Benjamin Evans, b. 26 Feb 1819

DICKEY

Posted By: Donna Moldt Walker (email)
Date: 3/13/2004 at 09:44:59

Among the pioneers of Jackson County, are many estimable men, but none more so than the man concerning whom we write. Benjamin Evans, residing in Bellevue, this county, is a native of Clinton County, Ohio. Here he was born Feb. 26, 1819. He is the son of Samuel and Mary Evans, his mother being a native of Ohio, and his father said to have hailed from Kentucky. His boyhood was spent in his native county and State; his education taking place in the early subscription schools of Ohio, which he was obliged to leave at the age nineteen years. He is of studious disposition, and a great reader, and has all the time kept himself thoroughly posted on all the topics of the day. While he was yet a young man, he began the trade of a millwright, which he followed for some twenty years in California. He afterward assisted in building the grist-mill now owned by Mr. Reiling, of Bellevue. Previous to the time spent in California, and while yet but nineteen years of age, our subject left his native State, and spent a short time in Vermilion County, Ill. In 1840 he voted for old Tippecanoe, the grandson of whom received his support in 1888. Our subject was living in Georgetown, Ill., in 1839, and was present at the Tippecanoe convention which nominated William Henry Harrison for the Presidency.

In 1843 our subject went to Jo Daviess County, Ill., and assisted in building one of the early grist-mills at Hanover, which has since been consumed by fire. He also worked one summer at Galena, and in 1843 came to Jackson County. He afterward followed his trade for many years, and in 1852 went to California by way of the overland route, and remained there until 1873, spending part of his time in Mexico and Arizona. While on the Pacific Coast, Mr. Evans followed his trade, and to a considerable extent engaged in gold mining. He was also at one time proprietor of a saw-mill in California. In 1873 he came to Bellevue, where he has remained since that time. He is now the owner of 320 acres of valuable land in Hardin County, Iowa, and also owns considerable other real estate. His life has been a successful one, and his friends appreciating this fact have frequently begged him to take a candidacy for an office, but he would never accept, preferring to give his time to his other interests. He is a thorough Republican, politically, and is willing to do anything and everything for the support of his party.

Martha Dickey became the wife of our subject, Dec. 19, 1843, and she still enjoys the pleasures of married life with him. Mrs. Evans is a daughter of William and Lydia Dickey, the former a native of the Keystone State, and the mother, of the Empire State. Three children were born to them - Marion, Josephine, and Sophia. Marion and Sophia are deceased. Mrs. Evans was but fourteen years of age when her father died in Butler County, Pa., in which county she remained until she was sixteen years old, when, with her mother she removed to Trumbull County, Ohio, in the Western Reserve.

Some years later, while in her twenty-second year, Mrs. Martha Evans accompanied her mother to Jo Daviess County, Ill., where she lived until her marriage with our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Evans are active members of society, and are greatly esteemed and respected in their community.

("Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson County, Iowa", originally published in 1889, by the Chapman Brothers, of Chicago, Illinois.)