When the Levels Cavalry under Captain Andrew G. McNeel, 1861, were disbanded, many of its members joined the Bath Cavalry under Captain Archie Richards.  April 25, 1862, this company formed into two companies "F" and "G", and was known as the Bath Squadron, attached to the 11th Virginia Cavalry.  Dr. A.G. McChesney was Captain of Company F.  A C. L. Gatewood, 1st Sergeant, and Edwin S. Beard, 2nd Sergeant.   The following persons from Pocahontas County were members of this company:  Moffett Beard, W. W. Beard, John G. Beard, John J. Beard, James Burnside, James Callison, Clark Cochran, George B. Cochran, Andrew Edmiston, Richard Edmiston, Matthew Edmiston, John L. Kennison, Davis Kennison, D.B. McElwee, B. D. McElwee, John McCarty, A.G. McNeel, G. H. Moffet.

Hillsboro 7 -- June 2006

At a meeting of the Board of Education of Union Township (Little Levels District) on July 17, 1866, it was ordered that a school for colored children be established according to law, the enumeration showing that there were over thirty in number.   It was to be located on Stamping Creek, in what was called “Irish Town”.  John J. Kinnison, James Morrison, and R. F. Williams, members of the Board, ordered that a suitable house be procured and the necessary arrangements be made for the school.

On Sept 18, 1873, it was ordered that J. G. Beard be appointed to take charge all the funds belonging to the colored population of said district and dispose of same in such a manner as he should be deem best calculated to advance the educational interests of the colored population of the district, as to providing houses and teachers for the colored population and, as there was such an amount due them as would be more than necessary for teacher’s salaries for three or more years, it was ordered that the said John G. Beard be authorized to use as much of the money as would be necessary for building or renting houses.

Evidently the salaries allowed the colored teachers were less than the white teachers received for in 1876, the Board ordered John G. Beard to employ a teacher for the colored school on the mountain in his district – salary not to exceed fifteen dollars.  Near the turn of the century, there were fifty-six colored pupils in the Little Levels District.

Marriage Record - John G. Beard + Jemima C. Walkup  6 Nov 1854 License Issued.  Greenbrier, WV.

Marriage Record - John G. Beard + Jemima C. Walkup 6 Nov 1854, Age at Marriage : 20 y (Bride) 25y (Groom).   Greenbrier Co., WV.