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.
Margaret Bevan | |
|---|---|
 Margaret Bevan Gealy, from a 1916 newspaper. | |
| Born | about 1894 |
| Died | December 20, 1953[1] Bethesda, Maryland |
| Nationality | Welsh, American |
| Occupation(s) | Child evangelist, singer |
Early life
editMargaret 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
editHer 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
editMargaret 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
edit- ^ "Deaths". Evening Star. 22 December 1953. p. 12. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
- ^ a b "Eloquent Girl Preacher Pays Visit to Brooklyn" Brooklyn Daily Eagle (7 February 1911): 18 via Newspapers.com
- ^ "Welsh Girl Evangelist" Cardiff Times (29 October 1910): 9.
- ^ "Girl of Sixteen is Daring Pilot" Spokane Press (10 October 1910): 2. via Newspapers.com
- ^ "Welsh Girl Preacher" The Cambrian (28 October 1910): 5.
- ^ "Two Sermons by Girl Evangelist" Scranton Truth (26 September 1910): 5. via Newspapers.com
- ^ Untitled brief note, Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard (2 July 1909): 6.
- ^ "Girl Evangelist at Barry Docks: Remarkable Young Pulpit Prodigy" Barry Dock News (10 December 1909): 6.
- ^ "Young Welsh Girl to Fill Local Pulpit" The Gazette Times (29 March 1912): 9. via Newspapers.com
- ^ "Girl Evangelist Speaks on Christ" The Tribune-Republican (26 September 1910): 5. via Newspapers.com
- ^ "Girl Preacher on Return Tour" Scranton Truth (16 October 1911): 5. via Newspapers.com
- ^ "15-Year-Old Girl to Preach Gospel" Oakland Tribune (15 October 1911): 19. via Newspapers.com
- ^ "Girl Conducts Revival" Harrisburg Telegraph (24 November 1914): 9. via Newspapers.com
- ^ "Miss Bevan at Hazleton" Scranton Truth (13 August 1914): 11. via Newspapers.com
- ^ "Miss Bevan Preaches Here" Wilkes-Barre Record (23 March 1915): 17. via Newspapers.com
- ^ "Father of Woman Evangelist Commits Suicide at Charity Institution" The Star-Independent (7 May 1915): 5. via Newspapers.com
- ^ "Girl Evangelist is Married in Maryland" Scranton Republican (9 November 1915): 3. via Newspapers.com
- ^ "Mrs. Peter Gealy has Passed Away" Pittston Gazette (23 February 1938): 5. via Newspapers.com
- ^ "Peter Gealy, 74, Taken by Death" Scranton Republican (29 May 1934): 11. via Newspapers.com
- ^ "Happy Over First Born". The Times-Tribune. 5 August 1918. p. 14. Retrieved 3 May 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Woman Evangelist at Coxetown Church Feb. 4" Harrisburg Telegraph (24 January 1916): 7. via Newspapers.com
- ^ "Central Square" Cambridge Tribune (30 October 1920): 1.
- ^ "'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.
- ^ "Gealy Accepts Position with Large Company" Scranton Republican (27 March 1928): 23. via Newspapers.com
- ^ "Women's Welsh Club Gives Xmas Party" Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (3 December 1932): 11.
- ^ "Welsh Groups' Concert at Monessen Well Received" Daily Republican (16 November 1938): 3. via Newspapers.com
- ^ "Mt. Lebanon Group Presents Musicale" Pittsburgh Press (14 March 1941): 38.