Evan Evans

Evan Evans
EVAN EVANS, one of the active and prominent old pioneers of Jay County, was born in Highland County, Ohio, November 19, 1815, a son of John M. and Eve (Shroyer) Evans. The Evans family are originally of Welsh descent, and are noted for their longevity. The grandfather of our subject, whose name was also Evan, was born and reared in New Jersey, leaving his native county for Virginia, and later removed to Highland County, Ohio, where he was among the first settlers. He was of Quaker ancestry, and was a member of the Friends Society until his death. He was living in either New Jersey or Virginia during the war of the Revolution, but being a Quaker he did not participate in that memorable struggle. He died in Highland County at the age of ninety-five years, and two of his sisters lived to attain a still greater age, one dying at the age of ninety-eight years and one aged ninety-nine years. John M. Evans, the father of our subject, was born in Virginia, going to Ohio with his parents, and spent the remainder of his lite in Highland and Fayette counties. He was an indomitable worker, and although he lived to the age of eighty-four years, it is a fact that his death resulted from overheating himself in the harvest field. Although a worthy member of the Friends Society, he yet served his country in the war of 1812. Evan Evans, the subject of this sketch. was thirteen years of age when his parents removed from Highland to Fayette County, and there the family lived many years, and finally returned to Highland County. Evan being the eldest son he was early in life inured to hard work, and during his youth he attended and assisted in many log rollings. He was married in Fayette County, April 13, 1836, to Miss Khoda Allegre, a native of Fayette County, and of French descent. Her parents subsequently removed to Indiana, and both died near Albany, in Delaware County, the father about 1854, and the mother in 1872, the latter dying at the age of eighty-four years. Of the seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Evans only four survive. James Wesley served three years in the war of the Rebellion, where he was three times wounded, and at the battle of Shiloh was so severely shot that his life was almost dispaired of; Evan Asbury; Emma, wife of John Dunn, and John B. Lncinda Ann, their first child, died aged two years and three months; Calista, wife of William Currant, died September 7, 1882, and Mary Louisa, wife of Armenis Davis, died June 20, 1883. After his marriage Mr. Evans settled on land which had been entered by Lorenzo Allegre. His father gave him $100, which he gave in part payment for his land. The following year, 1839. he came to Indiana, and lived on rented laud near Albany two of three years. He then came to Jay County, and bought forty acres of wild land in Richland Township. Before settling here he made a small clearing and erected a round log cabin 14x16 feet in dimensions, and after this was completed he brought his family to their pioneer home. The first spring he planted a few apple trees in the woods where the brush was cut down. In the spring of 1887 he cut down one of the apple trees he had planted, which was over two feet in diameter. His land which he bought when first coming to the county is now one of the finest tracts in Jay County. He by subsequent purchases has added to his possessions until he now owns about 400 acres of choice land, all but about sixty-five acres cleared of the timber, and his log cabin has been replaced by a beautiful residence, and surrounded by shade and ornamental trees. In politics like his father Mr. Evans was an old line Whig, and has been a Republican since the organization of that party. He has never sought after office although he has served as school trustee, and built the first substantial school building in Richland Township. He became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church in his youth, to which he has belonged over half a century, and always been among the prominent and active men in its councils. He was one of the trustees who had charge of the building of the Redkey Methodist Episcopal church, and contributed some $340 more than any other person toward its erection. He has contributed toward the building of both the Panhandle and Lake Erie Railroads, and gives liberally of his means toward the advancement of any worthy object. The land on which the fairs and exhibitions of the Redkey Association are held is owned by him. No man has taken a more active interest or done more toward the advancement of his township or county than the subject of this sketch, one of the most respected men of Jay County.
Biographical and historical record of Jay and Blackford Counties, Indiana: containing ... portraits and biographies of some of the prominent men of the state: engravings of prominent citizens in Jay and Blackford Counties, with personal histories of many of the leading families and a concise history of Jay and Blackford Counties and their cities and villages; Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1887

EVAN EVANS, one of the active and prominent old pioneers of Jay County, was born in Highland County, Ohio,
November 19, 1815, a son of John M. and Eve (Shroyer) Evans. The Evans family are originally of Welsh descent, and
are noted for their longevity. The grandfather of our subject, whose name was also Evan, was born and reared in New
Jersey, leaving his native county for Virginia, and later removed to Highland County, Ohio, where he was among the
first settlers. He was of Quaker ancestry, and was a member of the Friends Society until his death. He was living in
either New Jersey or Virginia during the war of the Revolution, but being a Quaker he did not participate in that
memorable struggle. He died in Highland County at the age of ninety-five years, and two of his sisters lived to
attain a still greater age, one dying at the age of ninety-eight years and one aged ninety-nine years. John M. Evans,
the father of our subject, was born in Virginia, going to Ohio with his parents, and spent the remainder of his lite
in Highland and Fayette counties. He was an indomitable worker, and although he lived to the age of eighty-four years,
it is a fact that his death resulted from overheating himself in the harvest field. Although a worthy member of the
Friends Society, he yet served his country in the war of 1812.

Evan Evans, the subject of this sketch. was thirteen years of age when his parents removed from Highland to Fayette
County, and there the family lived many years, and finally returned to Highland County. Evan being the eldest son he
was early in life inured to hard work, and during his youth he attended and assisted in many log rollings. He was
married in Fayette County, April 13, 1836, to Miss Khoda Allegre, a native of Fayette County, and of French descent.
Her parents subsequently removed to Indiana, and both died near Albany, in Delaware County, the father about 1854, and
the mother in 1872, the latter dying at the age of eighty-four years. Of the seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Evans
only four survive. James Wesley served three years in the war of the Rebellion, where he was three times wounded, and
at the battle of Shiloh was so severely shot that his life was almost dispaired of; Evan Asbury; Emma, wife of John Dunn,
and John B. Lncinda Ann, their first child, died aged two years and three months; Calista, wife of William Currant, died
September 7, 1882, and Mary Louisa, wife of Armenis Davis, died June 20, 1883. After his marriage Mr. Evans settled on
land which had been entered by Lorenzo Allegre. His father gave him $100, which he gave in part payment for his land.
The following year, 1839. he came to Indiana, and lived on rented laud near Albany two of three years. He then came to
Jay County, and bought forty acres of wild land in Richland Township. Before settling here he made a small clearing and
erected a round log cabin 14x16 feet in dimensions, and after this was completed he brought his family to their pioneer
home. The first spring he planted a few apple trees in the woods where the brush was cut down. In the spring of 1887 he
cut down one of the apple trees he had planted, which was over two feet in diameter. His land which he bought when first
coming to the county is now one of the finest tracts in Jay County. He by subsequent purchases has added to his possessions
until he now owns about 400 acres of choice land, all but about sixty-five acres cleared of the timber, and his log cabin
has been replaced by a beautiful residence, and surrounded by shade and ornamental trees. In politics like his father Mr.
Evans was an old line Whig, and has been a Republican since the organization of that party. He has never sought after office
although he has served as school trustee, and built the first substantial school building in Richland Township. He became a
member of the Methodist Episcopal church in his youth, to which he has belonged over half a century, and always been among
the prominent and active men in its councils. He was one of the trustees who had charge of the building of the Redkey Methodist
Episcopal church, and contributed some $340 more than any other person toward its erection. He has contributed toward the
building of both the Panhandle and Lake Erie Railroads, and gives liberally of his means toward the advancement of any worthy
object. The land on which the fairs and exhibitions of the Redkey Association are held is owned by him. No man has taken a
more active interest or done more toward the advancement of his township or county than the subject of this sketch, one of
the most respected men of Jay County.

Biographical and historical record of Jay and Blackford Counties, Indiana: containing ...
portraits and biographies of some of the prominent men of the state: engravings of prominent citizens in Jay
and Blackford Counties, with personal histories of many of the leading families and a concise history of Jay
and Blackford Counties and their cities and villages; Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1887