EVANS
Roland Evans, a representative citizen of Martinsburg, now [1910] living retired, enjoying the fruit of a long life of usefulness and acitivity, is a native of Meirionthdd {sp?], North Wales, born May 4, 1836, son of Roland and Ann (Jones) Evans.
In 1849 Roland Evans Sr., accompanied by his wife and children, emigrated to the United States, sailing on the vessel "Jamestown," May 6, 1849, landing June 11, 1849. They located in New York state, where the town of Hinkley now stands, and remained one year. Mr. Evans being employed in the old Hinkley mill. He then took up his residence in Turin, Lewis county, N.Y., where he was employed as a laborer by the day, and there reared and educated his children. Late in life he removed to Martinsburg, where his death occurred Nov. 19, 1870, and that of his wife Dec. 16, 1872.
Their children were:
1. Ann, born Oct. 31, 1832; married E. C. Budds.
2. Roland, see below.
3. William, Nov. 9, 1833; was killed in an accident at Lowville, N.Y.
4. David, Sept. 10, 1841.
5. Catherine, Feb. 23, 1844; married S. Miller Benedict.
6. Margaret, June 15, 1846, died young.
7. Jane, Trenton, N.Y. Nov. 29, 1849.
8. Rebecca, Turin, N.Y., Nov. 7, 1853; married Charles S. Mereness.
9. John, born June 2, 1856.
Mr. Evans was a member of the Presbyterian church, and a Republican in politics.
Roland (2) oldest son and second chld of Roland (1) and Ann (Jones) Evans, was fourteen years of age when his parents came to the United States. He gained a practical education in the common schools, and his first employment was in the town of Prospect, N.Y., his remuneration being one dollar per month and board. For several years he followed agricultural pusuits, and then located on a farm at Martinsburg, Lewis county, N.Y., making a specilaty of dairying, in which particular line he was eminently successful. He not only gained a comfortable livlihood for his family, but was enabled to accumulate a competence adequate for support of himself and wife when the time should come for them to rest from their labors, this fact proving conclusively that he is a man of sound judgment and rare foresight. He has taken an active interest in community affairs, and has been chosen to serve in the capacity of highway commissioner and supervisor. His political allegiance is given to the Democratic party, and he is a member of Lowville Lodge, No. 134, Free and Accepted Masons.
Mr. Evans married, Sept. 13, 1865, Mary, born in Martinsburg, N.Y., May 13, 1841, daughter of Samuel and Lucy (Babcock) Peebles.
Children:
1. Minnie, born June 29, 1870; married J. W. Shevalier.
2. Lydia, Dec. 19, 1873.
3. Miller B., June 5, 1876; married Ella Knight.
4. Roland Fay, Sept. 29, 1878.
Samuel Peebles, father of Mrs. Evans, was born in New Salem, N.Y., March 30, 1799, died June 16, 1860, son of John Peebles, born in New Salem, N.Y., Dec. 31, 1764, married Deborah Safford, born in Stonington, Conn., April 20, 1771. Lucy (Babcock) Peebles, wife of Samuel Peebles, was born Jan. 25, 1807, died June 2, 1882. Samuel and Lucy (Babcock) Peebles had children: Oliver, Orin, Lucinda, Augusta, Amos, David, Mary, Martha and Albert.
SECOND ENTRY:
This widely distributed surname originated in Wales, and as Evan in the Welsh tongue means the good old Christian name John, the English equivalent for Evans is Johns, or Johnson. Many distinct families of this name are to be found in America, some of whom are the posterity of early immigrants, while others are comparatively recent comers. This Evans belong to the latter class.
(I) Robert Evans, a native of Denbighshire, North Wales, was for a number of years enrolled in the British army and served in the Napoleonic wars under the Duke of Wellington. After his discharge from the army he engaged in the peaceful pursuit of agriculture in his native country, and later in life came to the United States. In his religious belief he was a Calvinistic Methodist.
He married Mary Roberts, and his children were:
Robert, Evan, John and Thomas.
(II) Robert (2), eldest son of Robert (1) and Mary (Roberts) Evans, was born in Denbighshire, Oct. 22, 1813. In the spring of 1839 he and his two brothers, Evan and Thomas, with their parents, accompanied a large party of their friends and neighbors to America, arriving in New York on June 4, of that year. Thrown among strangers, with no knowledge of the language and customs of the country, these immigrants made their way as best they could to Constableville, Lewis county, N.Y., their point of destination, and although their progress was considerably impeded by lack of sufficient pecuniary resources, they nevertheless eventually became comfortably established in their new homes. Being a vigouous and energetic young man, young Robert Evans overcame many obstacles which beset his path during his early years in America, and although he never became very proficient in the use of English he acquired a sufficient knowledge of our language to transact ordinary business affairs. He resided in the immediate vicinity of Constableville until the spring of 1848, when, actuated by a laudable desire of advancing his prospects and at the same time securing a more comfortable home, he purchased a partially cleared farm situated on Welsh Hill, about two miles west of Turin. This property he brought to a high state of fertility, and by his frugal management was enabled to meet his annual payments promptly, thus realizing an ambition characteristic of the Welsh people, of owning his own home. A man of upright principle and unsullied integrity, he was never involved in dispute with his fellowmen, and throughout his long and useful life he enjoyed the sincere respect and esteem of his friends and acquaintances.
He was an affectionate husband and a loving parent, and, during his declining years seemed to derive his principal enjoyment from the visits of his grown-up children who had gone forth from the parental home to solve the intricate problems of life.
Robert Evans died at his home on Welsh Hill, Dec. 14, 1887.
He married, March 2, 1842, Ann Edwards, born in Wales, July 3, 1821, daughter of Thomas and Ellen (Evans) Edwards. She survived him many years, dying May 25, 1905.
Children:
1. John, born Jan. 19, 1843, see forward.
2. Thomas R., see forward.
3. Mary, born May 26, 1846; married (first) Piere Davis; (second) Joseph Shepard.
4. Evan, Feb. 24, 1849; married Mary Roberts; died 1869.
5. Owen, born April 13, 1850; married Julia Ingraham.
6. Robert N., Oct. 13, 1855; married Clara E. Barnes.
7. David C., April 12, 1858.
8. Jeanette A., Aug. 22, 1860; married Charles D. Hill.
9. Edwin H., Sept. 1, 1862; married Anna Roberts.
(III) John, eldest son of Robert (2) and Ann (Edwards) Evans, was born in West Turin, N.Y., Jan. 19, 1843. He was educated in the common schools, and was brought up on the home farm, where he remained until the outbreak of the civil war. On Aug. 21, 1862, he enlisted in the Fifth Regiment, New York Heavy Artillery, and in 1864 was with it in garrison at the famous Harper's Ferry, West Virginia. He served faithfully until the close of the war, and was honorably discharged at that place, June 26, 1865.
Returning home he engaged in the harness trade, and conducts a successful business. He is a man of fine business ability and excellent traits of personal character, and has been frequently called to township offices, including that of clerk, to which he as first elected in February, 1878, and in which he has been continued to the present (1910) time, the very unusual period of thirty-two years, and testifying beyond question the ability and fidelity of the man.
He is a Republican in politics, and is affiliated with Turin Lodge, No. 184, Free and Accepted Masons, of which he was worshipful master in 1892.
Mr. Evans married, Feb. 4, 1891, Lucinda Clark, born in West Turin, July 31, 1841. They have no children. Mrs. Evans is a daughter of Philo and Amy Ann (Hubbard) Clark, whose other children were Julius L Clark and Roland H. Clark.
(III) Thomas R., second child of Robert and Ann (Edwards) Evans, was born in West Turin, July 31, 1844. He acquired his education in the Turin public schools and the Lowville Academy. In early life he was engaged in the manufacture of cheese, later conducted a butchering establishment, and still later turned his attention to the cultivation of the soil. In connection with farming he is at present (1910) carrying on a prosperous real estate and insurance business in Turin.
In politics he is a Democrat. From Jan. 1, 1880 to May 1, 1882, he represented Turin on the Lewis county board of supervision. He received the appointment of postmaster at Turin during President Cleveland's first administration, and served in that capacity with general satisfaction until superseded by a Republican in 1889.
Naturally quiet and unassuming, his genial and amiable disposition has secred for him many warm friendships, and in addition to these commendable qualities he possesses many other sterling characteristics of his race.
He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
July 2, 1873, Mr. Evans married Adelaide, daughter of David W. and Mary (Jones) Roberts. She died Feb. 9, 1892. On June 20, 1894, he married (second), Adelaide Branstater, born in Boonville, Dec. 28, 1858, daughter of Henry and Eliza (Gookins) Barnstater.