DAVID E. EVANS

EVANS

Posted By: Jake Tornholm (email)
Date: 4/21/2020 at 17:19:02

DAVID E. EVANS, a farmer of section 26, Grant township, Adams county (postoffice Lenox), is one of the well-known, enterprising and successful citizens of that part of the county. He was born in Cardiganshire, Wales, June 8, 1836, a son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Davis) Evans, both natives also of that country, in which they spent their lives. They had four sons and three daughters.

Mr. Evans, our subject, was reared to farm life. In 1856 he bade farewell to family and relatives and sailed from Liverpool to Philadelphia, by steamer. After arrival he first found employment at Johnstown, Pennsylvania. In 1858 he went to Jackson county, Ohio, and for two years was employed in iron mining and blasting furnaces at Cambria. Next he was engaged in coal-mining in Rock Island county, Illinois, until the breaking out of the war, when he enlisted in defense of his adopted country, in Company D, Twelfth Illinois Infantry, three- months men. Most of the time his regiment was stationed at Cairo, Illinois, and Cassville. At the expiration of his time of enlistment he was honorably discharged and returned home, in August, 1862; but when President Lincoln called for 300,000 men he again offered his services, enlisting this time in Company H, One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and participated in the siege of Vicksburg, the battles at Little Rock (Arkansas), and other battles and skirmishes. On account of disability, in November, 1864, he was honorably discharged, when he was First Lieutenant, having made a gallant record as a soldier and officer.

Returning to Rock Island, he resumed peaceful pursuits, following mining until 1880, when he came to Adams county, locating upon land which he had purchased in 1869. Here he has a modern frame house, 14 x 26 feet, with an L 14 x 16, and both a story and a half in height. Ornamental trees, barn and other outbuildings, good and substantial, adorn the premises.

November 18, 1862, is the date of Mr. Evans' marriage to Miss Sarah Daniels, a native of Amboy, Oswego county, New York, who at the age of eighteen years came to Henry county, Illinois. Her father, Buckley Daniels, was born in Lewis county, New York, and died at Rock Island. Her mother, whose maiden name was Ann Wheeler, was born at Norwich, Connecticut, and died here in Adams county, in 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Evans have one son, Benjamin Grant, who was born at Rock Island, February 24, 1866, and was married December 22, 1887, to Miss Lettie Cochran, a daughter of Thomas and Ann (Kinser) Cochran, of prominent and well-known families in this county. Her father, who was a soldier in the last war, is an old settler here. The younger Evans has one daughter, born December 6, 1888, and named Lula Grace. He is a member of the blue lodge, F. & A. M., at Lenox, of the K. and P. and S. of V. Mr. D. E. Evans is a Republican in his political views, is a member of Lenox Post, 316, G. A. r., and also of the Masonic and Odd Fellows' orders; and he and his family are members of the Presbyterian Church.