WI BIO - Dane Co - JEFFERSON, Beverly, Mr.
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol II, pp 401-402

Among the important business interests of the city of Madison, Dane County, 
WI, is the one conducted by Beverly JEFFERSON. What Frank PARMALEE or Leroy 
PAYNE is to Chicago, IL, Mr. JEFFERSON is to Madison, WI, conducting one of 
the largest lines of carriages, hacks and wagons in this section. His 
business was established in 1869, is the oldest in the city, having been 
developed as the demands of the times required, until now his turnouts and 
horses are really metropolitan. His stables are located at No. 12 Webster 
Street.

Beverly JEFFERSON came to this city in the early 1850's, when he was yet a 
boy, passing his young manhood in various occupations until he became the 
clerk of the old but well remembered American House. The old house has given 
place to the handsome First National Bank building on that site. Here our 
subject remained until his enlistment in 1861, in Company E, 1st WI Regiment, 
under Colonel J. C. STARKWEATHER, and Captain George E. BRYANT, now the 
Postmaster of Madison, WI. Mr. JEFFERSON served three months in the 
volunteer army, going out with the three month men. At the expiration of his 
enlistment, he returned and bought out the American House, in which he had 
been a clerk before entering the army.

After a season, Beverly JEFFERSON moved out to his farm, which is located 
four miles from the city, but after a time he returned and opened the hotel 
known as the Capital House, being the first landlord, and here he remained 
for just five years. In the meantime he had seen the opening for a line of 
omnibuses, and left the hotel to engage in his present business. He 
established it before leaving the hotel, and now has fourteen vehicles, and 
gives employment to fourteen men, thus beginning as others have done, who 
have made such well known successes in the same line.

Mr. JEFFERSON has steered clear of local politics. He is a member of the 
Masonic fraternity and of C. C. Washburn Post, No. 11, G. A. R., of Madison. 
Mr. Beverly JEFFERSON was born in Augusta County, VA, in 1839, and he was yet 
young when his parents removed to the West, and was educated principally in 
Madison. Both of his parents had been born in VA, but they both passed away 
in Madison, Dane County, WI, the father when less than 50 years of age, and 
the mother when 75. He maiden name was Julia A. JEFFERSON, and she had been 
a member of the Congregational Church.

Beverly JEFFERSON is the only surviving member of his family, and was the 
youngest son. The oldest son, Colonel J. W. JEFFERSON, died 13 Jun 1892, at 
Memphis [Shelby County], TN. He had been a resident of Madison, WI, for some 
years, enlisted early in the Rebellion, was commissioned Major of the 8th WI 
Volunteers, known as the "Eagle Eight," 26 Aug 1861; was [p 402] seriously 
wounded at Corinth, MS, 03 Oct 1862, and again, slightly, at Vicksburg, MS, 
22 May 1863; was promoted to Lt. Colonel on 07 Jun 1864, and was mustered out 
as Colonel at the expiration of his term of service, 11 Oct 1864, and at once 
returned to the city of Memphis, TN, where he engaged in the buying and 
shipping of cotton, and for many years had been interested in the raising of 
cotton in the State of AR.

Colonel JEFFERSON was identified very closely with the history of Memphis 
[Shelby County, TN], its interests and welfare were dear to his heart, from 
1864 until the time of his death. In Memphis he was regarded by all as a 
gentleman to be esteemed, as he was enterprising, liberal, progressive, and 
warm hearted. He was one of the original projectors and owners of the 
Continental Cotton Company, and until 1873 was one of the largest shippers of 
cotton in the South. He was engaged in numberless enterprises tending to the 
public good, of a genial, chivalrous disposition, and became well known 
through the South, his adopted home, became wealthy, and died unmarried.

Our subject, Beverly JEFFERSON, was married in Madison, Dane County, WI, to 
Miss Anna M. SMITH, a native of PA, who came here when a young person with 
her parents, who settled upon a farm near Madison, where they became 
prosperous, but later moved into the city, where they both died and were 
buried upon the same day at about the age of 75 years. Their honored names 
were Isaac and Sarah J. SMITH, who were strong Presbyterians in their 
religion. Before coming West, Isaac SMITH had been a prominent lumber 
merchant in PA.

Mrs. JEFFERSON died in 1880, when in middle life. She was a consistent member 
of the Presbyterian Church, and left behind her five sons: (1) Thomas B., 
messenger with the American Express Company; (2) John F., in the passenger 
service with the Chicago & Northwestern railroad; (3) Fred A., now a student 
at Rush Medical College; (4) Harry E., with W. B. PIERSON & Company, 
mechanical engineers in Chicago, Cook County, IL; and (5) Carl S., at home, 
attending the city high school.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly