History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 122

Author: Bradsby, H. C. (Henry C.)
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago : S. B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1532

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Lowry) Bonham, of Union township, this county, and by her he had four children: Benjamin, Josiah, Martha A. (Mrs. James Focht), and Mary. Since 1838 our subject has been a resident of Nescopeck town- ship, where he has operated the Nescopeck mills. He is a F. & A. M., was elected justice of the peace in 1850, and is now serving his ninth consecutive term in that office, the longest term filled by any official in the county. In politics he was originally a Whig, and since the organization of the party, has been a Republican.

DANIEL H. EVANS, proprietor of the "American House," Ashley, was born in Pottsville, Pa., May 17, 1844, and is a son of Daniel and Sarah (Jones) Evans, natives of South Wales, the former of whom was a mine foreman. They came to America in 1841, and reared a family of four children (one of whom was born in England) viz. : Margaret (Mrs. James Morgan), Daniel H., William and Alfred. Our subject received a common-school education, and at the age of nine years began working about the mines, which seems to have been his calling, for at the unusual age of twelve years he had worked himself up to the position of a full-fledged miner. In 1862 he went to California, via Panama and Aspinwall, mined coal and pros- pected for gold in various parts of California and British Columbia, meeting many of the strange, undesirable, but yet fascinating adventures incidental to Western life, making a single excursion of 450 miles on foot. In 1864 he returned to the East, via Nicaraugua river route, and resumed mining in Schuylkill county, where he remained until 1875, when he came to Wilkes-Barre and engaged in the livery business for eight months. He then embarked in the hotel business in Moosic, carry- ing it on for three years, after which he was engaged in the patent medicine business in Wilkes-Barre for a year and a half; then removed to Ashley and commenced in his present business. Mr. Evans was married October 14. 1867, to Miss Jane, danghter of Adam and Agnes (Kennedy) Brown, natives of Scotland, which happy union has been blessed with six children, viz .: William H., Agnes., Harry A., Maggie M., Daniel A. and Charles. Mr. Evans is a member of the F. & A. M., Jr. O. U. A. M., and A. O. F .; in politics he is a Republican. He has a record in marksmanship which justly deserves record in his life story. He won fourteen out of sixteen matches, and his son, William, won five out of six.

EDWARD T. EVANS, fire- boss, Nottingham Colliery, Plymouth. This experienced miner was born in Glamorganshire, near Cardiff, South Wales, September 6, 1834, and is next to the youngest in the family of nine children of Thomas and Rachel (Llewellyn) Evans, also natives of Wales. He was educated at the place of his birth and, at the youthful age of eight years, began working about the mines. He entered the mines in the capacity of a miner at the early age of sixteen years, and followed it in his native land until 1869, when he came to America, locating at Kingston, Pa., where he worked as a miner in Shaft No. 1, operated by the Kingston Coal Company. There he remained about one year, and then went to Wilkes-Barre where he worked in the Hollenback Colliery about three years. He then came to Plym- outh, and worked as a miner at No. 11, Lehigh & Wilkes-Barre Company, staying at that mine about six years; from there went to the Nottingham, where he has been engaged fourteen years-twelve years as a miner and two as a fire-boss, the latter posi- tion being attended with great danger. To serve in the capacity of fire-boss, it is now necessary for the applicant to pass a rigid examination regarding his duties and how to perform them. Our subject has the inspection of sixty-seven chambers. Mr. Evans was married, February 18, 1853, to Miss Ruth, danghter of Evan and Eliza- beth (Thomas) Evans, natives of Glamorganshire, South Wales, and to this union have been born ten children, namely: Naomi, wife of Jolin D. Roberts, a resident of Illinois; Sarah J. (deceased); Rachel, now Mrs. Asa Wolfe, of Plymouth, Pa. ; Evan, Thomas, Hannah (deceased), Lizzie, Sarah (deceased), David, and William J. (deceased). Mr. Evans is a Republican, and is a member of the Ivorites and Knights of the Golden Eagle. The family are members of the Pilgrim Church.

DR. EVAN EVANS, M. D., Plymouth. This successful physician and surgeon was born in Angust, 1857, at Llandovery, Carmarthenshire, South Wales, and is a son of

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Thomas and Ann (Thomas) Evans, also natives of Wales. There were seven chil- dren in their family, of whom Evan is the eldest son. Our subject was educated in the county of his nativity, and later went to Edinburgh, Scotland, where he remained four years, receiving the higher education for which that classic city is far-famed, both in medicine and sciences. He then entered the Liverpool Infirmary, where he pursued the study of medicine. He practiced about two years at Caerphilly, W. Cardiff, and then coming from Liverpool to America, he located at Kansas City, Mo., where he continued his medical course. He first opened an office at Emporia, Kan., where he remained eight years, and removing from there to Los Angeles, Cal., he practiced there one year. The Doctor then revisited Wales, sojourning four months, visiting the scenes of his early childhood. After returning from Wales, he located again at Emporia, Kan., remaining, however, but a short time, and then came to Plymouth, where he has since been practicing. The subject of this sketch has been married twice: first to Anna Jones, of Kansas, who died one year after their marriage. The Doctor afterward married in August, 1889, Katherine, daughter of Daniel and Mary (Price) Williams, natives of Carmarthenshire, Wales, and one child, May Elsie, was born to this union, May 26, 1890. In politics Dr. Evans affiliates with the Democratic party, and in religion he is a supporter of the Episcopal Church.

E. M. EVANS, merchant, Edwardsville, was born April 15, 1846, in South Wales, a son of John and Margaret (Thomas) Evans, and began working in the mines between the ages of six and seven. He and his father were in the Briton Ferry Mines disaster, and were two of the lucky six survivors of that terrible catastrophe. In December, 1863, he came to America, locating at Scranton, Pa., where he remained a short time, and then removed to Yorktown, same State, where he mined a short time, when he returned to Scranton, and followed mining until May of the following year, at which time he went to Jermyn, and there resided until 1865. He then removed to Olyphant, where he worked in Grassy Island Mines about one year; thence proceeded to Carbondale, and after a few months' residence there returned to Olyphant, where he was engaged in mine contracting for a time, again coming to

Carbondale, and mining there until 1872. Mr. Evans then went to Michigan, where he was engaged in mining a short time, when he returned to Carbondale; but after a brief sojourn he again moved to Michigan, where he remained until 1876. In that year he revisited Wales, remaining there two years. Returning to this country, he settled at Edwardsville, Pa., where he has since resided, and at present is engaged in mercantile business. Mr. Evans was married October 20, 1886, to Miss Mary Dando, of Carbondale, and they have four children, viz. : Isaac, Albert, Jessie and Elsworth. Mr. Evans is a member of the K. of P., and in politics he is a Democrat.

EVAN M. EVANS, proprietor of the "Central House," Parsons, was born May 16, 1858, at Mountain Ash, Glamorganshire, Wales, and is the oldest of the seven chil- dren of Hugh and Elizabeth (Morgans) Evans. He came to America in 1869, and engaged in mining at Mahanoy City, Pa., where he remained nearly ten years, when he removed to Streator, Ill., and there also followed mining until 1883. He then came to Parsons, and worked in the mines till April 1, 1891, when, upon the death of his brother, he succeeded him as proprietor of the "Central House." Mr. Evans was married at Streator, Ill., June 21, 1881, to Mary Ann, daughter of Merrick Jones, of Minersville, Pa. Our subject is a typical landlord, and keeps a first-class hotel in every respect; he treats his gnests with gentlemanly courtesy, and is well worthy of the patronage of the public. Socially he is a member of the I. O. O. F., Uri Lodge, and his political sympathies are in hearty accord with the Republican party.

EVAN M. EVANS, mine laborer, Plains, was born in South Wales, and is a son of William and Elizabeth (Evans) Evans, the former of whom was a miner and worked fifty years for one company prior to his death. They reared a family of five chil- dren of whom Evan M, is the eldest. Our subject came to America in 1871,

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

locating in Pennsylvania, and followed mining at St. Nicholas seven years, and at Fiske two years; he then removed to Mahanoy City, where he resided two years, and worked in St. Nicholas. In 1881 he came to Plains, this county, where he has since been engaged in rock work and mining in the Henry and Wyoming Collieries. Mr. Evans was married, August 3, 1861, to Miss Mary, daughter of Richard and Mary (Williams) Hughes, and they had twelve children, of whom are living Mary (Mrs. William Jenkins), Catherine, Richard, William, Elizabeth, Margaret, Isaac, Evan and Ann. Mrs. Evans is a member of the Welsh Congregational Church. Our subject is in political sympathy with the Republican party, and has always given it his support.

GWILYM P. EVANS, mine superintendent, Edwardsville. Those who are acquainted with the intricacies and dangers of coal mining can easily understand the clearness of mind, and the calculative ability, of one who can successfully conduct the work- ing of these subterranean cavities; and no inside superintendent in the anthracite coal regions is better adapted to his business than Gwilym P. Evans, who occupies this position at the " Old Boston Mines" in Plymouth township, for the Delaware & Hudson Coal Company. Mr. Evans is a native of South Wales, and was born June 23, 1847, a son of William P. and Ann (Thomas) Evans, the former of whom has been a very succeessful mine superintendent for many years, and has held high offices, such as treasurer, etc., in the borough of Edwardsville. At the age of twenty-one our subject came to America and entered the employ of the Delaware & Hudson Coal Company at Mill Creek, where he was engaged in mining nearly two years, at the end of which time he came to Kingston and entered the employ of the Kingston Coal Company, where he continued one year, when he returned to the employ of the Delaware & Hudson Coal Company, and was driver-boss for a short time, when he was appointed inside mine superintendent, a position he has held for eleven years. Socially he is a member of the Foresters and of the Improved Order of Red Men. In politics, he is a Republican.

HENRY EVANS, county commissioner, P. O. Pittston, was born in Wales, Jannary 6, 1857, and is a son of William W. and Mary Harris Evans, who came to Amer- ica in 1857, locating in Pittston, this county, where they still reside. The father holds the position of superintendent of stonemasonry for the Pennsylvania Coal Company. Their children were Rachel, Evan, Henry, John, William W., Jr., and Caron. Our subject was reared in Pittston, and was educated in the public schools of that city, also in the Commercial College, Wyoming Seminary, Kingston, Pa., where he was graduated July 1, 1874. From 1874 to 1887 he served as clerk and book- keeper for several of the leading mercantile establishments of Pittston and vicin- ity. He also worked in the coal breaker as slate picker, and in the mines, also in stone quarry. In 1887 he was elected one of the commissioners of Luzerne county, and re-elected for a second term in 1890, proving a popular official. Mr. Evans is a member of the Welsh Baptist Church of Pittston, the F. & A. M. and I. O. O. F., and in politics he is a stanch Republican.

H. W. EVANS, truck-farmer and florist, Plains township, P. O. Plainsville, was born in Wales, April 2, 1840, and is a son of William and Mary (Walters) Evans. The father, who was a weaver by trade, and later (in America) a miner, reared a family of eight children, of whom Henry W. is the fifth. Our subject came to America in 1865, followed in about a year by the rest of the family, and located in Pittston, where he was engaged in mining for five years; then removed to his present place, which he owns and operates in company with his brother, Thomas J. While they do a general truck-gardening business they are probably the largest lettuce pro- ducers in Luzerne county. In 1873-78, Mr. Evans was in Colorado, digging for gold and prospecting. He was married June 11, 1867, to Miss Mary, daughter of William and Margaret (Davies) Evans, natives of Carmarthen, South Wales, and they have six children, viz. : William H., Mary E., Margaret A., Gertrude, Myvanwy and Henry W. Mr. and Mrs. Evans and their three eldest children are members of the First Congregational Church of Pittston; he is a member of the Sons of

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Temperance, and in politics is a Prohibition-Greenbacker. Mr. Evans is a friend of literature, a close observer of public issues, and is author of the " Millennium of Money."

JAMES H. EVANS, merchant, Edwardsville. This gentleman, who ranks among the enterprising business men of his county, is a native of Dowlais, South Wales, and was born July 9, 1863, a son of William and Ann (Richards) Evans, also natives of Wales. When James was about five years old, his parents emigrated to America,. locating at Johnstown, Pa., where they resided until 1872, in which year they removed to Wilkes-Barre, this county. Tarrying there one year, they proceeded thence to Terre Haute, Ind., remaining there also about a year. They then came to Edwardsville. The Evans family consisted of two sons, Richard and John, besides the subject of this notice, both of whom also reside in Edwardsville. Mr. Evans began his present business in 1886, on a very small scale, and has since, by fair dealing and sound business integrity, secured a fair share of public patronage. In 1886 he was married to Miss Maggie Waters, of Larksville, this county, and their domestic life is now brightened by three intelligent little children, named, respectively, Sheldon, Nellie and Mabel. Mr. Evans and his family are members of the English Baptist Church. He is a member of the F. & A. M., I. O. O. F. and K. of P .; politically he is a Republican, has held the offices of tax collector, auditor, treasurer, and has been secretary for the Luzerne Republican County Committee. Mr. Evans is a thorough American in every respect; he is one of the best known Welsh-Ameri- cans in this county.

JOHN EVANS, merchant, Peely, was born near Aberystwyth, Cardiganshire, Wales, November 21, 1844, and is a son of Richard and Ann (Headley) Evans. His father, who was a lumberman, reared a family of thirteen children, four of whom are living: John; David, mason and contractor, in Peely; William, graduated at Cambridge, and is keeping a high school at Aberdare, Wales; and Richard, a doctor in his native country. Our subject came to America in 1869, and located in Wilkes-Barre, where he contracted in masonry for ten years, and then engaged in the mercantile business with Williams Brothers. He removed to Peely in 1879, and built his present place some time later. Mr. Evans was married to Mary S., daughter of John and Mary A. (Roberts) Williams; they have eight children: Mary A. (Mrs. John R. Jones), Jane (Mrs. John E. Jones), Margaretta, David C., William, Elizabeth, Richard and Lydia. Mr. Evans and family are members of the Welsh Presbyterian Church; he is a member of the I. O. O. F., K. of P. and R. S. C. F. In his political views he is a Republican, and has been postmaster since 1889; he was a member of the city council for three years during his residence in Wilkes-Barre.

JOHN B. EVANS, engineer at the Electric Light works, Wilkes-Barre, was born in Monmouthshire, England, January 27, 1858, and is a son of Cornelius and Catherine (BenBow) Evans. The family came to America in 1861, and located at Pittston, Pa., where his father has since been engaged in mining. Our subject, who is the eldest in a family of ten children, nine of whom are living, began active life firing and engineering at Pittston, where he remained fifteen years; and in 1883-86, was engineering at Miners Mills; in 1884 he removed to Plains, where he was engaged as engineer at the Henry Colliery till December 24, 1891, at which date he was appointed to his present position. Mr. Evans was married July 28, 1880, to Ellen H., daughter of John and Jessie (McGregor) Black, natives of Scotland and Eng- land, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Evans had four children, viz. : Lena C., Ray- mond, Jessie B., and Howard (deceased). Our subject and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he is class-leader and steward. Socially he is a member of the I. O. O. F. ; politically he is a Republican, and in February, 1892, he was elected school director of Plains township for three years.

JOHN D. EVANS, contractor, Ashley, was born in York county, Pa., December 2, 1858, and is a son of Daniel D. and Catherine (Jones) Evans, natives of Bethesda, North Wales, who came to America in 1842, settling in York county, Pa. They reared a numerous family, most of whom reside in Luzerne county: Jane (Mrs.

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Michael Jones), John D., Lizzie (Mrs. Pierce Jones), Nellie (Mrs. William Francis), Maggie (Mrs. Harry Stell), Hannah, Daniel, Ellsworth, Kate (Mrs. David Daven- port). Our subject was reared in Lehigh county, and educated in common schools. He has been a resident of Luzerne county since 1873, and was employed in the mines up to 1888, since when he has been in business as a contractor on tun- nels in the mines. Mr. Evans married June 9, 1881, Jennie, daughter of John and Catherine Hughes, of Wilkes-Barre, and has four children: Jennie, Ida, Emma and Miriam. He is a member of the Welsh Congregational Church, and of the I. O. O. F .; politically he is a Republican.

JOHN F. EVANS, miner, Parsons, was born at Buck Mountain, Pa., October 8, 1852, and is a son of Joshua D. and Mary (Davis) Evans, natives of Wales. He was educated in the common school, and began working around the mines at the age of sixteen, at Providence, Pennsylvania, where he remained until the fall of 1872, when he went to Tresckow, Carbon county, where he engaged in general outside work. There he remained about five months, and then came to Plymouth, where he was plane runner, remaining there nearly a year, when he came to Parsons, and has here since resided. He has devoted his entire attention to mining, and has held various positions of trust around the mines; at present he is doing mining contract work, employing about five men. Mr. Evans was married December 12, 1883, to Miss Alice, daughter of David and Ann (Govier) Jones, of Parsons. Socially he is past chief of the Improved Order of Red Men. He has served seven years in the National Guard of Pennsylvania, in Company F, Ninth Regiment and Company E, Ninth Regiment, having been orderly sergeant in the latter for five years. Politic- ally he is a Republican.

REV. J. G. EVANS, pastor of the Pilgrim Congregational Church, was born in Carmarthenshire, South Wales, June 1, 1848, and is a son of Michael and Hannah (Thomas) Evans. The subject of this sketch came to America in the year 1870, snd was educated in Hudson, Ohio, where he received thorough instruction. He next went to Bangor, Me., where he continued his studies, and in 1875 was ordained as a preacher at the Welsh Congregational Church of Edwardsville, Pa. He then went to Pittston, Pa., where he was pastor of the Welsh Church for four years. In 1882, he began with others what is known in church phraseology as the English Congregational movement, and in the same year helped to organize the Puritan Church at Wilkes-Barre, and the Bethesda Church at Edwardsville, Pa., and also built the Tabernacle Church at Pittston, and the Mission Church at Exeter. This gentleman was pastor of the Bethel Congregational Church at Nanticoke, and also preached the first sermon in the Pilgrim Congregational Church at Plymouth. He was first married to Emmaline, daughter of Major John and Hannah (Smith) Farbox, natives of Pennsylvania. Mre. Evans died in 1887. Our subject was next married to Miss Jennie, daughter of James and Rebecca (Fox) Ash, natives of Pennsylvania. Two children have blessed this latter union. Mr. Evans is an ardent supporter of the Prohibition party, and is an energetic worker in the field of temperance.

JONAH EVANS, butcher, Freeland, is a young man of integrity and strictness of business principle. He was born in South Wales, February 8, 1868, and is a son of Job and Elizabeth (Davis) Evans. His father was a miner. When Jonah was two years of age his parents determined to leave their native land, and boldly struck out for this country. They located at Drifton, where his father worked in the mines. He died in 1876, after being in this country but six years. In the family there are four children, viz .: William, Bessie, Jonah and Mary. The three last named and their mother now reside at Freeland. Mr. Evans was educated in the public schools, and at Coxe's Night School, at Drifton. He worked in various capacities around the mines, outside and inside, until he reached the age of seventeen, when he engaged in the butchering business, and opened a market in Freeland, where he now commands a large and profitable patronage. Besides his Freeland market, his wagons visit adjacent towns within a radius of five miles. He began business during the strike of 1885, when every industry was very much depressed,

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and when butchers were failing by the score. He engaged in the business with a determination not to fail, and he has succeeded. Although not an active participant in political tugs of war, Mr. Evans is identified with the Republican party.

RAYMOND P. EVANS, clerk in the Lehigh & Wilkes-Barre Coal Company's office, Ashley, was born in Mehoopany, Pa., November 16, 1850, and is a son of Darius W. and Ellen (Ruth) Evans; he is a grandson of Stephen and Myra (Cooper) Evans, and a great-grandson of Capt. John Evans, who came from Wales to America in 1756 as a soldier in the English army; he is also a grandson of George and Sarah (Scadden) Ruth, natives of Pennsylvania and of German origin. In his father's family there were fourteen children, six of whom are living; Esther (Mrs. Jeremy Van Buskirk), Raymond P., Charlotte (Mrs. J. R. Lynn), Mary E. (Mrs. John McIntyre), Jane (who lives with her father) and Carrie (Mrs. Stephen Marsden). Our subject was educated in the public schools of Forty Fort and in Wyoming Seminary, and then taught school five years, after which he followed lumbering in Luzerne and Wyom- ing counties four years, clerking in a store in Wilkes-Barre a year and a half, and in 1883 accepted his present position. Mr. Evans was married, January 22, 1871, to. Miss Harriet Schuman, daughter of George Schuman, of Columbia county, Pa .; they had four children, two of whom are living, Inez and Howard. Mrs. Evans died January 8, 1885, and on November 15, 1887, he was married to Mrs. Eliza J. Knauss, daughter of Samuel and Rebecca (Johnson) Black, and widow of John Knauss, by whom she had three children. The issue of this last marriage was two children, one of whom is living, Ernest D. Mr. Evans and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he is steward; he is a Republican in his political views, and is at present a member of the school board in Ashley borough.

ROBERT DAVENPORT EVANS, was born in Lewisburg, Union Co., Pa., August 17, 1856. He is a great-great-grandson of Joseph Evans, who in 1785, when Lewis- burg was laid out, was a resident thereof. Beyond this fact little is known of this paternal ancestor of Mr. Evans; but the probability is that he came from Montgomery county, Pa., and was a descendant of one of the early Welsh settlers of Pennsylvania. William Evans, son of Joseph Evans, and Joseph Evans son of Williams Evans, as also Thompson Graham Evans, son of Joseph Evans, were all natives of Lewisburg. Thompson G. Evans is the father of Robert D. Evans, and is a prominent business man in that place. The mother of the subject of our sketch, and the wife of Thompson G. Evans, is Rhoda, daughter of the late Robert Daven- port, of Plymouth. He was a son of Thomas Davenport, the ancestorof the now resident family in that place, who came from Orange county, N. Y., in 1794. Hon. Hendrick B. Wright, in his "Historical Sketches of Plymouth," says the Daven- ports are "of low-Dutch origin." He is in error in regard to this, as the family is of English descent, and removed from New England to Orange county, N. Y., and thence to Wyoming. The wife of Robert Davenport was Phoebe Nes- bitt, daughter of James Nesbitt, Jr., who was a son of James Nesbitt, Sr., who emigrated from Connecticut in 1769, and was one of the "Forty;" he was in the Wyoming battle and massacre, and was one of the survivors of Capt. Whit- tlesey's company. Robert D. Evans was educated at the University of Lewis- burg, and graduated in the class of 1875. He read law in Lewisburg, with the firm of Linn (J. M.) & Dill (A. H.), and was admitted to the bar of Union county, in September, 1880. He then removed to Wilkes-Barre, was admitted to the bar of Luzerne county, November 15, 1880, and has been in continuous practice in that city since his admission. In 1884 he was assistant secretary of the Republican County Committee, and later, was attorney of the county com- missioners of Luzerne county, in which position he performed his duties well, to the satisfaction of the commissioners, and the profit of the county.

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History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 122

Author: Bradsby, H. C. (Henry C.) Publication date: 1893 Publisher: Chicago : S. B. Nelson Number of Pages: 1532

Author: Bradsby, H. C. (Henry C.)
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago : S. B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1532