Margaret_Bevan

Margaret Bevan

Margaret Jane Bevan Geally (born c.1894 – December 20, 1953), also called Maggie Bevan, was a Welsh-born child evangelist and singer, who twice toured the United States as a teenager, giving sermons and recitals in churches.

Quick Facts Born, Died ...

Early life

Margaret Bevan was born in about 1894, at Porth,[2] and raised in Caerphilly. Her father was Rees Bevan, an optician,[3] watchmaker and jeweller.[4] Her uncle was Dr. Gomer Lewis, a preacher in Swansea.[5] A pastor's advice moved her to evangelism.[6]

She earned a certificate from the Glamorgan Welsh Baptist Association in 1909, for passing the examination for entry into the ministry.[7] She was hailed as a "pulpit prodigy" when she preached at Barry Docks later in 1909.[8]

Career

Her mother accompanied her when, in 1910, she embarked on a preaching tour of American cities, especially in New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio.[9] She also sang, with her mother providing piano accompaniment.[10] That tour was judged a "triumphant" success,[2] and she was encouraged to return for another tour in 1911–1912.[11] On this second tour, she visited the western United States, including an appearance in Denver, Colorado.[12]

Margaret Bevan was still preaching and singing in America in 1914 and 1915, while living in Scranton.[13][14][15] Her parents were living in Scranton at the time too; her father died by suicide in a Scranton charity institution in 1915.[16]

Later years

Margaret Bevan married engineer Edgar J. Geally of Scranton in November 1915;[17] both of his parents were from Wales.[18][19] Their first child, a son, was born in Wilkes-Barre in 1918.[20] She was soon after preaching as "Mrs. Maggie Bevan Gealy."[21] She was "Mrs. Margaret B. Gealey" of Kingston, Pennsylvania when she preached at Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1920.[22] In 1923 she played the title role in a Wilkes-Barre production of "Princess Bonnie", a musical to benefit the American Legion.[23]

The Gealys moved to Pittsburgh in 1928 for Edgar's work.[24] In the 1930s and 1940s Margaret was active in the Women's Welsh Club of Pittsburgh, and still involved with music.[25][26][27] She died in 1953.


References

  1. "Deaths". Evening Star. 22 December 1953. p. 12. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  2. "Eloquent Girl Preacher Pays Visit to Brooklyn" Brooklyn Daily Eagle (7 February 1911): 18 via Newspapers.comOpen access icon
  3. "Welsh Girl Evangelist" Cardiff Times (29 October 1910): 9.
  4. "Girl of Sixteen is Daring Pilot" Spokane Press (10 October 1910): 2. via Newspapers.comOpen access icon
  5. "Welsh Girl Preacher" The Cambrian (28 October 1910): 5.
  6. "Two Sermons by Girl Evangelist" Scranton Truth (26 September 1910): 5. via Newspapers.comOpen access icon
  7. Untitled brief note, Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard (2 July 1909): 6.
  8. "Young Welsh Girl to Fill Local Pulpit" The Gazette Times (29 March 1912): 9. via Newspapers.comOpen access icon
  9. "Girl Evangelist Speaks on Christ" The Tribune-Republican (26 September 1910): 5. via Newspapers.comOpen access icon
  10. "Girl Preacher on Return Tour" Scranton Truth (16 October 1911): 5. via Newspapers.comOpen access icon
  11. "15-Year-Old Girl to Preach Gospel" Oakland Tribune (15 October 1911): 19. via Newspapers.comOpen access icon
  12. "Girl Conducts Revival" Harrisburg Telegraph (24 November 1914): 9. via Newspapers.comOpen access icon
  13. "Miss Bevan at Hazleton" Scranton Truth (13 August 1914): 11. via Newspapers.comOpen access icon
  14. "Miss Bevan Preaches Here" Wilkes-Barre Record (23 March 1915): 17. via Newspapers.comOpen access icon
  15. "Girl Evangelist is Married in Maryland" Scranton Republican (9 November 1915): 3. via Newspapers.comOpen access icon
  16. "Mrs. Peter Gealy has Passed Away" Pittston Gazette (23 February 1938): 5. via Newspapers.comOpen access icon
  17. "Peter Gealy, 74, Taken by Death" Scranton Republican (29 May 1934): 11. via Newspapers.comOpen access icon
  18. "Happy Over First Born". The Times-Tribune. 5 August 1918. p. 14. Retrieved 3 May 2020 via Newspapers.com.
  19. "Woman Evangelist at Coxetown Church Feb. 4" Harrisburg Telegraph (24 January 1916): 7. via Newspapers.comOpen access icon
  20. "Central Square" Cambridge Tribune (30 October 1920): 1.
  21. "'Princess Bonnie' To-Night; Mrs. Edgar Gealy to Take Character Role in American Legion Benefit". The Wilkes-Barre Record. 22 March 1923. p. 12. Retrieved 3 May 2020 via Newspapers.com.
  22. "Gealy Accepts Position with Large Company" Scranton Republican (27 March 1928): 23. via Newspapers.comOpen access icon
  23. "Women's Welsh Club Gives Xmas Party" Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (3 December 1932): 11.
  24. "Welsh Groups' Concert at Monessen Well Received" Daily Republican (16 November 1938): 3. via Newspapers.comOpen access icon
  25. "Mt. Lebanon Group Presents Musicale" Pittsburgh Press (14 March 1941): 38.

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