PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.

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ISAAC EVANS. Foremost among the substantial farmers of Spring Valley Township, may be properly mentioned Mr. Evans, who has likewise been more than ordinarily successful as a stock-raiser. Like many of his compeers, be was born in this township, nine miles south of the city of Xenia, this event occurring December 8, l835. Robert and Sarah (Coppock) Evans, were both natives of Newberry District, S. C., the father born November 9, 1797, and the mother March 13,1799. They were reared in the Quaker faith, to which religion they adhered all their lives.

Upon leaving their native State, Robert Evans and his family traveled overland with a four-horse team, and a one-horse wagon to Greene County. They began their journey September 24, 1829, and reached their destination October 24, following. They made their headquarters at the home of Samuel Speer, the stepfather of Mr. Evans, for a few days, then secured four hundred acres of land south of the present village of Spring Valley. There they settled and endured all the hardships and privations incident to pioneer life. The parents spent the remainder of their days at the farm which they built up, the father dying November 9, 1868, and the mother June 17, 1871. Mr. Evans, in addition to carrying on farming extensively, also officiated as a surveyor. In South Carolina he followed milling. In this county he ran a grist and saw mill, these being located a mile and a quarter south of the village, on the Miami River.

To the parents of our subject there was born a family of fifteen children, six of whom died in infancy. The nine who grew to mature years, were named respectively: Rebecca; Moses, who died leaving nine children; Esther, who married Lewis Hartsock, went first to Indiana then to Illinois. and finally to Kansas, where she died leaving two sons and three daughters; Lydia, the wife of William Stanfeald; Mary, Mrs. Isaac M. Barret; Sophia, Mrs. Carrol Whitney; Isaac; Nancy J., the wife of Martin Peterson; Margaret, the wife of Aaron Crites.

The father of our subject was the son of Moses and Lydia (Hasket) Evans. who were likewise natives of South Carolina. Grandfather Evans died there at about the age of forty years, leaving six children, viz: Robert, Rebecca, Thomas, Moses, Mary, and Isaac. His widow subsequently was married to Samuel Speer, and emigrated from South Carolina in April, 1826, locating on the land now occupied by Isaac, our subject, and where grandfather Speer died October 1, 1856. His partner had preceded him to the silent land, her death taking place August 19, 1852, when she was aged seventy-nine years, two months and twenty one days. Of this marriage there were born three children, and they, like their ancestors, grew up in, and adhered religiously to, the Quaker faith. They were named respectively: James, John, and Samuel. All were married and left families. The father of Moses, was Robert Evans.

Mrs. Sarah (Coppock) Evans, the mother of our subject, was the daughter of Joseph and Esther (Patterson) Coppock, both of South Carolina, who came to Miami County, this State, about 1812. Subsequently they returned to their native State, and both died there in 1819. Isaac Evans spent his boyhood and youth on the pioneer farm, and by close attention to such opportunities as were afforded him, obtained a practical education. His early studies were pursued at a subscription school which was afterward raised to the dignity of a public school. Later he became a student at Bacon's Commercial College at Cincinnati, from which he was graduated in 1857. After that he had charge of his father's books in the mills for four years. These mills were conducted under the firm name of R. Evans & Sons.

The above-mentioned partnership was dissolved in 1864, when Isaac Evans purchased the home-stead of his paternal grandmother, this comprising one hundred and seventy acres of land with good buildings. Later he added to his real estate by the purchase of one hundred and sixty acres more. The larger portion of his property has been accumulated by his own industry. He is a man highly honored in his community, and has been intrusted with many positions, serving as Township Trustee, and in 1880 was elected Township Appraiser. He cast his first Presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1860, and has since given his uniform support to the Republican party.

Miss Matilda C. Stump became the wife of our subject January 31, 1860, the wedding taking place at the bride's home in Spring Valley Township. Mrs. Evans was born January 19, 1836, in Spring Valley Township, to Jonas and Prudence (Smalley) Stump, who were natives of Virginia, and are now living in this township. Six children came to bless the union of our subject and his estimable wife, these being named respectively: Frank S., who married Miss Catharine S. Eberly, of Warren County, Ohio; Minnie B., the wife of Joseph G. Gest; Louie A., Alta M., William J., and Charles R. In addition to general farming, Mr. Evans makes a specialty of fine stock, in which industry he has been very successful. He was an active Union man during the Civil War, and has always given his influence to those enterprises calculated to advance the interests of the people around him.

We take pleasure in showing a portrait of Mr. Evans in this work.

28 Dec 1999

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