The Evans Families of Allen County, Ohio

RICHARD EVANS, farmer and stock-dealer, P. O. Delphos, was born in Montgomeryshire, North Wales, September 4, 1817, and immigrated to America in 1840, settling in Butler County, Ohio. In 1852 he came to this county and settled on his present farm, paying $1,860 for 160 acres uncleared land, of which he has cleared 135 acres. His parents were Evan and Mary (Jones) Evans, who died in Wales. (Evan Evans was a son of John and Mary Evans who were married at the ages of nineteen and seventeen years, respectively, and lived together until they were aged, respectively, one hundred and three and one hundred and one, a period of eighty-four years of married life). They were parents of nine children: John, who died without issue; Lewis, living with family in Montgomeryshire, Wales: Evan, died in London, single; Mary, died young; Edward, died, leaving a family in Wales; Elizabeth, died young; Richard, and Margaret, deceased wife of Edward Evans, leaving one daughter and son residing in Allen County. Mr. Evans received but twelve days’ schooling during his life-time, but having a natural love for live stock he hired out as a herd in Wales, and turned his attention to the study of the habits and diseases of stock, thus arriving at a considerable degree of prominence as a veterinary surgeon and dealer and shipper in stock. He has, in connection with his other business, been engaged in the manufacture of brick for thirty-five years. Mr. Evans was thrice married, his first and second wife bearing him children who all died young. His third marriage was with Mary Jones, who was born March 20, 1827, on Paddy’s Run in Butler County, Ohio, from which place her father, John R. Jones, came to what is now Gomel’, this county, in 1834, being one of the first and most prominent settlers of that place. To our subject and wife have been born ten children, eight of whom died in infancy. The surviving two are now living with their parents: Margaret J. (wife of John W. Humphreys) and Francis (who married Elizabeth J. Howells, by whom he had one child). Mr.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

C. A. EVANS, M. D., Delphos, was born in Hillsboro, Ohio, July 29, 1828, and comes of a people who have furnished a fair share of medical talent in the West, several of whom are reputable practitioners, dating, on the paternal side, their coming to this country about 1775, locating in Kentucky, and their advent in Ohio about 1802. On the material side, the Duckwalls came from the Rhine Provinces in connection with Methodist mission work here, early in the eighteenth century. The subject of this sketch began the study of medicine at nineteen years of age, and at twenty two graduated from the Ohio Medical College of Cincinnati, in the class of 1849-50. In June of 1850 he came to Delphos, and has since been successfully identified with the practice of medicine here. He was married, April 4, 1855, in Columbia City, Ind., to Miss Katie Ensler, a highly educated lady, and an ardent worker in church and social interests. Upon the organization of the T. C. & St. L. Railway, Dr. Evans took up railway work with„ that corporation, with which he was actively. identified till it ceased to be a Delphos enterprise. He organized the Delphos & Kokomo Railway, and remained its president till 1878. In the following year ho organized a railway to Kokomo, Ind., (D. B. & F. Ry. and was chosen its President. In 1880 he organized the Cleveland, Delphos & St. Louis Railway, serving as President till 1881, when he resigned and accepted the Vice-Presidency of the Construction Company. He has also been connected with the establishment of other lines. During the last year he has attended quietly to his professional practice. The Doctor served the city as mayor four successive terms, and has filled other civic official positions.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOHN W. EVANS, druggist and bookseller, Delphos, one of the most worthy and enterprising men of the city, was born May 21, 1847, among the mines in Jackson County, Ohio; son of William and Jane (Evans) Evans, natives of Aberystwyth, Wales, and who came early to America. They had seven children: two died early in life; D. W., a farmer and stock-dealer in Venedocia, Ohio; Jane, wife of D. E. Evans, a merchant in Yenedocia, Ohio; John W.; William, farming in Van Wert County, Ohio; and Thomas, who died aged twenty-three years. The father was killed while at work at Cambria Furnace, in Jackson County, Ohio, the subject of this sketch being then but seven years of age. The mother was afterward married to Isaac Jones, of Jackson County, Ohio, where she died. Mr. Evans received the chief part of his education by the time he reached his twelfth year, attending but two terms afterward, as at that age he was engaged in hauling ore, iron, coal etc., at the mines and furnaces. Upon starting out for himself at sixteen years of age he received SI 3 from his stepfather, and this he was compelled to use for necessary clothing and traveling expenses to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he arrived penniless. He secured work, however, on gun boats which were being built at that place, and here, by industry and application, he soon commanded the confidence of his employers and the highest praise for his labor. He first came to Van Wert County, Ohio, in the fall of 1863, and returned to Jackson County, where he worked until the following fall, when he again came to Van Wert County, and taught school during the winters, continuing his work at the same time. In the fall of 1807 Mr. Evans was married, and then engaged in farming and teaching for seven years. He next became a partner in the drug and book firm of Eysenbach & Co., in which he continued two years, when Mr. Eysenbach retired and the firm became Evans & Evans. Early in 1883 another change occurred, and the firm became Evans & Bliss, as at present. Mr. Evans is engaged with his brother-in-law, Hugh Evans, in the real estate business. His wife, Elizabeth, was a daughter of Richard E. and Mary (Jones) Evans, who were natives of Llanbrynmair, Wales, and who first settled in Franklin County, Ohio, thence moved to Van Wert County, Ohio. By her he has five children: Richard J., Jane, John H. V., Irvin Blaine and Viola Ann. While a resident of Van Wert County Mr. Evans was township trustee, and was commissioned justice of the peace under Gov. Noyes. Since his residence in Delphos he has been a member of the city council several years. He is P. G. and treasurer of Okonoxv Lodge, I. O. O. F., No. 201, also collector of Delphos Council No. 200 Royal Arcanum.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

HUGH W. EVANS, druggist, Palace Drug Store, Delphos. was born in Brown Township, Franklin Co., Ohio, in 1853; son of Richard E. and Mary (Jones) Evans, former a native of Wales, a farmer by occupation, and a resident of Van Wert County, Ohio; latter, also a native of Wales, died in 1880. They were parents of eight children: Richard M., Elizabeth, Jane, Catherine, David H., John R., Mary A. and Hugh W. Until he was fourteen years of age, the life of our subject was spent on a farm. He then came to Delphos and engaged in a drug store, in order to learn the business. In 1875 he became a member of the firm of Eysenbach & Co., which three or four years later became Evans Evans, remaining so till 1883, when the firm dissolved, and our subject formed a new partnership with F. G. Beckman. Mr. Evans has been a member of the American Pharmaceutical Association since September, 1881, and his knowledge of the Welsh, in addition to the English language, is an advantage in his business, whilst his many years experience justly entitle him to the confidence of the people. Our subject was married, March 20, 1883, to Miss Annie Robinson, by whom he has one son — Robinson Blaine, born March 15, 1884. In politics Mr. Evans is a leader and a stanch advocate of the principles of the Republican party. He is an active member of Hope Lodge, F. A A. M.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

TIMOTHY EVANS, carpenter and builder, Lima, was born September 28, 1850, in Sugar Creek Township, Putnam Co., Ohio, son of David and Ann (James) Evans, natives of Wales, and who came to Ohio in 1839, locating in Sugar Creek Township, Allen County, afterward moving to Sugar Creek Township, Putnam County, same State. Their children were ten in number: Mary, David (deceased), John, Benjamin (deceased), Hannah (deceased), Elizabeth (deceased), Evan, Ann, Lucretia and Timothy; four eldest born in Wales. The father is still living; the mother died in 1882. Our subject received his early education in the county schools. and learned carpentering. He came to Lima in 1870 and began life on his own account as carpenter and builder, and has been so employed up to the present time. Though comparatively a young man, Mr. Evans has much ability and turns out first-class work. He was

UDited in marriage in October, 1880, with Miss Mary, a daughter of Thomas Reese, a native of Wales, and by this union there is one child — Franklin. Mr. Evans is a member of the I. O. O. F.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

D. EVANS, now living retired in his comfortable residence at No. 41 1 East High street, Lima, is one of the best-known railroad men of this section, and is also an honored survivor of the Civil War, in which he served almost continuously from its beginning to its triumphal close. Mr. Evans was born August 29, 1842, in Fairfield County, Ohio, and is a son of William H. and Caroline (Eleck) Evans.

The name of Evans was well-known among the pioneer settlers of Allen County. The father of S. D. Evans came here in 1848. He became a prominent farmer and also followed his trade of blacksmith in Marion township, where he and his wife passed away.

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,f! i. ?iMn ftm,.I c; guarding the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad lines in West Virginia. After the close of his first term he came home, but on February 6, 1862, he reenlisted, entering Company F, 46th Reg. Ohio Vol. Inf. During the years which followed, Mr. Evans saw much of the hardship and hazard of a soldier’s life, his regiment taking an active and important part in some of the most dangerous campaigns of those years. At the battle of Shiloh he received two wounds; but he was too good a soldier to permit these to incapacitate him long, and he was soon on duty and participated in the seine of Corinth, the march to Memphis and to Vicksburg, the long siege there, then back and up the Mississippi, across to Chattanooga, in the terrible fight on Missionary Ridge and then to the relief of Burnside at Knoxville. Then followed the wearing march to Scottsboro, Alabama, where the regiment was veteranized. Mr. Evans reenlisted for a possible three years more, enjoyed his furlough of 30 days at home, and then returned to his regiment, which took part in the Atlanta campaign with General Sherman, participated in the last fight, at Bentonvilje, and then, covered with rags and glory, with battle-flags showing the rents of shot and shell, made the long march to Washington, D. C., and participated in the Grand Review. He was honorably mustered out of the service on July 22, 1865. For 18 months of his service he was detailed as orderly to his colonel.

After the close of the war, Mr. Evans returned home and soon entered into the service of the C., H. & D. Railway, with which company he served as freight conductor for 1 1 years and as passenger conductor for 20 years. He retired from the railroad in October, 1901, with an honorable record and with the most cordial relations existing between him and his superior in the service. Mr. Evans is one of the stockholders of the Consumers’ Fuel, Building & Supply Company and has numerous other business interests in Lima.

On September 3, 1868, Mr. Evans was married to Zerelda Bussert, who died in 1901. She was a daughter of Abraham Bussert, one of the earliest settlers in Allen County. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Evans, namely: M. S., an engineer on the C., H. & D. Railway; and Maud, deceased in 1891, who graduated from the Lima High School and became the wife of Lewis Sanford.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.