Indiana McCaslins

In the 1850 US Federal Census for Ela, Lake, Illinois, 34-year-old New York-born farmer Philetus and his 34-year-old New York-born [ Vermont-born] wife Lovisa [Mix] Beverly have in their household their children, 11-year-old Illinois-born Dwight C, 8-year-old Illinois-born Laura, 6-year-old Illinois-born Lorinda [Lurenda] M, 4-year-old Illinois-born Cassius and 2-year-old Illinois-born Milton.

In the 1860 US Federal Census for Cuba, Lake, Illinois, 43-year-old New York-born farmer P. Beverly owns real estate valued at $12,000. He and his 46-year-old Vermont-born wife L. [Lovisa Mix] Beverly have in their household their children, 20-year-old New York-born Dwight C, 16-year-old Illinois-born Lurenda, 14-year-old Illinois-born Cashean [Cassius] E, 12-year-old Illinois-born Milton M, and 9-year-old Illinois-born Woodbury C, and Philetus mother, 74-year-old Sally [Curtis] Beverly.

In the 1870 US Federal Census for Burlingame, Osage, Kansas, 54-year-old New York-born Philetus Beverly is a farmer with $6400 in real estate and $3000 in personal property. He and his 56-year-old Vermont-born wife, Louisa [Mix] Beverly have in their household their two youngest children, 22-year-old Milton and 16-year-old Ella (both born in Illinois), and 12-year-old Pennsylvania-born Daniel Davis, relationship unknown.

From the Osage County, Kansas, Chronicle, transcribed by Virginia Barry:
3 Apr 1879: The exercises of the Sabbath school of the M. E. Church..The song was followed by an eloquent and fervent prayer by Rev. P. Beverly.
21 Aug 1879: Rev. P. Beverly has built an addition to the wing of his house and reroofed the remainder. 14 Sept 1879: S. S. Convention at Harveyville....The great object of Sunday School teaching, Rev. P. Beverly.
11 Dec 1879: P. Beverly marketed the last of 108 hogs sold since March 1st of this year. Those hogs were all raised by Mr. B.
11 Mar 1880: Philetus Beverly, said to be the hardest worker in Osage County, is sawing road plank. He hauls the logs from his farm to the Havana mills.
21 October 1880, page 4:
Philetus Beverly left here for Michigan on last Wednesday where he will remain several months.

Obituary-- Burlingame, Osage County, Kansas, Thursday, October 20, 1921
DEATH CLAIMS GRANDPA BEVERLY
Burlingame's GRAND OLD MAN and dearly beloved citizen is gone. The death of Father Beverly occurred in this city on Saturday, October 15, at one a. m. at the home of his youngest daughter, Mrs. Ella C. Doty. He was aged at his death 104 years and eight months, and had only been confined to his bed two weeks prior to his death, although he had been quite feeble for the past year.

The Beverly family were among the pioneer citizens of this community and neither Burlingame nor the Beverlys have since had cause to regret the relationship. To recount the history of this good man, remarkable in so many respects, in an effort to catch a glimpse of the secret of his long and eventful and useful life, is very like scanning the pages of a good book. New lessons are learned by the oft-repeated reading of every good book, and the story of Father Beverly has never grown old to his friends. We have now come to the last chapter and there have been no regrets-only the pleasure and satisfaction of realizing that we all have had the privilege of reading so splendid and profitable a volume from the library of God's saints. His memory will forever be enshrined in the hearts of all whose lives have touched his in the century and four years in which he lived.

Philetus Beverly was born in the village ofOxford, Chenago, New York, February 11, 1817, the seventh of a family of twelve children. His marriage to Lovisa Mix occurred there on March 13, 1838. Soon after they migrated to western New York locating at South Bolivar, that part of New York being dangerously near the outposts of civilization in that early day. There they did a bit of pioneering. Mr. Beverly also making a home for his mother from that time on. In 1844 they again journeyed westward and located on a government claim in Lake county, thirty miles from Chicago. In October, 1868 they again moved westward, locating at Burlingame which has since been their home.

Mr. Beverly was licensed to preach in 1847, in 1850 joined the Rock River, Illinois conference and for many years was ranked as one of the forceful ministers in the Christian ministry.

Mr. & Mrs. Beverly enjoyed a wedded life of sixty-nine years. To them were born nine children. Mrs. Beverly passed away on March 3, 1907. Four children survive, Dwight C. Beverly and Mrs. Ella C. Doty of this city, Milton Beverly of Three Rivers, Mich. And Mrs. Lurenda B. Smith of Ottawa, Kansas. Relatives here for the funeral were Mrs. Smith and her son Wallie C. Smith of Ottawa and daughter Mrs. Winnie Jones of Ottawa and Alonzo Beverly, a nephew, of Dundee, Illinois.

Funeral services were held in the M. E. church on Monday afternoon, October 17, conducted by the pastor, Rev. Robt. Brown. Assisting clergymen were the local pastors, Rev. H. V. Clark of the Presbyterian church, and Rev. C. H. Owens and Rev. W. O. Showalter of the Baptist church; also the Methodist ministers residing hereabouts: Rev. John Cook and Rev. R. S. McCullough of Harveyville, Rev. J. A.Shuler of Scranton, Rev. E.C. Thorpe of Lyndon and Rev. T. A. Nichols of Osage City.

The funeral discourse was delivered by Rev. Fred Bailey, presiding elder of the Kansas City, Kansas, District, a former pastor at Ottawa and long a personal friend of Father Beverly. His sermon was unique in that it differed from any other funeral sermon ever delivered in Burlingame. There was nothing funereal in any part of the service. The lessons Rev. Bailey drew from the life of the deceased will leave a lasting impression on the large number who were present at the funeral services. The floral offerings were very beautiful, many coming from Mr. Beverly's friends in Ottawa, where he spent a part of the time in recent years.

REV. PHILETUS BEVERLY, 104 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AND 4 DAYS

"Grandpa" Beverly died October 15, at his home in Burlingame, Kans., where he has lived for over 50 years. "Grandpa", he was affectionately known in Burlingame and Ottawa where he has been honored by the people of the whole community in each town on his birthdays for many years. When his funeral was held at the Methodist church in Burlingame, Monday afternoon, October 17, everything in town was closed and the whole community went to the funeral. Five generations of his immediate family were there and occupied one-third of the center section of seats.

Dr. Fred M. Bailey, who was his pastor at Ottawa, had charge of the funeral and describes the scene as a "triumphant funeral." The Burlingame Enterprise said, "There was nothing funereal in this service, but everything was beautiful." This home paper also says of this great saint:

"The Beverly family were among the pioneer citizens of this community and neither Burlingame nor the Beverly's have since had cause to regret the relationship. To recount the history of this good man, remarkable in so many respects, in an effort to catch a glimpse of the secret of his long and eventful and useful life, is very like scanning the pages of a good book. New lessons are learned by the oft-repeated reading of every good book, and the story of Father Beverly has never grown old to his friends. We have now come to the last chapter and there have been no regrets--only the pleasure and satisfaction of realizing that we all have had the privilege of reading so splendid and profitable a volume from the library of God's saints. His memory will forever be enshrined in the hearts of all whose lives have touched his in the century and four years in which he lived."

Philetus Beverly was born February 11, 1817, in Oxford, Chenango County, N. Y., the seventh of a family of twelve. He has outlived the others by thirty-five years. When only 18 years of age he became responsible for the mother and the other eleven children, responsibility he assumed with love and fidelity. He has told Dr. Bailey, whom he greatly loved, in Ottawa, that his long life was due to the scripture obedience: "Honor thy Father and Mother that thy days may be long." Truly he obeyed.

He was married to Miss Louisa [sic. Lovisa] Mix, in 1838, and they lived together in happiness for sixty-nine years, a longer time than the allotted life for most folks. To them were born nine children, of whom four survive: D. C. Beverly, the oldest, is 82 years, Mrs. Lurenda Smith, of Ottawa, a national officer of the W. C. T.U., is 79 years, Milton Beverly, of Michigan, is 76, and Mrs. Ella Doty, of Burlingame, is 74.

In 1844, the Beverlys, who had some years before, migrated to Western New York, started overland to Illinois, then a new state. They settled within 30 miles of what is now Chicago, then a little village in swampy territory and about 2,000 inhabitants with no railroads. In fact the first road built out of Chicago went through Mr. Beverly's homestead. They were here during the Civil War and while at that time Mr. Beverly was too old to enter the army, he gave three sons and three sons-in-law. It seems rather strange for us to think of a man just now dead who was too old to enter the army in the Civil War. but his life dates back to some very early days. He remembered Fulton's steamboat being called "Fulton's Folly." He paid ten cents a dozen for his first matches in Bolivar, N.Y. He moved overland to Burlingame, Kans. in 1868, and settled beyond the railroad again, the Santa Fe at that time terminating at Topeka. Those were pioneer days in Kansas and the buffalo still roamed the prairies. In all his life he never paid a cent of rent.

For 81 years Brother Beverly was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and since the early sixties a licensed local preacher. When he was over 100 years his license was renewed by the Burlingame Quarterly Conference and he that year officiated at the wedding of his great-granddaughter.

He began to use a cane intermittently when 101 years old, but never used it continuously. When 101 years of age he assisted Dr. Bailey, then pastor at Ottawa, in the Communion service.

When he was 94 the family began to keep a book of clippings and notations of successive birthdays for by that time Ottawa, where he spent part of the time with his daughter as well as Burlingame, delighted to do him honor. but when he was 102 the book was full and they quit. He seemed to have no particular age germs operating in him. Sight, hearing, and health were all good. And finally his death resulted from broken tissues from an injury received in falling. A life of rectitude, plenty of work, clean, clear, honorable living, crowned with honor and over or all his fellows, he came to the end of his many days in peace and the sunrise of yet another and this time infinite day was the sign of moving on to eternity.

Obituary--Osage City Free Press, Osage City, Osage County, Kansas, Thursday, October 20, 1921
Rev. Philetus Beverly
Oldest Kansas Dies
Pioneer in Three States Dies at Age of 104 Years
Married 83 years ago, a Methodist for 91 Years--Settled Near Present Site of Chicago in 1846.

Burlingame, Kan., Oct. 15--The Rev. Philetus Beverly, a retired M. E. minister, lacking but three months of being 105 years, died here today at the home of his daughter, Mrs. G. W. Doty.

Born at Oxford, N. Y., on February 11, 1817, married in 1838, and enjoying a wedded life of sixty-nine years, the Rev. Mr. Beverly was a pioneer in western New York eighty years ago; a pioneer near Chicago seventy-five years ago and in Kansas fifty-three years ago. he had been a member of the Methodist church for ninety-one years and a minister for sixty years.

He leaves sixty-two living descendants.

Always in Best of health.
The Rev. Mr. Beverly was a remarkable character in many respects. Throughout his long life he maintained keen mental facilities which never failed him. He was feeble the past few years, but not unhealthy. He was licensed to preach in the Rock River conference in Illinois in the early '60s.

For several years "Grandpa" Beverly, as he was more commonly known, held open house at the home of his daughter in Burlingame. Last February 11, which proved to be the last reception of that kind, scores of friends came in to join the relatives.

Went to Old Home to Die.
For the past few years, however, he made his home the greater part of the time at the home of another daughter, Mrs. Lurenda Smith, in Ottawa. A few weeks ago he expressed a wish to return here that he might die in the town where he had lived so long.

The Rev. Beverly was married in 1838 to Louisa [sic.] Mix, of Wells, Vt. Mrs. Beverly died in 1907.
They were the parents of nine children, four of whom survive: Mrs. Doty, Mrs. Smith, Dwight Beverly, of Burlingame, and Malcolm Beverly, of Chicago. There are seventeen grandchildren, thirty-eight great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.

From The Burlingame Enterprise--Thursday, February 15, 1917
1817 February Eleventh 1917
Centennial Birthday Celebration
Philetus Beverly
Grand Old Man and Dearly Beloved Citizen
He liveth long who liveth well,
All other life is short and vain;
He liveth longest who can tell
Of living most for heavenly gain. -- Brooks
by Mrs. Alma Palmer-Beale

One hundred years is a long time to live, and it is safe to assert that the minds of many score of former
Citizens of Burlingame, Kansas, together with a numerous family connection scattered throughout the length and breadth of the state and nation, have been centered about the old town, and Father Beverly in particular, this week. Father Beverly's one-hundredth birthday party was a momentous occasion for himself, his family, and the whole community as well, and it is doubtful if ever a birthday anniversary were more generally known, or widely advertised than was this centenary celebration. The write-ups which appeared in the Burlingame, Ottawa, Topeka, Kansas City and Illinois papers, and the flood of letters, cards, telegrams and messages of love and good wishes from end to end of the country, which have been received, are sufficient evidence that Father Beverly's name is enshrined in some Hall of Fame somewhere.

Mr. Beverly, accompanied by the daughter with whom he lives, Mrs. Lurenda B. Smith, came over from Ottawa early last week. He stood the short but rather tedious journey splendidly. Upon his arrival at the home of his other daughter, Mrs. Ella Doty, he was joined by the son who lives in Chicago, Milton M. Beverly, and the intervening days have been spent in visiting. And real visiting it has been, too, for the father-grandfather, with several "greats" added thereto, was as interested as of old in the family affairs of each of his children, and insisted upon being included in the family councils. His children, who gladly minister to his every need and care for him as tenderly as a child, have after all adopted the wiser course, that of allowing the aged gentleman to do just as he pleases. He prefers to go unattended to the barber shop each week, but on other journeys Mrs. Smith accompanies him. If he prefers to walk to church or downtown, walk he does; if it is some usual chore about the house or yard, and he helps to keep two yards neat and tidy at Ottawa, all well and good. His longevity, the almost prefect possession of mid and memory, and the remarkable preservation of the functions of his human frames, are due in a great degree to his life-long habit of keeping busy. Exit Father Beverly from this mundane sphere if some over-zealous person should compel him to stop working, for work is life to him.

Father Beverly's birthday occurred on Sunday, February 11th. As always, when the weather and health permit, he was in his accustomed place in the sanctuary of the M. E. church. The honor of his presence and the event which the date commemorate was fittingly recognized by the church people and the pastor. Following the church services, a family gatheirng was held at the home of Mrs. Ella Doty when thirty-seven of the family connection were present. The stress of the former service, the crowd and the unusual commotion did not seem to fatigue Mr. Beverly and in the lull which followed the dinner hour, at a time when real old persons of from sixty to eighty years of age must take an after-dinner nap, young Mr. Beverly, aged but 100 years, suggested that "someone start something." The impromptu program which followed was all the more enjoyable because of its spontaneity and consisted of a talk by Alonzo Beverly, a nephew of Dundee, Illinois; also by Oscar Beverly, great-grandson, of this city; readings by Milton M. Beverly, a son of Chicago; Mrs. Hazel Hogle-Kinch and Oscar Beverly; recitations by Barbara Beverly, Earl and Paul Amos, and a characteristic talk by the guest in whose honor they had gathered.

On the afternoon of Monday, February 12, was held in the Methodist church, a public celebration for "Burlingame's Grand Old Man and Dearly Beloved Citizen." While the Commercial Club joined with the Methodist people in planning the details of the affair, yet all Burlingame considered it her party as well. The church was filled almost to overflowing, and this splendid expression of love and good will was a tribyte which the "Beverly crowd" thoroughly appreciated and which they wish to publicly acknowledge. The church was beautifully decorated for the occasion.

An immense flag extended from either side of the organ alcove, and the dates, 1817 and 1917, were conspicuously displayed. A profusion of ferns and cut flowers were also in evidence and were sent by the church and its various organizations, the W.R.C., the Saturday Afternoon Club, W.C.T.U., Preston and Dwight Doty of Beaumont, Texas, and possibly some others. There was nothing stiff, or formal or funereal about the gatheirng. The several hundred people who came, came early and stayed late, and a glance about the audience disclosed some representative of nearly every one of the pioneer families of Burlingame. Following the program and the distribytion of souvenir cards, bearing the likeness of Mr. Beverly, the gift from the Commercial Club, every person present shook hands with Father Beverly. In this instance he was again allowed to do as he chose, and it was his desire to meet every one of his guests. With his failing eyesight, he was quite as apt to recognize the voice before you spoke your name, as to recognize the features of his old friends who greeted him.

The program was in charge of Dr. F.E. Schenck. The opening song by a choir was entitled "It Pays to Serve Jesus." Two other songs, in which the audience joined, were requested by Father Beverly - "Rock of Ages" and "In the Sweet Bye and Bye." Dr. Schenck, in his opening remarks, referred to two others who reached the century mark, or nearly so in Burlingame in past years-Mrs. Hannah Niles, so well known and beloved, who lived 100 years and five weeks, and the revered John Drew, who lacked but a few months of reaching the coveted age. Mr. John Paul Slaughter of Topeka was in a happy mood as he recalled reminiscences, and he was followed by Mr. Clarence D. Skinner, also of Topeka, who lived on an adjoining farm in Illinois years ago. Rev. W. O. Davis gave a short talk, closing with an appropriate bit of verse on "My Garden." Mrs. Smith represented the Beverly family, and as usual her remarks were replete with common sense, and not without a touch of humor. She had a happy thought when she said, "Father has been on the water wagon every since there was a water wagon but today he is on the Band Wagon!" It was with feelings of mingled awe and reverence that the audience saw Father Beverly rise and step forward to the altar rail and address his friends in his usual straightforward manner. His remarks were short, and with strong voice and good diction he delivered one of his customary friendly talks. As usual, he said what he wanted to say, just as he wanted to say it, and stopped when he was through. Father Beverly never lacked terminal facilities, but the reverse is quite as true-he said all he had to say whenever he was called upon to express himself.

Quite a number of friends and relatives from out of town came to Burlingame expressly for the anniversary events, including Milton M. Beverly, of Chicago; Mrs. May Roberts, daughter of Laura Beverly-Aldrich, also of Chicago; Alonzo Beverly, of Dundee, Ills.; Waldo C. Smith, grandson, and his daughter, Miss Eleanor, of Ottawa; Mrs. Hazel Hogle-Kinch, great granddaughter, and two children of Lebanon, Kansas; from Topeka, Mrs. L. Y. Reeder, Mrs. Wm. Anthony, and Miss Nelle Anthony, Mr. and Mrs. J. O. Slaughter and Mrs. S. J. Flowers; County Superintendent C. A. Deardorff and Rev. C. E. Hatfield, of Lyndon; Rev. and Mrs. J. N. Tucker, Chester Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Will Dutton, of near Harveyville. Congratulatory telegrams were received from Preston and Dwight Doty, of Beaumont, Texas, Rev. C. E. Schaible, of Bushnell, Ills., Ira J. Mix, of Chicago; Mr. McKenna of Ottawa; the First M. E. church of Ottawa, through the pastor, Rev. Fred M. Bailey, and H. S. Jones, of Kansas City. From the four corners of the nation came the same sort of messages in letter and card; one greeting from southern California contained the names of forty-one "formerly-of" Burlingame residents.
ENVOI
Rev. Philetus Beverly was born in the village of Oxford, Chenango county, N.Y., February 11, 1817, the seventh in a family of twelve children. His marriage to Miss Lovisa Mix occurred there on March 13, 1838. Soon afterward they moved to western New York and did a bit of pioneering, for that part of New York was dangerously near the outpost of civilization eighty years ago. In 1844 they again journeyed westward, overland of course, and located on a government claim in Lake county, thirty miles from Chicago. And Illinois was also a pioneer state seventy-three years ago. Forty-eight years ago last October, or in 1868, the Beverly family came to Kansas, overland of course-there was no other way. They were pioneer citizens of Burlingame and neither Burlingame nor the Beverlys have ever had cause to regret the relationship. Mrs. Beverly's death occurred March ___ 1907. Their wedded life covered a span of sixty-nine years. (One can be so lavish with figures and dates when dealing with Philetus Beverly's family history.) With six of his nine children grown to maturity, it is natural that Mr. Beverly is the progenitor of a large family, indeed there are at the present time sixty-four living descendants. The four children who are still living are Dwight and Mrs. Ella Doty, of this city, Mrs. Lurenda Smith, of Ottawa, Milton M. of Chicago. There are seventeen grandchildren; the great-grandchildren number thirty-eight and the great-great grand children number five.

To recount the history of this good man in an effort to catch a glimpse of the secret of his long and eventful and useful life is very like scanning the pages of a good book, where the story always comes to a happy ending in the closing chapter. New lessons found by the oft-repeated reading of a very good book and the story never grows old. Father Beverly's life's book is both long and interesting. When w e come to the last page of the last chapter there will be no regrets. Only the pleasure and satisfaction of realizing that we have had the privilege of reading so splendid and profitable volume from the library of Gods saints.

From Burlingame Enterprise, Feb. 15, 1917 HIS YEARS NUMBER ONE HUNDRED
Burlingame Turned Out Enmasse to Celebrate the Centennial of Rev. Philetus Beverly, Patriarch Pioneer Preacher--Eighty-four Years a Methodist, and Fifty-nine Years a Resident Here-- Perhaps Oldest Ordained Minister in America.

On February 11, in the year of our Lord 1817, there was born atOxford, Chenago, New York, a man child who has lived to celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of that event, the great day coming last Sunday. This man child, christened with he good old scriptural name of Philetus, and of the family name of Beverly, grew to young manhood in his native state, and on March 13, 1838, just a month and two days after attaining man's estate, he paid hest to the biblical injunction that "it is not good for man to be alone" and was wed to Miss Louisa [sic.] Mix, the good helpmate who passed away, after 69 years of peaceful and happy married life, at the home in this city on March 3, 1907., now nearly ten years ago.

A short time after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Beverly moved to Western New York and from there, in September, 1844, to Illinois, locating in Lake county, about 30 miles distant from Chicago, then but a place of 1800 or 2000 people and as yet without a railroad. The first railroad built out of the town, the Chicago & Northwestern, ran thru the Beverly homestead and at that period terminated at Fon du Lac, Wis., then in the heart of the wilderness.

In October, 1868, the Beverly family again heard the call of the west and emigrated to the new state of Kansas, then in its swaddling clothes, thinly settled, undeveloped and with only promises of its future possibilities as a great agricultural state to offer the new comers who braved the rigors and perils of pioneer life as a premium for their hardihood. For four weeks they trekked from Illinois to Kansas, settling two miles west of Burlingame and moving into this city five years later. Here they were living when Mrs. Beverly passed away at the age of 93 years on the date named above. She was her husband's senior by about three years. Mr. Beverly was an ordained minister of the Methodist Episcopal church. It was characteristic of both that they were very pious, always helpful in word and deed to those less fortunate. They were always seeking the opportunity to do good, working with a single purpose for the physical and spiritual benefit of mankind, their lives blended with the unity of an everlasting love which shed its beauties like a benediction round about them and proved a blessing to all with whom they came in contact.

Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Beverly, of whom five passed away. Ira, the first born, and Mary, the last child, died in infancy. Cassius, another son, gave up his life for his country, dying of exposure at Fort Donelson while a member of Co. E., 52nd Illinois infantry. Woodbury P., who was also a veteran of the Civil War, died in this city some years ago. Mrs. Laura Aldrich, a daughter , died in 1896. The surviving children are Mrs. Lurenda Smith of Ottawa, Kan., with whom Mr. Beverly spends much of his time, tho Burlingame is always "home" to him; Milton M. Beverly of Chicago, Dwight C. Beverly of Burlingame and Mrs. Ella Doty, also of this city. Numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren are scattered throughout the land.
................
Not long ago--a few weeks, only, Grandfather Beverly sat in the Chronicle office taking of the years agone, for it is characteristic of old age to find pleasure in living over the past. "I have never had any startling adventures," said he, "and yet I have seen some wonderful developments in my time and have witnessed the world pass thru some great experiences in the making of history. Greatest of all I have seen the development and growth of our country, watched the march of civilization as it advanced to make a paradise out of supposed wilderness and our country extend its might even beyond the seas.

"I can readily recall when we burned pitch pine and tallow candles for light, cooked in a fireplace and traveled only by horseback, canoe or ox-team. I lived when steam travel was in its infancy, when the uses of electricity were scarcely known, when there was no wireless, no airships, automobiles or submarines, no telephones and little else but the simplest necessaries of life, few farm tools and no machinery, and none of the luxuries that are now considered necessities. Our clothing was homespun and home tailored, we raised our own grain, fruit and vegetables, and killed and cured our own meats, literally eating our bread in the sweat of our own faces and living happy lies when to live at all was hard and difficult.

"I am glad I have lived to see such progress, such a growth in civilization and culture, but sorry that my hundredth year is to be celebrated at a time when so much blood is being shed. I hope to live yet long enough to see world peace restored."
...................
All of the above transcribed by Virginia Barry