San Joaquin County Biographies
Ref: Page 1467
Transcribed by: Linda Diane Jackson 12/4/2009
THOMAS C. EVANS
A worthy representative of the early California pioneers is Thomas C. Evans, a highly respected citizen of Stockton, who is now living retired at his beautiful home located at 145 Sperry Street, where he has resided for the past fourteen years. He was born in Carmarthenshire, Wales, May 24, 1849, and his father died when he was one year old. Subsequently his mother was married to Henry V. Moore, also a native of Wales, and in 1852 they came to America settling near Salt Lake City, having crossed the plains by ox-team thither. Mr. Moore was engaged in mining and prospecting for several years. In 1859 the family removed to Carson City, Nev., where Mr. Moore was employed on the construction of a tunnel through the mountains from Jacks Valley to Washoe Valley. In 1860, Thomas C. Evans came with his mother to California, settling in the Linden section of San Joaquin County, where they resided for two years, then were joined by Mr. Moore, and the family then removed to Contra Costa County to a ranch at the foot of Mt. Diablo, where Mr. Moore raised stock and successfully farmed for a number of years; later the family returned to San Joaquin County and in 1897 Mr. Moore passed away at Lockeford. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Moore, three daughters and three sons. After her husband's death Mrs. Moore removed to Stockton and later to Oakland, where she lived until she passed away in 1906.
At Stockton, October 11, 1874, Mr. Evans was married to Miss Katherine Hoerl, a native of New York City, a daughter of Frantz and Lona (Kramer) Hoerl, both natives of Germany, who came to America in the late '50s. Mrs. Evans has three brothers; Joseph resides in Stockton, Henry resides near French Camp and John Hoerl at Lodi, all ranchers. The Hoerl family emigrated to California via Panama in the early '50s, and both parents passed away many years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Evans are the parents of three children: Gertrude died at the age of nine years, Gilbert died at the age of two years, and Thomas Herbert is married to Miss Mary McAdams, and has seven children; he is a rancher and conducts the Ellisworth farm on shares with his father; he is a prominent member of the Eagles in Stockton.
In 1880 Mr. Evans removed to Stockton, where he built and conducted a hotel at Collar and Elbow, Roberts Island, in the early reclamation period of the Delta district; he also built several similar places, one at Holts on the middle division of the island and one on Waterloo Road just outside of Stockton, engaging in this business until 1887, when he entered the sheep business. He built and conducted the sheep dipping plant on the edge of Roberts Island near Stockton where during the first season more than 120,000 sheep were dipped; he also cared for large herds of sheep on shares, but after two severe winters when he suffered financial reverses he gave up the sheep business and turned his attention to farming in the Delta, where he made considerable money. For ten years Mr. Evans conducted the club rooms of the Grand Central Hotel in Stockton and in 1896 built the Wallace Hotel at Wallace, Calaveras County, at that time the terminus of the Sierra Nevada Railroad, which he conducted for six years; he also built hotels at Dogtown, Ringer and Elliott, which he ran for a few years, then sold to good advantage. Meantime, Mr. Evans has carried on farming in which he is still active, owning a choice grain farm in the Ellisworth district, which is managed by his son, Thomas Herbert. Mr. Evans is affiliated with the Stockton Lodge of Red Men.
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
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