The Evans Families of Portage County, Ohio

JOHN G. EVANS, merchant tailor, Kent, was born in Cardiganshire, South Wales, December 25, 1845; son of John and Eleanor (Evans) Evans. He was reared and educated in his native land, where he served an apprenticeship of three years to the tailor's trade. In 1866 he came to America and located in Pittsburgh, Penn., where he worked as a journeyman tailor for seven years. From there he went to Butler, Penn., as cutter with D. L. Byerer, which position he held five years. He then embarked in the merchant tailoring business for himself, in company with Daniel Davis, doing business there for two years, when they removed to Akron, Ohio, and remained six months, divided their stock, and in September, 1880, our subject located in Kent. He was married September 13, 1868, to Annie Mortimer, of Pittsburgh, by whom he has three children living: Kebecca, John G.. Jr., and Dennison M. Mr. and Mrs. Evans are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject is a member of the K. of P. and the I. O. O. F.; he is F. & A. M.; in politics, a Republican.

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

E. M. EVANS, Postmaster, Palmyra, is a native of Whales, where he was born in 1837. He emigrated to the United States in July, 1866, and came to Chicago, and on his recovering from a three months' sickness he left for Milwaukee, where he worked at his trade as cabinet-maker until the spring of 1868. He then removed to Arena, Iowa Co., Wis., where he conducted a furniture store. In 1869 he was licensed to preach by the Welsh Baptist Church of Ridgeway, Iowa Co., Wis., where he held membership. In the fall of 1871 he was called to supply the Welsh Baptist Church in the settlement near Oshkosh. Wis. In the spring of 1882 he came to Chicago and held a position in the retail department of A. H. Andrews &Co. In the fall of 1882 the Welsh Baptist Chui'ch of Frostburg, Md., extended him a call, and he was ordained to the ministry by said church in December, 1883. While in Frostburg he published a volume of his compositions in the Welsh language, including prose and poetry, which volume had an extensive sale, and has been used by the Welsh Sabbath-schools of the United States for recitations in their anniversaries and exhibitions. For the sake of arranging his business affairs in the West, Mr. Evans resigned his charge of the church in Frostburg, and when he was about to depart from his people they presented him with a beautiful gold watch valued at $140. After his visit to Wisconsin he returned to Johnstown, Penn, where he had accepted a call from the Welsh Baptist Church. The church being crippled by a strike of seven months, and the panic of 1873 and 1874, Mr. Evans concluded to accept the call of the Baptist Church of Paris, Portage Co., Ohio. He came to Paris in the fall of 1875, and while there he was invited to Palmyra by the Baptist friends there to reorganize the church and to repair an old church building that had been abandoned for many years. He soon found the two charges and preaching once in Palmyra and twice in Paris every Sabbath too much of a task, so he concluded to relinquish his charge of the church in Paris, and in 1877 he opened a drug store in Palmyra and in the same year he was appointed Postmaster at Palmyra, which position he has acceptably filled since that time. He was without means when he came to this country, but by close economy, integrity and perseverance has accumulated a good home and substantial business. Mr. Evans was married in 1879 to Miss Elizabeth V. Evans, a native of Palmyra, Ohio. Their living children are John V. and Alfred D. Mr. Evans devotes all his spare time to his ministerial duties.

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

THOMAS EVANS, proprietor of saloon and restaurant, came to Palmyra, this county, in June, 1879, and was engaged in the mines about one year, when he struck a coal shaft and opened a bank which he sold to a profit. Subsequently he opened a saloon, in which business he has since been actively engaged. He erected his present structure in 1882, where he carries a lai'ge stock of liquors, wines, cigars, etc., and has a pool table in connection with his place. He has been successful in this business. Mr. Evans is a native of Wales, where he was born in 1852, and is a son of George and Ellen Evans. He was married in his native land in 1878, to Miss Eliza Griffith, by whom he has thi-ee children: Arthur, David G. and Mary Ellen. He is a member of the K. of P. He numbers among the active business men of this place.

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