Résumé

Partner, Wilson and Bever, Architect and Builder, Anaheim, CA, c. 1918- .

Partner, Wilson and Bever, General Contractors, Anaheim, CA, 1924- . In 1924, Wilson and Bever operated at 124 Elm Street in Anaheim. (See Anaheim, California, City Directory, 1924, Classified Business Directory, p. 21.)

Relocation

Miles E. Bever was born in Hillsboro, Cain Township, Fountain County, IN, in the west-central part of the state, about 65 miles northwest of Indianapolis. He was raised on a family farm, one of nine children. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1880; Census Place: Cain, Fountain, Indiana; Roll: 277; Page: 80C; Enumeration District: 074, accessed 01/14/2021.)

In 1895, Miles, his parents and five siblings worked a farm near Sherman, KS. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Kansas State Historical Society; Topeka, Kansas; 1895 Kansas Territory Census; Roll: v115_33; Line: 27, accessed 01/14/2021.)

Before coming to Anaheim, CA, Bever lived with his family in Kansas City, MO, where his daughter Rose was born c. 1905. The family remained close, living near to one another and all working in the construction business. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Missouri State Archives; Jefferson City, MO, USA; Missouri Birth Records [Microfilm], accessed 01/14/2021.) Bever lived here at least three years (1902-1905), and probably longer. Working as a carpenter, he lived at 3624 Saint John Street in Kansas City in 1903. His brother, James, worked as a laborer in the same city and lived at 1927 Broadway. (See Kansas City, Missouri, City Directory, 1903, p. 149.) Miles was not listed in the 1904 or 1905 directories, but his brothers Earnest and James were. (See Hoye Directory Company's Kansas City, Missouri, City Directory, 1904, p. 126,) A year later, his father and Earnest lived at 42 North Oakley Street, while James dwelled at 13 Bellaire Street. All three worked as carpenters. (See Hoye Directory Company's Kansas City, Missouri, City Directory, 1905, p. 109.) During the year 1906, Miles's name reappeared in the directory, living next door to his father and brother Earnest 20 North Oakley), at 22 North Oakley Street. (See Hoye Directory Company's Kansas City, Missouri, City Directory, 1906, p. 109.) By 1908, his father and brother James remained in Kansas City, but Miles had relocated elsewhere. (See Gould's Kansas City, Missouri, City Directory, 1908, p. 173.)

He and Anna had a home in Fullerton, CA, in 1910. They lived on Brookhurst Road, where he operated a general farm as per the US Census. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1910; Census Place: Fullerton, Orange, California; Roll: T624_90; Page: 5A; Enumeration District: 0043; FHL microfilm: 1374103, accessed 01/14/2021.)

He and his family resided at 204 South Ohio Street in 09/1918. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Registration State: California; Registration County: Orange County, accessed 01/14/2021.) They continued to live here according to the US Census of that year, with the household consisting of his wife Anna, his four daughters, Rose, Orena, Reona and Ramona, and his 74-year-old mother-in-law, Mary Henry. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1920; Census Place: Anaheim, Orange, California; Roll: T625_123; Page: 9B; Enumeration District: 53, accessed 01/14/2021.) They continued to reside here a decade later, but neither Rose nor Mary Henry continued to live with them. According to the 1930 US Census, their residence had a value of approximately $10,000, more than average for the time.

In 1940, he lived in a dwelling at 124 West Elm Street in Anaheim, with his daughters daughters Orena and Ramona and the latter's son Richard Wallace (born c. 1936 in CA). The 1940 US Census recorded an approximate value of $4,000 for the house. At this time, the census indicated that Miles still worked as a carpenter. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1940; Census Place: Anaheim, Orange, California; Roll: m-t0627-00271; Page: 10A; Enumeration District: 30-6, accessed 01/14/2021.)

Bever died in Long Beach, CA, and was buried in Fairhaven Memorial Park, Santa Ana, CA.

Parents

His parents were George W. Bever (born 05/06/1837 in Hillsboro, IN-d. 06/22/1936 in Girard, KS) and Joanna Cooper(born 07/07/1844 in Harlem, OH-d. 05/08/1918 in Girard, KS). George Bever died at 99, one of the last surviving Civil War veterans in his KS community. His parents ran a farm in Cain Township, IN, in 1880.

George and Joanna had nine children and they included: Rosetta Bever Rosenberg (1867-1950), Eva E. Bever Frazier (1869-1959), James Preston Bever (1870-1957), Ida L. Bever Henry (1872-1962), Cora A. Bever Holzer (1876-1973), Bessie May Bever Holzer (1881-1961), Grace Myrtle Bever Henry (1883-1957) and Earnest Bever (1886-1936). Miles came from a family of long-lived individuals, his father living until 99, his mother to 74 and his brothers and sisters to 36, 87, 83, 90, 90, 97, 80 and 74, averaging about 82 years of age. (If his brother Earnest, who died early, was not included, the average was approximately 86 years of age.)

Spouse

He wed Anna F. Henry (born 02/1877 in IL-d. 1931 in CA) in Kansas City, MO, on 05/13/1902. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information: Missouri, U.S., Jackson County Marriage Records, 1840-1985 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: Marriage Records. Jackson County Clerk, Kansas City, Missouri, accessed 01/14/2021.)

Anna lived with her family in Weber Township, IL, in 1900. Her parents, John W. Henry (born c. 01/1846 in IL) and Mary E. Henry (born c. 04/1848 in IL) operated a farm. Anna was one of eight children, six of whom survived in 1900. (See Ancestry.com Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: Weber, Jefferson, Illinois; Page: 15; Enumeration District: 0083; FHL microfilm: 1240309, accessed 01/14/2021.)

Children

He and Anna had four daughters, Rose Bever Keller (born 12/03/1904 in MO-d. 08/06/1993 in San Bernardino County, CA), Orena Bever Dougherty (born 08/09/1910 in CA-d. 11/16/1986 in Los Angeles County, CA), Reona Bever Bostick (born 08/09/1910 in CA-d. 12/30/1982 in Orange County, CA), and Ramona Bever Wallace (born 08/09/1910 in Anaheim, CA-d. 08/28/1994 in OR). Orena, Reona and Ramona were triplets.

Biographical Notes

Bever, according to his World War I draft card, was Caucasian, of medium height and slender build, with blue eyes and red hair. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Registration State: California; Registration County: Orange County, accessed 01/14/2021.)

His World War II draft registration card listed his birthplace as Waynetown, IN, about six miles east of Hillsboro. At age 63, Bever stood 5-feet, 9-and-1/2-inches tall, and weighed 155 pounds. By this time, he had had an appendectomy. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; World War II Draft Cards (4th Registration) for the State of California; Record Group Title: Records of the Selective Service System; Record Group Number: 147, accessed 01/13/2021.)