History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches, Part 146

Author: Futhey, John Smith, 1820-1888; Cope, Gilbert, 1840-1928
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, L. H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1162

USA > Pennsylvania > Chester County > History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches > Part 146

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Judge Evans married Mary, daughter of Rees and Rachel Jones, and had children, who all died before him except Mary, and she did not survive him many years. His lands, 719 acres, in London Britain descended to his brothers, Evan, George, and Peter. His daughter Mary also inher- ited 467 acres in Pencader and White Clay Creek Hun- dreds, which sbe devised to her uncles.

Evan Evans married Margaret, daughter of William Nivia, and had ten children. He took an active part in the Revolution, and was a justice of the peace.

George Evans joined the army in Philadelphia as sur- geon, and was bayoneted through the body near New York, in a surprise attack by night, and taken prisoner. In 1789 he was living in Pencader Hundred, but afterwards went South, where one of his daughters became the wife of Gov- ernor Miller, of North Carolina.

Peter Evans married Rachel Evans, a native of Wales,

and settled for a time in Montgomery County, where he practiced medicine. He had children,-John, Lydia, Peter, David, Septimus, born Feb. 1, 1771, and Sarah. Septimus Evans was twice married, and by the first wife, Mary Mor- gan, had a daughter, Matilda, who married Dr. Andrews Murphy. By the second wife, Ann Whitting, he had a daughter, Sarah Ann, who married the late David B. Nivin, of London Britain, and their children were Anna M., Sep- timus E., Ella M., Myra B., Clara T. (deceased), and J. Wilkin Nivin. They held a part of the land purchased by John Evans in 1734, which is now in possession of Septi- mus E. Nivin.

Evan and Margaret Evans had a son Samuel, b. July 14, 1758, who was an ensign in the Revolution, member of Assembly, and was commissioned associate judge in 1793, but owing to his removal to Lancaster County in that year he resigned the office. He married Fanny, youngest daughter of Col. Alexander Lowrey, of Donegal, and left several children. His son Alexander, born March 22, 1799, was the father of Samuel Evans, Esq., of Columbia, a gentleman much interested in the history of Lancaster County.

Jane, daughter of Evan and Margaret Evans, married Thomas Henderson, Esq., of New London.

EVAN EVANS, of the parish of Treeglws, in Mont- gomeryshire, Wales, came to this country in 1722, and on November 17th of that year purchased 250 acres of land adjoining Uwchlan Friends' meeting-house. In the deed he is styled " feltmaker." His parents, whose names have not been ascertained, were said to be living at the time of his death, in 1731. His widow, Margaret, married Charles Gatlive, of Uwchlan, July 21, 1735.

The children of Evan and Margaret were,-1. Martha, who m. Stephen Hoopes ; 2. Mary, m. to William Clay- ton and Isaac Marshall; 3. Margaret, m. to John Tod- hunter ; 4. Evan, unmarried ; 5. Susanna, m. to Isaac Ser- rill and Robert Carter; 6. Thomas; 7. Ann; 8. Edward; and 9. Richard. Ann and Edward probably died young. Evan, Jr., took the real estate after he became of age, but dying in 1748, he bequeathed all except forty acres to his brother Thomas, and the remainder to Richard.

Thomas Evans married, Ang. 17, 1748, Eleanor, daugh- ter of James Reese, of Uwchlan, and remained on the homestead until his death, about the year 1807. Richard Evans married Phebe, daughter of Dennis Whelen, about 1763, and probably through her influence became a mem- ber of Uwchlan Meeting, 12, 4, 1777, together with their children, Thomas, Sarah, Margaret, Mary, and Catharine. They removed to Hopewell, Va.

The children of Thomas and Eleanor Evans were Evan, Ezekiel, Jesse, Isaac, Thomas, and Eleanor. The latter married Henry Lewis, of Uwchlan. Jesse was the father of Thomas, born 1778, who was the father of Rev. Joseph S. Evans, now of West Chester. Jesse died near Pitts- burgh in 1839, and his son Thomas at Lionville, March 31, 1838. Jesse Bateman Evans, son of the latter, born in West Chester, March 17, 1808, died at Helena, Montana, March 14, 1868. His son, Jonathan H. Evans, of Platte- ville, Wis., is now or late president of the Board of Regents of the Wisconsin State Normal Schools.

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HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Evan Evans, son of Thomas and Eleanor, born September, 1749, married, Feb. 16, 1780, to Jane Owen, daughter of William and Rebecca Owen, of Uwchlan, born March 19, 1762, died Aug. 5, 1841. He was twice a member of Assembly, and died July 16, 1823. Issue .- 1. Rebecca, m. to -- John. 2. Owen, with a family, went to Illinois. 3. Elinor, died young. 4. Thomas, died 1823, leaving son, Boon. 5. Sarah, m. to William Dunwoody. 6. Ezekiel, b. 6, 24, 1791; d. 5, 29, 1870; was a justice of the peace for several years. 7. Margaret, m. to Benjamin Harley. 8. William, died young. 9. Richard, b. 6, 15, 1798; d. 9, 5, 1856. 10. Hannah, m. to David Beitler. 11. Jane, m. to Lewis Hurford.

Ezekiel Evans and Eleanor Beitler were married about the year 1818, and had children,-Thomas B., Hannah, John B., Jane E., Mary Ann, Evan B., Lewis H., Re- becca, J. Anna, and D. Webster. Of these, Lewis H. was an officer in the late civil war, and was since elected to the office of register of wills for this county.

HENRY S. EVANS was born in Doylestown, Pa., April 1, 1813. His father died when Henry was quite young, leaving a widow with eight small children to battle with the world almost without means. At the early age of thirteen Henry was apprenticed to Hon. Charles Miner, who then published the Village Record at West Chester, to learn the printing trade. Mr. Miner was one of the leading public men of the State at that time, had served in Con- gress, and was a most polished man,-a master calculated to awaken all the ambition of the youthful Evans and fit him for a public career. The life of an apprentice fifty years ago was very different from that of to-day, and a boy was expected to perform any task his master set. News- paper publishers then delivered their papers to their country subscribers, and three days in the week, winter and sum- mer, found young Evans astride the saddle-bags "riding post" over the county. Evenings found him poring over books, and he soon began to contribute to the Record articles which won the favorable criticism of so polished a writer as Mr. Miner. Newspaper writing in those days was modeled after the style of essays, hence we find the Village Record fifty years ago quite different from the newsy paper that it afterwards became under its whilom apprentice. Young Evans' apprenticeship ended when he was nineteen, and May 11, 1833, he started forth to battle with the world with little money, but much courage. Six pages of diary kept by him at that time give so well the story of his experiences that we will quote his own words. After some weeks spent in visiting his relatives, he says,-

" Went to Philadelphia and obtained work at Howe's type-foundry, and remained three weeks and three days, when the business of the office began to fail. Being now obliged to 'stand' or change situa- tion, I took the latter alternative, and took my passage for New York at 6 A.M. Friday, June 22, 1833. Took my lodgings in New York at Tammany Hall ; the terms were $2 per week for a room and bed; board of course was not included. The rain caused me to add a new article of expense, -this was an umbrella, for which I paid $3.50, a pretty heavy sum in these times. Having frequently felt the want of such an article, I determined to avoid the inconvenience in the future; but even these reflections were not sufficient, after I had purchased it, to reconcile my mind until I resorted to the old saying, I think of Pope, that ' what is, is right;' this idea has more than once poured comfort into my tortured mind. Business dull in New York. Called

at several printing-offices but found no work. Remained three days, and resolved to return to Philadelphia. Found myself without money to return ; steamboat fare was $3. Was obliged to sell my umbrella at the place where I bought it. The merchant would only allow $2. Heavy loss. No work in Philadelphia. Returned to West Chester ; saw an advertisement in Telegraph, Germantown, for jour. Set off on foot for that place; engaged it at $6 per week. Found employ- ment five or six weeks with Mr. Freas. Despairing of journey-work, issued a prospectus for Waynesburg Press, in Chester County. Set out for Waynesburg on foot; made known my intentions to the people, and went around and solicited subscribers. Obtained 500 and started the Press."

The diary ends here never to be resumed, for the leisure time of the writer was at an end. The new paper required hard work, and the income was so small that often two meals a day had to suffice the young publisher, because there were no means to buy the third. In 1834, Mr. Miner, who wished to retire from business, offered the Vil- lage Record to Mr. Evans, which was gladly accepted, and moving to West Chester, he assumed control. Under his charge the paper grew in circulation and influence, until it became an institution in the county, and the leading country paper of the State. In political and public matters Mr. Evans took an active and influential part, and soon was recognized as a leader. In 1846 the Whigs elected him to represent Chester County in the House of Representa- tives of Pennsylvania, and re-elected him in 1847 and 1848. His abilities and energy soon made him one of the leading members of the House, and he exerted much in- fluence on legislation. In the session of 1849 he was the Whig candidate for Speaker, the Democratic candidate being William F. Packer, of Lycoming County, afterwards Governor. The House was composed of 47 Whigs, 50 Democrats, and 3 " Native Americans." Mr. Evans polled the solid Whig and " Native" vote for twenty-one ballots, the result of each ballot being a tie. On the twenty-second ballot the three " Natives" cast their ballots for Mr. Packer and elected him. In 1851, Mr. Evans was elected State Senator from the district composed of Chester and Dela- ware Counties, and served with so much credit and satis- faction that he was renominated by the Whigs of Chester County at the expiration of his term, but apprehending that unless the " claims" of Delaware County were yielded to his party might lose the district, he withdrew. In 1854, Mr. Evans was a prominent candidate for the Whig nom- ination for Governor. Mr. Evans' name was withdrawn, as it afterwards proved, unadvisedly, as the Philadelphia delegation had resolved to cast its vote solidly for him on the next ballot, which would have nominated him. Gov- ernor Pollock selected Andrew G. Curtin, afterwards Gov- ernor, as his Secretary of the Commonwealth, intimating to Mr. Evans that if Mr. Curtin declined he should offer him the place. While serving in the House and Senate, Mr. Evans distinguished himself as a most painstaking, in- dustrious member. He was a member of several of the most important committees of both Houses, and was chair- man of the House Committee on Printing and Education. While iu this latter position he originated and framed the act that was passed by both Houses for the regulation of common schools in Pennsylvania. In the legislation for the sale of the public works he took a very prominent part. At the close of his Senatorial term he resumed his

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BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL.

editorial work with his usual ardor, but his health, never very robust, began to fail, and in 1869 he took a trip to Europe. Returning much invigorated, he was again elected, in 1870, to the State Senate, this time from the district composed of Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties. Before his term was half over he was taken sick, and died Feb. 9, 1872.

Henry S. Evans was one of those remarkable men who are the products of American civilization. Like Horace Greeley and other well-known men, he began life a poor boy, gifted with only a slight public-school education, and by his own efforts raised himself to a prominent place as a journalist and as a public man. Like those gifted country- men who had risen so high by their own exertions, he fell a victim to the demon overwork, dying at an age when English public men have hardly reached their prime. Re- membering his own early struggles, Mr. Evans was ever ready to lend a helping hand to young people just starting in life, and a tale of suffering or trouble was sure to attract his sympathy and aid. As a citizen he took a prominent part in every public enterprise, and was called to fill nu- merous places of minor public trust: chief burgess of West Chester in 1861, guardian, trustee, etc. The high estimation in which he was held by the public made places in his office much sought after by the best class of young men, and he was very proud of his boys .*

In 1841, Mr. Evans married Jane, daughter of Dr. Wil- liam Darlington, the celebrated botanist, by whom he had seven children, five of whom survived him. His death came like a sudden blow, and the high regard in which he was held by his neighbors was attested by the universal ex- pressions of sorrow at the news of his departure. No finger of suspicion was ever pointed at any public act of his, and his private life was equally without stain.

COLUMBUS PENN EVANS, son of Septimus and Cath- arine (Haupt) Evans, was born in Montgomery Co., Pa., Sept. 6, 1824. His father was of the Celtic race of ancient Britons, his mother of a respectable German family, and his training, from boyhood, among the Anglo-Saxons of Chester County. When about nine years old he lost his father, and while in his eleventh year his widowed mother, with several children, removed to West Chester, where, by her maternal care and excellent management, she raised and educated her younger children. At an early age Columbus was apprenticed to his brother, Henry S. Evans, to learn the printing business in the office of the Village Record, where he had for his associates such hopeful specimens of Young America as Bayard Taylor, Enos Prizer, of the Bucks County Intelligencer; George W. Vernon, of the Delaware Republican ; Charles Cook, of the Danville Democrat ; Hiram Brower, of the Fairfax (Va.) News ; and Frederick E. Foster, of the Pittsburgh Chronicle.

In January, 1844, young Evans, then in his twentieth year, aspired to the editorial position, and removed to Wil- mington, Del., where, with his friend, G. W. Vernon, as a partner, he took charge of the Republican newspaper. After a residence of two or three years he was recognized

as worthy to be grouped with the famous " Blue Hen's Chickens" of the war of independence, and accordingly, in the contest with Mexico, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the spring of 1847, was promoted to a first lieutenantcy in February, 1848, and in the same year re- ceived the brevet of captain, to rank from Aug. 20, 1847, " for gallant and meritorious conduct in the battles of Con- treras and Cherubusco." He served in the 11th Regiment of U. S. Infantry, in Gen. Cadwallader's brigade.

At Molino Del Rey, where the Mexicans were defeated by one-fourth their number of Americans, Lieut. Evans was in the front rank. When the storming-party rushed in to take possession of that dearly-earned position, where so many of his comrades had fallen, he was the second man to enter the work, and received the sword of a Mexican officer. At Chapultepec he led his own and another com- pany, and again received the commendation of his com- mander. He also held the responsible position of quarter- master of the regiment after the surrender of the city of the Montezumas, and returned, in charge of his company, to New York in August, 1848.

He quietly returned to his printing-office in Wilming- ton, and resumed his editorial employments.

Capt. Evans, on Feb. 20, 1849, was presented by the Legislature of his adopted State with a handsome sword, accompanied by a letter from Governor Tharp,-honorable testimonies of his services in the war with Mexico.

In 1851 he was elected mayor of the city of Wilmington ; but in 1852 he declined a re-election, preferring the quiet of private life to the annoyances of official station.

In the winter of 1853-54 he was attacked by pulmonary consumption, and died at the residence of his sisters, in West Chester, Feb. 19, 1854, in the thirtieth year of his age. February 22d he was buried with military honors by the National Guards of Chester County. His remains re- pose in Oaklands Cemetery, near West Chester, where an appropriate memorial, in the form of a pyramidal column, has been erected by his devoted family.

JOSHUA EVANS, JR., is descended from William Evans, who emigrated from Merionethshire, Wales, and pur- chased, in 1719, a tract of five hundred acres in Tredyff- rin township of this county. William's son, Joshua, was born in the second week of January, 1732, and married Mary Malin, born 2d mo. (April) 19, 1744. William, the emigrant, was one of forty-two first cousins who came over in the same ship and settled principally in the townships of Limerick and Gwynedd, in Montgomery County. Joshua Evans, Jr., son of Joshua and Mary (Malin) Evans, was born Jan. 20, 1777, and married Lydia Davis, born Feb. 2, 1778. She was the daughter of Dr. John and Mary (Evans) Davis .* Joshua Evans died April 25, 1817, and his wife, Mary (Malin), in August, 1787.

* See sketch of the Village Record, in the department of " Educa- tional and Literary," in this work, for names of prominent men who were connected with the office.

# Dr. John Davis, a native of Tredyffrin township, received the appointment of surgeon-in-chief of the Pennsylvania battalions, or- ganized in 1776, and was captured at the battle of Long Island, and held on the British prison-ships at New York. He was born Dec. 30, 1744, and his wife, Ann Evans, -not of the immediate branoh of the Evans family, hut of the Society of Friends,-was born Feh. 2, 1752. He died Feb. 13, 1816; his wife died Jan. 20, 1816. The Evans family originally was of the Episcopal Church, hut afterwards belonged to the Friends.

542

HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

LITTLE

Joshuy Evang

Joshua Evans, Jr., was one of the most prominent of the many noted men in Chester County. He was a man of singular good sense and judgment, of clear intellect, wonderful nerve, and exercised great power in the county and State. He was elected in 1820 to the House of the Pennsylvania Legislature, and represented from 1829 to 1833 in Congress the district then composed of the counties of Chester, Lancaster, and Delaware. He was many years brigadier-general of State militia. An un- compromising Democrat of the Jefferson and Jackson school, for many years the impress of his life was largely felt and seen in the county. He died Oct. 2, 1846, and his wife, Lydia, Nov. 20, 1818. To them (married Feb. 29, 1808) were born six children,-Edward Farris, Mary Malin, married to John Parker Bailey, engineer, and later associ- ate judge of Chester County; Sarah Davis, John D., William Henry, and Joshua Lewis. Of these, Sarah and William Henry died young, and the only one of the family now living is John D. Evans, of Paoli, unmarried.

LEWIS EVANS, with Sarah, his wife, and children, came from Caernarvonshire, Wales, and settled in Vincent town- ship, near what is known as the "Tilt-Mills." Here Lewis worked at his trade of a shoemaker until his death, May 19, 1762, in the forty-sixth year of his age. He was buried at Charlestown Presbyterian church. His widow survived until March 11, 1805, when she had reached her ninety-third year, and was buried by her husband.

Daniel Evans, their son, was born in Caernarvonshire, Nov. 27, 1743, and married Esther Benner, who was born in Leipsic, Germany, 1759. Daniel died Oct. 1, 1820,

and his widow Aug. 10, 1840. The other children of Lewis and Sarah were John, Barbara, Jeremiah, Sarah, and Abel, the last being born on the voyage to this country. After the death of the father the family removed to Uwchlan and settled on 62} acres of land, whereon they built a house in 1766, which was enlarged in 1801, and is still standing. The farm was also increased until it con- tained 350 acres, of which 333 acres are now owned by Newton Evans. The house is said to have been for a time the headquarters of Gen. Wayne, while his forces were encamped on the farm.

The children of Daniel and Esther Evans were Lewis, m. to Sarah Evans ; Isaac ; Elizabeth, m. to Joshua Evans ; Sarah, m. to Samuel Nailor; Ezra, m. to Eliza King ; Mary, m. to Robert McClure; Jesse; Daniel; Abel ; and Henry T., m. to Eliza Thatcher. None of these are now living except Abel and Mary.

ABEL EVANS, son of Daniel and Esther, was born in Uwchlan township, April 23, 1801. He was raised on his father's farm, and attended the subscription schools in his neighborhood, receiving the ordinary advantages then afforded in the country. He taught school about one year, and then went into a store, clerking for his brother Isaac. After this he farmed six years, and then was engaged nine years in merchandising. He now purchased a farm in West Vincent, on which he resided until 1865, when he removed to Norristown, where he lived until 1871. He then returned to his farm, on which he remained until November, 1879, when he went to Philadelphia, where he is now living. He was married July 31, 1822, to Ann,

BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL.

543

daughter of James and Hannah Wilson, to whom seven children have been born,-Isaac Benner, James Wilson (deceased), Daniel, Mary Esther, married to William T. Shafer; Elizabeth Ellen, married to Isaac L. Anderson, of Philadelphia ; Abel (deceased), and Henry Thomas Ben- ton. He has served ten years as justice of the peace.

don County, Va., where he raised a family. Daniel settled on a farm in West Whiteland, now owned by William E. Lock wood, where he died September, 1775, leaving no de- scendants. He was buried at the Vincent Baptist church, of which he was a member, but his wife, Sarah, was a mem- ber of the Episcopal Church. He devised his farm of 160

Sle Evang

He is a member of the Baptist Church, which with his family he attends, and to which he freely contributes. He is a Republican, having left the Democratic party at the time of the Kansas-Lecompton imbroglio, in 1857-58. The Evans family is very numerous in the county, and has always been distinguished for its thrift, public spirit, and devotion to its adopted country. Daniel, the father of Abel, went to school with Gen. Anthony Wayne, with whom he maintained to the latter's death an intimate friendship.

JOHN EVANS, of Uwchlan, son of Lewis and Sarah, was born in Wales in 1745, died November, 1783. He was married, August (license dated 26th), 1772, to Agnes Barnard, widow of Thomas, and daughter of Abraham and Lydia Carter, of Chester township. He was a farmer and hotel-keeper. Agnes survived her husband many years, and during the last years of her life lived with her son Elam in Uwchlan.

The children of John and Agnes Evans were Daniel, b. Aug. 10, 1773, m. Sarah Clinger; Mary, b. Dec. 14, 1776; Sarah, b. 1778, m. Samuel Barber ; Silas, b. 1780; Elam, b. 1782, m. Phebe Smith.

DANIEL EVANS and REES EVANS, brothers of Lewis Evans, came from Wales about 1755. Rees went to Lou-

acres to his wife for life, and at her death the rents and profits were to be divided,-two-thirds to the Vincent Bap- tist Church and one-third to St. Peter's Episcopal Church, for the support of the ministers.

Finding they could not well manage the farm, the two churches, after the widow's death, applied to the State Legislature for authority to sell, which was granted by act of Assembly, approved Feb. 10, 1807 (see pamphlet laws, p. 24). By this act two trustees from each church were appointed to sell the property and put the money at inter- est, and in case the churches ceased to exist the money was to revert to the heirs as provided by the will. In pursu- ance of this statute, the Baptist Church of Vincent town- ship appointed Josiah Phillips, of Uwchlan township, and James John and John Ralston (afterwards Judge Ralston, of West Vincent), and John Hall were appointed on the part of St. Peter's Protestant Episcopal Church to sell. The sale took place Dec. 23, 1809, and was purchased by John Malin for the sun of £2473 5s. 3d., or, in United States money, $6595.37}. The property to go to the Bap- tist Church was $4396.91, and St. Peter's Protestant Epis- copal Church, $2198.46.

WILLIAM EVANS, of Tredyffrin, died in 1734, leav- ing wife, Eleanor, and children, William, Richard, David,

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HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Thomas, Joel, Joshua, Rachel, Magdalen (m. Samuel Morgan), Mary, Sarah (m. John Wayne), and Hannah. He appears to have been a member of St. David's Church.

WILLIAM EVANS, of Vincent, was an active patriot in the days of the Revolution, being commissioned a justice of the peace. We find in the Colonial Records, under date of Sept. 12, 1777, it was "ordered that the Justices of the County of Chester immediately send in as many Waggons as can be procured, and that Colo. Will™ Evans be employed in the County of Chester, '& that a Press Warrant be given him accordingly."

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History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches, Part 146

Author: Futhey, John Smith, 1820-1888; Cope, Gilbert, 1840-1928 Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia, L. H. Everts Number of Pages: 1162

Author: Futhey, John Smith, 1820-1888; Cope, Gilbert, 1840-1928
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, L. H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1162