Theodore was the eldest of 10 children (five boys and five girls), born to Jesse Beaver, Sr. (March 8, 1811 - Dec. 2, 1892) (the son of Rev. Peter Beaver and Elizabeth Gilbert), and his wife Mary Ann Swartz (born July 2, 1813) (daughter of Dr. Christian Swartz and Margaretta Stamm), of Mifflin County, Pennsylvania.

Theodore's father was from Perry County, Pennsylvania, and then of Union County, Pennsylvania. They then lived in Danville, Danville Township, Montour County, Pennsylvania.

The children of Jesse Beaver, Sr. and his first wife Mary Ann Swartz are:

1. Theodore Gilbert Beaver B. 9-20-1834 D. 9-14-1906. He was an attorney in Niles, Michigan.
2. Margaret E. ("Maggie") Beaver B. 1837? She was the wife of John Kramer.
3. Thomas Beaver B. 1841 D. 4-9-1907
4. Mary Jane ("Jennie") Beaver B. 9-12-1842 D. 9-12-1913 She was the wife of Wilson Gearhart
5. Clara Beaver B. 3-5-1846 D. 12-4-1921
6. Marion W. Beaver B. 3-25-1844 D. 7-31-1925 She was the wife of John William Gaskins
7. Pvt. Charles Swartz Beaver B. 6-7-1848 D. 8-15-1919
8. Jesse L. Beaver, Jr. B. 11-1-1815 D. 12-5-1919 He was married to Anna Thomson. He was
Superintendant of the Thomas Beaver Free Library in Danville, Pennsylvania. His wealthy Uncle Thomas Beaver (1814-1891), donated the library, the Y.M.C.A., and the Beaver Memorial Church.
9. Emeline P. ("Emma") Beaver B. 1852 She was the wife of John Roate.
10. John A. Beaver B. 5-11-1855 D. 2-19-1909

Note: To read a large biography of the extended Beaver family, see: "History and Official Proceedings of the Supreme Text of the Knights of the Maccabees", by Nathan Smith Beynton, 1889, pages 99 through 102.

Also, see their biographies in: "The History of Columbia and Montour Counties Pennsylvania",
by J. H. Battle, 1887, pages 114, 115, 143, and 144.

Also see: "Montour County Pennsylvania U. S. Gen Web Archives" (for biographies on his father Jesse Sr. and brother Jesse Jr.).

Also see:
1. History and Birgraphical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties PA (Chicago - J. H. Beers and Co, 1915), pages 362, 364, 384, and 406.
2. "Biographical Annals of Franklin County Pennsylvania" 1905.
3. "History of Juniata Valley", by John W. Jordon, page 533.
4. "History of Perry County PA", by H. H. Hain.
5. Danville, Montour County PA, by D. H. B. Brewer, 1881, pages 200 and 201.
6. My Danville, by Arthur Toye Foulke, 1969, pages 84, 117, 145, and 190-197.

Theodore was an attorney in Niles, Michigan. He was admitted to the Bar in 1862, in Berrien County, Michigan. Theodore served as the Recorder in Niles, Michigan in 1863. He moved to Chicago in 1869, for three years (until his office was destroyed by the great fire). He then returned to Niles, Michigan. He served as the Mayor of Niles, Berrien County, Michigan, in 1884, and again in 1889. He retired as an attorney in 1898. He served as a Justice of the Peace
in 1899.

Death Certificate Information:
Father: Jessie Beaver (born in PA)
Mother: Mary Ann Schwartz (born in PA)
Occupation: Lawyer
Marital Status: Widowed, wife not listed.

Theodore was married twice: m. # 1. Frances Mary Twombly (1845 - March 25, 1879), on Sept. 22, 1863, in Niles, Berrien County Michigan. She was the daughter of Hon. Royal T. Twombly, of Maine. They had two children: (both born in Chicago, ILL) (1.) Theodora ("Dora") R. Beaver. She married William E. Vanderlyn, on April 18, 1894, in Berrien Co. Michigan. They lived in Niles, Michigan, and in Wisconsin. Children: Charles Theodore Vanderlyn, and Royal Beaver Vanderlyn
(1895 - April 27, 1896), who is buried in the Silverbrook Cemetery, next to Theodore's first wife.(2.) Frank Twombly Beaver (1873-1923). He married Maude M. Shultz/Schultz, on Sept. 8, 1901, in Berrien Co. Michigan. He was editor of a newspaper in Joliet, Illinois. Frank is also buried in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Theodore's first wife Frances died in 1879, at the age of 33 years. She is buried in Silverbrook Cemetery (in section: "Bond, 12, 10, 4").

Theodore's second marriage: m. # 2. Lodema Dragoo, on Sept. 23, 1884, in the rectory of the Episcopal Church, in Niles, Berrien County, Michigan. Lodema was the daughter of Peter Dragoo and his wife Anna (Weaver) Ingleright. Lodema was born Feb. 10, 1849, in Berrien County, Michigan, about 3 months after her father had died. She was raised by her mother Anna, and
Anna's third husband Wilkerson Colvin. In 1875, Lodema graduated, with honors, from the Saint Mary's Academy (College),in South Bend, Indiana, a sister school of Notre Dame University. Lodema became a school teacher, and then a school principal. Lodema had filed a lawsuit, regarding her share of the property her father had once owned. Perhaps Theodore served as
her attorney? They were married shortly after the lawsuit was settled. Theodore and Lodema had no children. Lodema later joined a religious sect known as the "Flying Rollers" (which was associated with the "House of David" in Benton Harbor, Michigan), and became a missionary. Theodore later divorced Lodema, on Feb. 7, 1895, in Berrien County, Michigan, stating that she had deserted him two years previous. There are records of Lodema Beaver later
living in England (in 1911 and 1930). Lodema Beaver died in England in 1945, at the age of 95.

Theodore was a member of the Freemasons, Scottish Rite Masons, Royal Arcanum, and the Maccabees.

The obituary for Theodore G. Beaver was published in the following newspapers:
1. "Buchanan Record" newspaper, in Buchanan, Michigan, on Sept. 18, 1906, page 1, column 3.
(This one lists his survivors).
2. "Niles Daily Star" newspaper, in Niles, Michigan, on Sept. 15, 1906, page one.
3. "Berrien Springs Era" newspaper, in Berrien Springs, Michigan, on Sept. 20, 1906, page 1.
4. "The Acorn" newspaper, in Burr Oak, Michigan, on Sept. 21, 1906, page 5, column 2.

An obituary for Theodore's father (Hon.) Jesse Beaver was published in the "Niles Daily Sun" newspaper, on Dec. 20, 1892, page 2, column 3. (This obituary lists his survivors).

Obituaries for Theodore's first wife Frances were published in the:
1. "Niles Democrat" newspaper, in Niles, Michigan, on April 5, 1879, page 3, column 4. (This lists her survivors).
2. "Niles Republican II" newspaper, in Niles, Michigan, on April 3, 1879, page 3.
3. "Niles Weekly Mirror" newspaper, in Niles, Michigan, on April 2, 1879, page 5.
4. "Berrien Springs Era" newspaper, in Berrien Springs, Michigan, on April 2, 1879, page 3.
5. "St. Joseph Vally Register" newspaper, on April 3, 1879, page 8, column 7.

An obituary for Theodore's son Frank T. Beaver, was published in the "Niles Daily Sun" newspaper, in Niles, Michigan, on March 31, 1923, page 8.

Note: All of these obituaries can be photo-copied at the Niles District Library, in Niles, Michigan.

Headstone photos, courtesy of "Friends of Silverbrook Cemetery".

See large article on Theodore G. Beaver (and his parents), in "A Twentieth Century History
of Berrien County Michigan", by Orville W. Coolidge, pages 647 and 648.