PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL
RECORD OF OKLAHOMA

JOSEPH M. BEAVER

An honored veteran of the Civil war, is a well-known agriculturist of Stillwater township, Payne, county.  His paternal grandfather, a Virginian by birth, was a hero of the war for Independence.  His parents, John and Nancy (HUTCHISON) Beaver, were natives of Virginia and Kentucky, respectively, and the greater part of the formers life was passed in the Blue Grass state.  He died November 4, 1897, and is survived by his widow, who still lives in Kentucky and now is in her ninetieth year.

The birth of J. M. Beaver took place in Green County, Ky., sixty-three years ago, and for just half century he was engaged in agricultural pursuits in his beautiful native state.  On the 10th of October, 1861, he enlisted in Company E, Twenty-seventh Kentucky Infantry, and was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland.  He took part in many of the severe battles in which that illustrious force was engaged, and among others, he was active in the engagements of Shiloh, Missionary Ridge, Lookout Mountain and Chickamauga.  At the close of the war he received an honorable discharge at Louisville in June, 1865.

Returning to his old home in Kentucky, Mr. Beaver resumed his accustomed duties.  March 11, 1869, he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Jane PRUITT, daughter of Major and Bernetta (DRAIN) Pruitt.  Her father was a Virginian by birth, while she was born in Kentucky.  The only daughter of our subject and wife, Nancy Bernetta, became the wife of George LAND, and died July 7, 1900.  She left four children to mourn her loss, namely:  Ella, Thomas, Alta and May.  Mrs. Sarah Beaver, who was a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, departed this life February 17, 1892, and was buried in the cemetery at Stillwater.  Thus left alone our subject gladly welcomed into his home his son-in-law, Mr. Land, and his beloved grandchildren.  His son, Anthony Thomas, who was born in Kentucky, also lives with him, and assists in the management of the farm.  He was married, February 4, 1900, to Bertha SALISBURY, daughter of John and Eva Salisbury.  The father is now a resident of Pawnee, and the mother is deceased.

In 1887, Mr. Beaver came to the West and for two years carried on a farm in Coley County, Kans.  Then, when this territory was opened, he located a claim in the northeastern part of section 14, township 19, range 2 east, which land is watered by Booner creek.  He since has greatly increased the value of this property by judicious expenditure of labor and capital, and the fields, divided by substantial fences, are now yielding abundant harvests.  The excellent orchard, the commodious and neatly kept house and barns, and everything about the premises bespeak the energy and watchfulness of the owner.

The first presidential vote cast by Mr. Beaver was for Abraham Lincoln.  Of late years he has espoused the free-silver plank, and in 1900 gave his political influence to W. J. Bryan.  About twenty years ago, in Marion County, Ky., he joined the Masonic order, and after his arrival in Pain (sic) county he became a charter member of Frontier Lodge No. 6, of Stillwater.

Portrait and Biographical Record of Oklahoma (Chicago:Chapman Publishing Co., 1901), 908.

Transcribed for OKGenWeb by Mary Charles Dodd Hull, Feb 1999.