in Scranton at the time too; her father died by suicide in a Scranton charity institution in 1915.[15]

Later years

Margaret Bevan married engineer Edgar J. Gealy of Scranton in November 1915;[16] both of his parents were from Wales.[17][18] Their first child, a son, was born in Wilkes-Barre in 1918.[19] She was soon after preaching as "Mrs. Maggie Bevan Gealy."[20] She was "Mrs. Margaret B. Gealey" of Kingston, Pennsylvania when she preached at Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1920.[21] In 1923 she played the title role in a Wilkes-Barre production of "Princess Bonnie", a musical to benefit the American Legion.[22]

The Gealys moved to Pittsburgh in 1928 for Edgar's work.[23] In the 1930s and 1940s Margaret was active in the Women's Welsh Club of Pittsburgh, and still involved with music.[24][25][26] She died before July 1954.[27]

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References
  1. "Eloquent Girl Preacher Pays Visit to Brooklyn" Brooklyn Daily Eagle (7 February 1911): 18 via Newspapers.com
  2. "Welsh Girl Evangelist" Cardiff Times (29 October 1910): 9.
  3. "Girl of Sixteen is Daring Pilot" Spokane Press (10 October 1910): 2. via Newspapers.com
  4. "Welsh Girl Preacher" The Cambrian (28 October 1910): 5.
  5. "Two Sermons by Girl Evangelist" Scranton Truth (26 September 1910): 5. via Newspapers.com
  6. Untitled brief note, Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard (2 July 1909): 6.
  7. "Girl Evangelist at Barry Docks: Remarkable Young Pulpit Prodigy" Barry Dock News (10 December 1909): 6.
  8. "Young Welsh Girl to Fill Local Pulpit" The Gazette Times (29 March 1912): 9. via Newspapers.com
  9. "Girl Evangelist Speaks on Christ" The Tribune-Republican (26 September 1910): 5. via Newspapers.com
  10. "Girl Preacher on Return Tour" Scranton Truth (16 October 1911): 5. via Newspapers.com
  11. "15-Year-Old Girl to Preach Gospel" Oakland Tribune (15 October 1911): 19. via Newspapers.com
  12. "Girl Conducts Revival" Harrisburg Telegraph (24 November 1914): 9. via Newspapers.com
  13. "Miss Bevan at Hazleton" Scranton Truth (13 August 1914): 11. via Newspapers.com
  14. "Miss Bevan Preaches Here" Wilkes-Barre Record (23 March 1915): 17. via Newspapers.com
  15. "Father of Woman Evangelist Commits Suicide at Charity Institution" The Star-Independent (7 May 1915): 5. via Newspapers.com
  16. "Girl Evangelist is Married in Maryland" Scranton Republican (9 November 1915): 3. via Newspapers.com
  17. "Mrs. Peter Gealy has Passed Away" Pittston Gazette (23 February 1938): 5. via Newspapers.com
  18. "Peter Gealy, 74, Taken by Death" Scranton Republican (29 May 1934): 11. via Newspapers.com
  19. "Happy Over First Born". The Times-Tribune. 1918-08-05. p. 14. Retrieved 2020-05-03 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. "Woman Evangelist at Coxetown Church Feb. 4" Harrisburg Telegraph (24 January 1916): 7. via Newspapers.com
  21. "Central Square" Cambridge Tribune (30 October 1920): 1.
  22. "'Princess Bonnie' To-Night; Mrs. Edgar Gealy to Take Character Role in American Legion Benefit". The Wilkes-Barre Record. 1923-03-22. p. 12. Retrieved 2020-05-03 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. "Gealy Accepts Position with Large Company" Scranton Republican (27 March 1928): 23. via Newspapers.com
  24. "Women's Welsh Club Gives Xmas Party" Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (3 December 1932): 11.
  25. "Welsh Groups' Concert at Monessen Well Received" Daily Republican (16 November 1938): 3. via Newspapers.com
  26. "Mt. Lebanon Group Presents Musicale" Pittsburgh Press (14 March 1941): 38.
  27. "Gealy Gets Post". Scrantonian Tribune. 1954-07-18. p. 12. Retrieved 2020-05-03 – via Newspapers.com.
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