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.
Born	about 1894 Porth
Died	before July 1954
Nationality	Welsh, American
Occupation	Child 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]

References