Margaret Bevan

Margaret Bevan (born c. 1894) 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.

Early life

Margaret Bevan was born in 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] She was soon after preaching as "Mrs. Maggie Bevan Gealy."^[19] She was "Mrs. Margaret B. Gealey" of Kingston, Pennsylvania when she preached at Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1920.^[20]

The Gealys moved to Pittsburgh in 1928 for Edgar's work.^[21] In the 1930s and 1940s Margaret was active in the Women's Welsh Club of Pittsburgh, and still involved with music.^[22][23][24]

References