David Beaver, b. 1769 in Virginia, d. May 15, 1825; m. March 5, 1799, to Anne Strickler ("David Beaver and Anne Strickler, 5th of March, 1799. Page 55 --- ibid. Woodstock, Va., Marriage Record"). She is a daughter of John Strickler of Egypt, Va. David is bur. in Licking cem., Licking Co., O. His stone is in good condition; dates distinct. They had 10 children. One little girl, Lydia, d. Jan. 14, 1810, aged 17 mo., is bur. by the side of her father. No stone is found in this cem. for David's wife. Since David died at age 56, his widow may have remarried or with her children moved elsewhere.

David Beaver was the first Beaver immigrant into Licking Co., O.; came here in 1805. Sometime in 1812, Ann Strickler Beaver's sister, Barbara Strickler, married James Rice (See "Forerunners, " p. 43). James Rice came to Licking Co., also. The Rices being bur. in Licking cem. John Strickler died in 1802. (His wife, Barbara Brumbach.) His will was probated Sept. 13, 1802. The witnesses were Daniel Strickler and David Beaver.

Abraham Beaver, David's brother, had married Barbara Coffman, daughter of Martin Kaufman II and Mary Lionberger Kaufman, Feb. 25, 1784 (see "Forerunners," p. 93). Martin Kaufman II made his will Feb. 25, 1805, with David Beaver and Abraham Strickler as witnesses. He died soon after and at a Court held April 9, 1805, his will was proven by the affirmation of David Beaver and Abraham Strickler, witnesses thereto. (Shenandoah Co. Will Book, folio 324). Later in the year David Beaver migrated to Ohio, settling in what is now Union twp., Licking Co.

On Feb. 22, 1806, he purchased from Abraham Stipp 1000 acres of land (Fairfield Co. Deed Book E., p. 274). At that time Licking Co., was a part of Fairfield and was cut out of Fairfield in 1808. Today the village of Hebron spreads out to the southern edge of this land and a stream called Beaver Run flows along the north side. This tract David sold out to his friends and relatives, reserving about 320 acres in the north and central parts for himself. April 2, 1813, he sold his brother Abraham a strip, 80 perches wide and 402 perches long off the west side of his tract and containing 201 acres. The price was $800.00 (Licking Co. Deed Book E, p. 81). Feb. 8, 1814, he sold Joseph Sto of the county of Shenandoah, VA, 151 acres in the south central part; the same day he sold Henry Brumbach, also of Shenandoah Co., 56 acres in the southern corner and Henry Clem of Licking Co., 100 acres in the east central part. Jan. 12, 1815, he sold Alexander Wright of Licking Co., the 56 acres lying between Henry Brumbach and Henry Clem. Abraham Coffman also owned a piece of this land just east of David Beaver and west of Alexander Wright. This Abraham Kauffman was the son of David Kauffman who came to Ohio and settled further east in Licking township. His brother Peter came to Licking Co., too, also his sisters Rachel Young and Sally Welsh. The Youngs came in 1811 and lived two years on the Beaver tract, likely on Abraham Coffman's land. Joseph Sto's piece after a few transfers to various parties in Virginia became the property of Daniel Strickler. Neighbors of David Beaver, whose names appear as witnesses on these deeds, were: George Wells; Henry Aleshot; James Holmes; Henry Clem; Jos. Grove; Amos Parke; Alexander Holmes; John McQuown; John McQuown, Jr.; Samuel Stover; Benjamin Garee; John Reed; Richard Wells.

David Beaver was an adherent of the Primitive Baptist faith. In 1805, the same year he settled in Licking Co., Benjamin Green, a Baptist Preacher, began preaching at David Beaver's house and other houses in the neighborhood. Aug. 22, 1807, the Licking Primitive Baptist Church was organized at David Beaver's house. This church played an important part in the lives of the families in which we are interested. According to the church records, by Elders Martin Coffman and Samuel Comer (Elder is the official title of a Primitive Baptist minister) at the first meeting after the organization, held Sept. 27, 1807, the church organized by choosing Samuel Comer, Moderator, and Alexander Holden, Clerk. David Beaver and Abraham Fry were appointed deacons. The church resolved to join itself to the Scioto Association and appointed Brethren David Beaver, Abraham Fry, Moses Sutton and Alexander Holden messengers to the Association. They adjourned to meet the first Sunday and Saturday before in October at the home of Friend Grove. The word "Friend," here, is a title, used probably because Grove himself was a friend and not a member of the church, although some of his family were members.

Elders Coffman and Comer were from the Pleasant Run Church in Fairfield Co., where there was another Shenandoah colony. These two settlements were closely bound up in ties of blood and religion. Elder Martin Coffman was a brother to Abraham Beaver's wife Barbara. The Roads, Beaver, Grove, part of the Coffman family, and others settled in Licking Co.; the Gieger, Ruffner, Spitler, Mauck, Comer, Strickler and other families settled in Fairfield Co.

From the Atlas of 1875: "In 1805 Benjamin Green, a Baptist minister, commenced preaching in David Beaver's house. Meetings were held at different homes. About the year 1815-16 they erected a hewed log church with gallery on sides and on one end; this was for some time called 'Beaver's Meeting House,' but was subsequently named 'Licking Church.' The first school house was in the neighborhood of David Beavers, and was taught by Mr. Livingstone in 1805."

As stated, "Beaver's Meeting House" was later called the Licking Baptist Church at Hebron, Licking Co., O. The congregation was organized Aug. 27, 1807, and from the old church book the following signed their names: David Beaver, Anna Beaver, John Simpson, Ann Simpson, Moses Sutton, Susanna Sutton, Polly Sutton, Philip Sutton, Catherine Deweese, Benjamin Green, Abraham Fry, Alexander Holden, Sarah Holden, Martin Grove, Barbara Grove, Ann Grove, Ufane Thompson, Mary Davis, Sally Park, David Park, Rody Debolt, Samuel Maradeth.

The church established a cemetery on land given by John Roads, a half mile northwest of the Beaver tract.

David Beaver died in 1825 and was bur. in the Licking cem. The inscription on his stone reads: "Who left a disconsolate widow and ten children to deplore their loss."

A deed made by David Beaver's heirs. March 28, 1839, gives us the names of five children (Licking Co., Deed Book H H, p. 357); Deed dated Nov. 4, 1839, gives us two more (Vol. H. H, p. 437); the Licking Co. Marriage Record and tombstone on the Beaver lot give us the other three. Issue 10 children...

Mr. Ralph Porter, of Hebron, O., who has furnished considerable information of the Beavers of Licking Co., O., writes the compiler: "The descendants of David Beaver seem to have all moved away and none live in this neighborhood now as far as I know. But there are a large number of descendants of Abraham Beaver here. Abraham Beaver settled on the 201 acres he purchased from his brother David in 1813. We know Abraham and David were brothers, because Abraham's son, Eld. Martin Beaver, recorded his uncle David Beaver's death in his Bible. Abraham's homestead was where Albert White now (1937) lives. When his daughter Jemima, married John Beaver, he sold Brown 66 acres off the south end of his tract. Later 50 acres of the 66 became the Worthington R. Ceiger home farm. Abraham also sold a piece off the north end of his tract, which became the home farm of Samuel Hand."