Wilson A. Beaver, Sr.
SOURCE: The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1889
Contributed by Michael Brown
18 Oct 1998
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CARROLL COUNTY
page 1047
Wilson A. Beaver, Sr., one of the old settlers and leading citizens of Carroll
County, Ark., was born in North Carolina on June 7, 1831. In 1835 he was taken
by his parents to Tennessee, where he was reared to manhood, coming to
Arkansas when about twenty years of age. He first settled near what is now
Beaver's Station, and in 1855 located on the place where he now resides. He
has been a farmer all his life, and now owns 348 acres of fine land. His
parents [p.1047] were Martin and Christian (Pendergrass) Beaver, both natives
of North Carolina. Martin B. Beaver was born on May 4, 1800, and was reared in
his native State. About 1835 he removed to Tennessee, and remained until 1851,
when he came to Lawrence County, Ark., where he died soon after. His wife was
born on February 14, 1801. After her husband's death she removed to Carroll
County, Ark., and remained till her death, which occurred after the war.
Wilson A. Beaver, Sr., was married, in 1852, to Emeline Waits, by whom he is
the father of ten children, three of whom died in infancy. Those living are:
Almissha, Mrs. Allen Beller; George A.; Demarius, wife of a Mr. Quick, of Fort
Smith; Wilson A., Jr., a merchant at Beaver Station; Christian E., Mrs. Frank
Seger, of Garden Plains, Kas., and Joseph A. This wife died in 1877, and in
1878 he was united in marriage with Martha Perkins, who is still living. She is
a consistent Christian, and a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. In
politics Mr. Beaver is a stanch Democrat. For fourteen years he has filled the
office of justice of the peace at Beaver in a manner most satisfactory to all.
The post- office here, which is now called Beaver, was originally called
Beaver's Ferry, at which time he served as postmaster. Mr. Beaver is an
influential and one of the most honored citizens of his community. On his land
is a fine stone quarry, from which the stone was taken to build the Crescent
Hotel at Eureka Springs, the bridge at Fort Smith, and the Sebastian County
Court-house. His residence, which was built in 1836, is one of the pioneer
landmarks of the county. It is built of logs which were prepared with the
broad-ax, and the lumber in it was sawed with a whip-saw. It was the "Old
Confederate House" in time of the war. During the war Mr. Beaver served six
months in the Confederate army as a member of Hunter's regiment of Arkansas
Confederate Infantry.