San Joaquin County Biographies
Ref: Page 1069
Transcribed by: Linda Diane Jackson 12/3/2009
THOMAS EVANS
A most interesting veteran of the Civil War, and among the most highly esteemed members of the Grand Army of the Republic, is Thomas Evans, a native of Niles, in Trumbull County, Ohio, where he was born on March 19, 1837, the son of Thomas Evans, a member of a well-known Pennsylvania family who had migrated to Ohio. He was of Welsh descent, and he married Miss Nancy McCallister, of Scotch-Irish lineage, both families long resident in the United States, the great-grandfathers having crossed to the New World. There were nine children in the family, among whom he was fifth in the order of birth; and of all these only one brother, now in Missouri, has survived.
Thomas Evans commenced his education in a district school in Ohio; and since his father was both a blacksmith and a farmer, he worked with him in the shop and learned the blacksmith's trade. In the fall of 1860, he went to Laporte, Ind., leaving his parents, who lived to be each fifty-six years of age, and thereafter he soon enlisted in the 5th Volunteer Indiana Regiment, Battery of Light Artillery, commanded by Captain Simondson. He trained for about two months in Indianapolis, and then went to Louisville, with the Army of the Cumberland; and he was in the battles of Lookout Mountain, Chickamauga and Chattanooga, or until the Fall of Atlanta, in the autumn of 1864. He served as private, and was No. 1 on the gun crew. He handled the loading of the cannon, and was twice severely injured—once by the kick of the cannon, due to the premature explosion of the powder, and the other time by the kick of a mule! At the end of a loyal service of three years and two months, he was honorably discharged on November 23, 1864, when he came back to Indiana.
He took up again the trade of the blacksmith; but soon turned aside to farming, and for many years followed agriculture in Indiana, cultivating at times from 40 to 160 acres. From Laporte he removed to Michigan and farmed in that state for six years; and then he went to Kansas, and again on to Missouri, and in 1883 he came to California and settled at Visalia. He farmed for four years, when he again moved on to Stockton, and in 1887 lived here for one summer. He then moved onto the Barnhart ranch at Woodbridge, and for four years conducted their farm of 300 acres. After this, he moved onto the Sharp orchard of twenty acres east of Lodi, and took care of this for one year; when he again moved, to the Drury orchard below Woodbridge, which he ran for about one year. He next came to Acampo, where he bought a home place of one acre; and there he lives today.
Mr. Evans has been twice married. Near Laporte, Ind., in 1858, he was united with Miss Rosana Williams, who was born in Indiana, near Laporte, the daughter of Joseph Williams; and nine years later she closed her beautiful, useful life. In the same vicinity, near Laporte, on June 15, 1872, Mr. Evans married Miss Sarah E. Davis, who was born at Laporte, the daughter of Caleb and Sarah (Wagner) Davis. Her father came from a family of Indiana frontiersmen, and was of Welsh descent, and far back in 1832 he went from Wheeling, Va., to Laporte. Miss Davis was one of ten children, four of whom are living today; she was the ninth child of the family. One of her brothers is Eugene Davis, who is hale and hearty at the age of 91. Mr. and Mrs. Evans have four children. Franklin is at Minneapolis; Hattie is Mrs. Winifred Sims, of Merced; Mamie is Mrs. Atchinson, of Acampo; and Luther is in Trinity County. Mr. Evans is a Republican, and a member of the G.A.R. at Lodi.
History of
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY
CALIFORNIA
With A
Biographical Review
of
The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been
Identified with Its Growth and Development
from the Early Days to the Present
HISTORY BY
George H. Tinkham
HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
1923
San Joaquin County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
Copyright © 1996-2011; This Web page is sponsored by Supporters on behalf of the California portion of The USGenWeb Project by The Administrative Team of the CAGW. Although believed to be correct as presented, if you note any corrections, changes, additions, or find that any links provided on this page are not functioning properly please contact the Archive Coordinator for prompt attention to the matter.