Thomas B. Evans

Thomas B. Evans, of Center Township, Boone County, Indiana, is one of the most practical, progressive and successful farmers of this township. He is of Welsh-Irish stock and is of the third generation in America. His grandfather, David Evans, on coming from Wales, settled on land in Pennsylvania, in 1784, and was married to Susannah Sayers, in 1790, at the bride's home in New Jersey, after which they lived in Washington County, Pennsylvania, where he followed farming, and, being fond of hunting, was considered a good marksman. Later, in the year 1805, they immigrated to Pickaway County, Ohio, where he died in 1827, the father of seven sons, named Lemuel, John, David, Evan, Jonathan, Aaron, and Samuel. With her family, Mrs. Evans moved from Ohio to Henry County, Indiana, in 1836, and died in the fall of the same year. David Evans, the father of this family, served his adopted country in the War of 1812, and his flintlock musket is still held in the possession of his descendants as a cherished relic of their ancestor's patriotism. David Evans lived to be quite an aged man and died in Pickaway County, Ohio. Evan Evans, son of David, and father of Thomas B. Evans, the subject of our sketch, was born on his father's farm in Pickaway County, Ohio, August 12, 1801, received as good an education as the common schools of his day afforded, and married, in Ohio, Jane Bell, who bore four children that lived to maturity and were named, in order of birth, Jonathan, Evan A., Margaret J. and Thomas B. After his marriage, Evan Evans passed ten years in the State of Pennsylvania, and then in 1834 or 1835, came to Indiana, and entered 760 acres in Boone County, on part of which his son, Thomas B., now resides. This land was heavily timbered, but by diligence and hard work Mr. Evans succeeded in clearing up one of the best farms in Center Township. Mr. and Mrs. Evans were pious members of the Baptist Church, in which he was a deacon for many years, and in politics he was a Democrat. He was a most successful farmer, was an honorable gentleman, and died in 1888, at the advanced age of eighty-seven years.

Thomas B. Evans, the subject proper of this biographical notice, was born in 1841, on the farm he now owns and occupies in Center Township, Boone County. He received the ordinary schooling usually accorded to farm lads, the chief attention of his younger days being devoted to agriculture and the care of the home farm, thus becoming an expert and scientific farmer. At the age of twenty-four, August 11, 1864, he married Nancy J., daughter of William and Mary (Copeland) Cobb, and to this harmonious union have been born four children, in the following order: Florence J., Melya, Sylvia L. and Lenora D. As was his father, Mr. Evans is a stanch Democrat, but is such from principle, and not for emolument or official position. Mrs. Evans is an active and devoted member of the Christian Church, and her daily walk through life shows the sincerity of her faith in the doctrines and the teachings of that religious denomination. Mr. Evans is a believer in agricultural progression, and his farm of 320 acres is in all probability the best improved and most highly cultivated of any in Center Township, if not in Boone County. He works it scientifically, brings to bear in its cultivation the lessons learned from his long experience and close observation, and every year enhances its value, instead of allowing it to depreciate. It is under drained, probably, by more rods of tiling than any other farm of its size in the county, and its outward conveniences and adornments are unequaled, his farm buildings being especially attractive convenient and substantial. His dwelling is an ornamental and pleasant place of residence, and all things show the controlling power of a master hand and an experienced supplemented with good taste and a wise lookout toward the ulterior and to be attained - profit. Mr. Evans is a thoroughly honorable man, and is imbued with all those gracious qualities of benevolent tendencies that make his fellow citizens happy and himself respected.
 

Source: "A Portrait and Biographical Record of Boone and Clinton Counties, Ind." A. W. Bowen & Co., Chicago. 1895.

Submitted by: T. Stover - March 26, 2007
"I'm interested in corresponding with anyone researching the Evans families in Boone County, Indiana."