My Genealogy Hound

HON. DAVID H. EVANS. In the town of Tyre, Seneca County, are many wealthy agriculturists who have done much toward advancing its interests and are progressive in everything. Among this number we make prominent mention of Mr. Evans, who was born in the same house wherein he now lives, December 7, 1837. His parents were John G. and Mary (Hess) Evans, the former of whom was born in Worcestershire, England, September 1, 1793. He was in his ninth year when the journey was made to America with his parents. John Evans, the grandfather, was a carpenter in limited circumstances, and made his home in Peterboro, Madison County, N. Y., where his death occurred.

After the death of his father, John G., then a lad of fourteen years, was compelled to assist in supporting the family. He was the eldest but one, and besides his mother the household included five children. He obtained work in a glass factory in Peterboro, and there became a boss blower, receiving good pay for his services, and remaining thus employed until thirty years of age. In Peterboro he was married to his first wife, Miss Mary Mooney, by whom he became the father of ten children, of whom only one is now living. This lady died in the above village, and Mr. Evans was then united in marriage with the mother of our subject, who was a native of Albany County, N. Y. Their union was blessed by the birth of one son, the original of this sketch.

About the year 1823 John G. Evans abandoned the business of a glass blower, and, purchasing a farm in Madison County, lived there until 1837. That year he came to Seneca County and became the proprietor of a tract of two hundred and thirty-five acres, on which our subject now makes his home. This he improved in the best possible manner, and here he made his home during the remainder of his life. He was a true-blue Republican after the organization of the party, and on that ticket was elected Justice of the Peace, holding the office for four years. He became identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church in Peterboro, and continued a member of that denomination until his decease, or for a period of forty-five years. He was liberal in his contributions to the support of church work, and was Class Leader for some time. Although possessing only an ordinary education, he was a great reader and deep thinker. He lived to be eighty-four years of age, dying July 15, 1877. His good wife preceded him to the better land, passing away November 19, 1875, and they were laid side by side in Evans' Cemetery, near our subject's home.

David H., of this sketch, was a very bright and apt pupil during his school days, and made rapid progress in his studies. When seventeen years of age he entered Ft. Plain Seminary, in Montgomery County, taking a course of two years and pursuing the higher branches. After completing his education he began teaching school, receiving $1 per day for his first term. He was gradually given a larger sum, until he earned $3 per day, which was considered very good pay for that period. He taught, however, only during the winter season, spending his summers in helping in the farm work.

Mr. Evans was married, February 25, 1864, to Miss Catherine Wurts, then a resident of the town of Savannah, Wayne County, N. Y., although her birth occurred in Tompkins County. She was taken to Wayne County when a babe of two years by her parents, Mathuselum and Catherine (Du Bois) Wurts. By her union with our subject there were born five children, of whom we give the following history: Clara B. married Kent Whipple, a manufacturer of brass fixtures of Hamilton, Canada. Mary W. is a graduate of the Brockport Normal School, and is at present engaged in teaching at Yonkers, N. Y. Edwin G. spent two years in attendance at Ft. Plain Seminary, but is now at home. Bertha B., a graduate of the Geneseo Normal School, is a music teacher of great talent. Maude died when six years of age. The mother of this family departed this life December 21, 1885, and was buried in Evans’ Cemetery. March 9, 1893, Mr. Evans was married to Mrs. Catherine (Stephens) Ransom, of Cayuga County.

Following in the footsteps of his honored father, our subject is a Republican in politics, and cast his first Presidential vote for Lincoln in 1860. He was elected Constable in 1863, and the following year was the successful candidate for the office of Collector. In 1866 he became Justice of the Peace, and two years later was made Supervisor. He entered upon the duties of this office before the expiration of his term as Justice of the Peace, and it is worthy of interest to note that he was the first man but one elected Supervisor in the town of Tyre for a period of twenty years. He did not become a candidate in 1869, but was elected again in 1870, and for six consecutive years held the office.

In the fall of 1877 Mr. Evans was nominated for the Assembly on the Republican ticket, but by only seventy-seven votes was defeated by Diedrich Willers, who had been Secretary of State. Previous to that time there had been a strong Democratic majority, and only one Republican had been elected in the county for a period of forty years. In the fall of 1878, however, Mr. Evans was again nominated, and this time was elected by eight hundred and eighty-four majority. He was thus a member of the Legislature of 1879, which was the first to meet in the new Capitol at Albany. On the expiration of his term he was made his own successor, and during his incumbency of the position served on many important committees, being at one time Chairman of the Committee on Internal Affairs. In the fall of 1881 he was elected to the State Senate, representing the counties of Seneca, Cayuga, Tompkins and Tioga, and being a member of that body for the years 1882 and 1885. While there he served on the Canal, State’s Prison and Insurance Committees.

Mr. Evans has attended many state conventions as a delegate, and, with two exceptions, has been present at every county convention for thirty years. He is recognized as one of the safe counselors of the Republican party in this part of the state, and for many years has borne an influential part in its affairs. His first purchase of land was in the town of Savannah, Wayne County, but this he later sold, and about 1870, in company with George A. Farrand, bought two hundred and twenty-five acres in Wayne County. For ten years following he was successfully engaged in buying and shipping stock, handling from two thousand to three thousand head of cattle per year.

After the death of his father our subject purchased the interest of the other heirs in the estate, and has since made it his home. He has bought and sold land quite extensively, and is now the owner of three hundred and sixty acres of valuable farming land, besides a tract of two hundred and fifty acres of swamp land, which is covered with timber. In addition to this, he has one thousand acres of marsh land. He has been the executor of several large estates, among them being those of Hiram Scutt and Gideon Ramsdell. He was made guardian of two children belonging to the former gentleman, rearing them to mature years. The latter estate was valued at $60,000, and in order to settle affairs Mr. Evans sold off two thousand acres of land. He is a very valuable man in the community, and for the last thirty years has been called upon to draw up contracts, and draft wills, deeds and other valuable papers.