Joseph Harmon Chavis was born April 20, 1854 in Orangeburg, South Carolina. He was the son of Josiah “Joseph” L. and Mary Jane (Davis) Chavis. He died December 23, 1934 and was buried in the Beaver Creek Baptist Church cemetery.

Joseph Harmon Chavis was married three times and fathered twenty-three children during his lifetime. His first wife was Arie H. Yon. They had six children; Joshua Chavis, George William Chavis, Mary Jane Chavis, Annis Matilda Chavis, Maggie Lavisa Chavis, and Keller Ivey Chavis. His second wife was Fannie Etta Hallman. They had eleven children; Joseph Riley Chavis, Jessie Julian Chavis, Cora Elizabeth Chavis, George Robert Chavis Sr., Rossie Edna Chavis, Carrie Bell Chavis, Jimmie Oliver Chavis, Curtis Loutine Chavis, Lessie Cornelia Chavis, Lory Harmon Chavis, and Elmer Edward Chavis. His third wife was Ellen Evalena Murphy. They had six children; Clinton Leon Chavis Sr., Ollie Mae Chavis, Mamie Lou Chavis, Johnnie Gary Chavis, Simmie Barton Chavis, and Joan Pearl Chavis.

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Special thanks to John Barry Chavis for researching the family history of Joseph Harmon Chavis.