Shep's Place Family Tree

1870 Ironton, Lawrence Co: Charles 14 years was at school. His brother Joseph was working in the roller mill, while his father David 55 years was a shingler in the rolling mill. His sisters Lizzie 19 and Adeline 18 were helping their mother Mary Bevans, 50 years, at home.

1880 Ironton, Lawrence Co: Charles Bevan was the only "child" at home with Mary and David. Charles was working as a boiler, presumably in the rolling mill. His dad David, aged 64, was working in the rolling mill. He was suffering from "piles".

In 1882 Charles had married Emma Sheets. In 1885 their daughter Carrie was born, then Butler H. in 1887, Lillie M. in 1889, Carnot A. in 1894 and Maggie G. in 1899. Emma was a busy mother!

1890 Guyan Twp, Gallia Co: Charles was 44 years, and Emma was 35. They had been married for eighteen years. Emma had had seven children, and five of them were living.

1903 Harrison Twp, Gallia Co: Charles was killed in a terrible accident at the sawmill he owned. The steam boiler exploded killing Charles, Richard Houck and Richard's son Rufus. Several others were seriously injured.

Charles was killed in a sawmill accident.
Gallipolis Tribune 17 April 1903

SAWMILL EXPLOSION !

Terrible catastrophe Near Ruby Postoffice in Harrison Township.

KILLED; Richard Houck, Rufus Houck, Charles Bevan,
WOUNDED Mr. - Houck, Mr. Doddridge,
and others whose names we have not got.

The awful news reached here this Tues. afternoon through Mr. Plymale of Yellow Town, by 'phone, that the boiler in the sawmill of Charles Bevans located on Houck's land near Ruby post-office in Harrison Township, exploded about one o'clock, instantly killing Charles Bevans, the owner of the mill, and old man Richard Houck & his son Rufus, & badly wounding a young Houck & a young Doddridge whose names in full we could not, besides some whose names we did not get at all.

The men had just started to work after dinner when the explosion took place. The mill is badly wrecked, pieces of the boiler being carried a great distance. Nearest physicians were summoned & great excitement prevailed.

Mr. Ezra Niday, partner of Mr. Richard Houck who was killed in the sawmill explosion, & Mr. Ross Houck, son of Abraham Houck, who is a brother to Richard, were in town this morning & gave a few particulars not published in the Tribune, Tues.

The explosion took place at 2 o'clock. There is said to have been plenty of water in the boiler, but it was very muddy & mud is supposed to have had something to do with the explosion which occurred while these gentlemen were only a short distance from the mill.

The boiler was carried 150 feet at least & Rufus with it in a manner propelling him & he was found with his head under it, & the boiler had to be raised to get him out.

Ed Houck who was engineering the machinery & had both legs broken & was scalded in a dangerous condition & may not live.

Richard & Rufus Houck & Charles Bevans who were instantly killed, were not much disfigured, a small portion of the top of their heads being blown off.
Mr. Richard Houck was a fine, well-to-do man & his son Rufus, was well liked & popular. He was a school teacher.

Mr. Bevans was also a well liked man. He leaves a wife & five children.
Frank Wells, son-in-law of Bevans, is badly scalded. Drs. Williams & Webster were in attendance & perhaps others.

Richard Houck leaves a wife & several children. He was a very old man about 80. Rufus was about 30 and Bevans about 45.

Richard & Rufus were buried today ‎(Wednesday)‎ at the Dickey churchyard. Mr. Bevans will be buried at Siloam Church, Thurs. The scene of the accident is about 16 miles from this city.

‎[Note: Mr. Bevan was buried in Stewart Chapel Cemetery, not Siloam Church.]‎