Family Tree Maker's Genealogy Site: User Home Page Book: Internet version of William Beale, Sr.: Jarvis Thayer Beal

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Jarvis Thayer Beal

Jarvis Thayer Beal was born on November 25, 1845 in Lewiston, Maine. He was the son of Sarah (Ames) and Moses Goold Beal.

In 1862, Jarvis was 5'7" tall, dark complexion with black eyes and black hair. He was a farmer. Jarvis (nearly 17 years of age) enlisted along with his father, Moses, as privates in Company G, Twenty-Third Maine Infantry on September 10, 1862 in Greene, Maine. See the previous chapter on Moses Goold Beal and the Civil War history of the Twenty-Third Maine Infantry. Jarvis was honorably discharged at Portland, Maine on July 15, 1863.

Jarvis reenlisted into the Civil War for three years at Lewiston, Maine on September 14, 1863 in Company K, Twenty-Ninth Maine Infantry. He served as a substitute for Elbridge Larrabee. Elbridge was in the draft, but he could hire a substitute to take his place, as in this case.

Company K was mustered into the United States service on November 13, 1863 at Camp E.D. Keyes in Augusta, Maine. The Twenty-Ninth Maine Infantry departed Portland, Maine on February 1, 1864. They departed on the Steamship De Molay, and proceeded to New Orleans, Louisiana. Jarvis participated in every battle and skirmish of his regiment. He participated in the Red River campaign in 1864, also with General Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley campaign in West Virginia. Some of the battles he fought in were at Sabine Cross Roads, Pleasant Hill, Monett's Bluff and Cane River Crossing in Louisiana. Jarvis also fought in battles at Berryville, Opequan, Winchester, Fisher's Hill, and Cedar Creek in Virginia. Jarvis' unit also helped build the famous "Yankee Dam" at Alexandria, Louisiana on the Red River to help save the Federal fleet. His unit also helped guard the assassins of the late President Abraham Lincoln at the Washington Arsenal in Washington, D.C.

During his military service, Jarvis was said to have been off duty for a half a day. His obituary would say that he was loved and respected by his officers and enlisted personnel. He was always ready for duty and to do it well was his goal.

His rifle had the following stampings on it: near the hammer area of the rifle, was stamped "1863 U.S. Springfield, along with a picture of an eagle", on the butt plate of his rifle was stamped "US 18 K". The "K" stood for Company K, and the serial number of 18. With the bayonet attached, the rifle stood about 6 foot tall, taller than Jarvis himself. Jarvis was promoted to the rank of corporal on October 25, 1864 at Cedar Creek, Virginia. This promotion was just six days after a major battle at Cedar Creek. He would eventually be promoted to the rank of sergeant before the end of the Civil War. On June 21, 1866, Jarvis was honorably discharged at Hilton Head, South Carolina. He was mustered out of the United States service at Hart's Island in New York Harbor on June 27, 1866.

Jarvis lived in Greene, Maine after the Civil War ended from 1866 to 1874. Jarvis then lived in Webster, Maine form 1874 to 1889. The town of Webster has since been renamed to "Sabattus".

Jarvis married Olive Ann Drinkwater on June 29, 1867 in Maine. Olive was the daughter of Susan (Turner) and Jacob F. Drinkwater. Olive was born on September 10, 1850 in Webster, Maine. They had the following children (all born in Maine):

i Abijah Thayer, b February 18, 1869 in Webster, Maine
ii Norris S., b October 28, 1870
iii Susie B., b November 25, 1873
iv Olive May, b February 5, 1875 in Webster, Maine
v Eda Eldora, b October 6, 1881
vi Lottie Villa, January 25, 1884

Olive died on August 14, 1889 in Webster, Maine.

Jarvis next married Eleanor Blethen Chadbourne on November 22, 1890 in Webster, Maine. Eleanor was born on July 10, 1868 in Lewiston, Maine. Eleanor's last name can be found spelled as: Chadbourn & Chadborn. They had the following children (all born in Newton, Massachusetts, except for Thelma Susie who was born in Webster, Maine):

i Erwin William Sr., b August 9, 1892
ii Harold Agustus, b July 30, 1894
iii Carl Newton, b June 10, 1897
iv Lawrence Milton, b May 19, 1903
v Thelma Susie, b November 14, 1906

Jarvis and his family moved to Newton, Massachusetts in the latter part of 1889.

Jarvis was known to live at the following places in Newton: 297 Parker Street {Newton Center}¹ and 13 Clarendon Avenue in {Newtonville}¹. Today there is only a Clarendon Street that is in Newtonville. The 13 Clarendon Street home as been since torn down and another home build in its place. There is no address on Clarendon Street today.

Jarvis was a carpenter and a builder in Newton, Massachusetts. One notable building that Jarvis and his son, Abijah, helped build was the Hunnewell Club. It was built in 1896 for the Stanley Steamer family and it was also used as a men's club. The massive building still stands today as a apartment/condominium complex at 84 Church Street in Newton.

On December 21, 1903, Jarvis states that he was 5 feet 7 inches tall, 210 pounds, and he had black eyes and black hair and a dark complexion.

Jarvis was issued a government pension for his duty during the Civil War. His pension bureau number was 􂥤, his claim for pension by certificate was 􇀔. After Jarvis died, Eleanor was issued widow's pension 􇚔 and 󊹡.

On February 16, 1916, Jarvis had his Civil War pension increased to the rate of $25.00 per month starting from November 25, 1915 to November 25, 1920. He was then supposed to receive another increase to $30.00 per month after November 25, 1920, though Jarvis would not live to see that increase.

Jarvis died at home on August 24, 1916 at 13 Clarendon Avenue in Newton {Newtonville}¹, Massachusetts. He died of carcinoma of the stomach with contributory chronic interstitial nephritis. Jarvis is buried at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Sabattus, Maine. Jarvis fought in a battle at Pleasant Hill, Louisiana on April 9, 1864, and chose to be buried at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Sabattus, Maine. Eleanor died at home April 16, 1925 at 2 Washington Terrace {Newtonville}¹. She had been collecting $30.00 a month at the time of her death from Jarvis' Civil War pension. Jarvis, Olive, and Eleanor and some of their children are buried next to each other.

Jarvis' headstone is an upright white Government Stone G.A.R. (Grand Army of the Republic) marker that reads:

SGT.
JARVIS T. BEAL
CO. K
29 ME. INF.

Olive's upright headstone reads:

OLIVE A.
Wife of
JARVIS T. BEAL.
Died Aug. 14, 1889,
Aged 38 yrs. 11 mos.
She was a kind and affectionate wife
a fond mother and friend to all.

Eleanor's upright headstone reads:

BEAL
1868 ELEANOR B. 1925
1894 HAROLD A. 1899
1903 LAWRENCE M. 1904

A G.A.R. (Grand Army of the Republic) five pointed star maker (that holds an American flag) is nearby, showing that Jarvis was a veteran of the Civil War.

Jarvis' obituary called him a "staunch republican", and he was a member of the Charles Ward Post >, G.A.R. in Newton {Newtonville}¹.

***Olive Ann (Drinkwater) Beal is a descendant of Mayflower Pilgrims George Soule and James Chilton.

_____________________________________________________________________
¹ The City of Newton, Massachusetts is comprised of 13 villages. The names of the villages when noted will be shown in { }

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