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W. GEORGE BEEVER. Among the prominent and influential citizens of Chester, Illinois, W. George Beever holds prestige as an official and business man whose loyalty and public spirit in all matters pertaining to the progress and development of Southern Illinois have ever been of the most insistent order, At the present time, in 1911, he is the popular and efficient incumbent of the office of circuit court clerk, his headquarters being at Chester.
W. George Beever was born in the vicinity of Coulterville, in Washington county, Illinois, the date of his nativity being the 23d of March, 1874. He grew to manhood on the old homestead farm and as a youth attended the public schools at Coulterville. His father, Ephraim Beever, was engaged in the great basic industry of agriculture during the greater portion of his active career and he passed to the life eternal in September, 1904, at the venerable age of seventy-one years. Ephraim Beever was born at Bedford, Indiana, his forefathers having been of stanch Holland stock. His father was George Beever, who died in 1889, in Clay City, Illinois. Although he was reared a Democrat, Ephraim Beever aligned himself with the Republican party after the close of the Civil war. He did not participate actively in political affairs but contributed in generous measure to all matters projected for the good of the general welfare. He married Rebecca Little, of Irish ancestry, and they became the parents of nine children, concerning whom the following brief data are here incorporated,_David H. is deceased; Alice is the wife of Alphonse Bonas and resides in Washington county, this state; Emma is Mrs. J. R. Kennedy, of St. Louis; John C. is postmaster at Coulterville, Illinois; Ida is Mrs. E. F. Strahan, of Washington county, this state; Clara is the wife of George Zeiver, of Coulterville; W. George is the immediate subject of this review; Elmer remains on the old home farm with his mother; and Edna is Mrs. August Smithling, of Coulterville. Mrs. Beever survives her honored husband and maintains her home on the old farm where her children were born and reared. She is a most gracious old lady and is beloved by all who have come within the sphere of her gentle influence.
W. George Beever left home at the age of eighteen years for the purpose of learning the creamery business and he was engaged in that line of enterprise at different points for a number of years. About the year 1899 he launched out into the general merchandise business, and subsequently he became manager of a hardware store at Coultervilie, Illinois, continuing as such until December, 1904, when he retired in order to assume the responsibilities of the office of circuit clerk of Randolph county. This marked his first entry into county politics but he had paved the way for it with public service at Coulterville, where he was city clerk two terms and mayor of the town for two terms. He was reared under Republican environment and it was but natural that he aligned himself with that political organization when he reached his majority. He made his first race for the circuit clerkship against formidable opposition from other candidates and after his four-year term had expired he was chosen to succeed himself as the Republican candidate, without opposition. The election in the fall of 1910, in Randolph county, was a disapointment to the Republicans, as but two men on their ticket were elected. Mr. Beever was one of these two. He has sat
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as a delegate in congressional conventions, was a spectator in the convention which nominated President Taft, and in general has demeaned himself as a citizen deeply interested in the affairs and well being of his party. In a fraternal way he is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is a man who gives his undivided attention to his official duties and he is fair and straightforward in all his business dealings.
At Coulterville, Illinois, on the 28th of February, 1893, Mr. Beever was united in marriage to Miss Mary D. McRill, a daughter of Osman McRill, a representative of an old pioneer family in this section of the state. Mr. and Mrs. Beever are the fond parents of one son, Homer, whose birth occurred in 1894, and who is now employed in his father's office at Chester. Mr. and Mrs. Beever have lived exemplary lives and are honored and esteemed by all with whom they have come in contact.