My Genealogy Hound

LEVI EVANS is the owner of a good estate located on section 24, township 44, range 27, Johnson County, and in its cultivation is meeting with success. He was born in Warren County, Ky., February 19, 1832, to Francis and Malinda (Morris) Evans, also natives of the Blue Grass State. The parents spent their entire lives there, the father dying when our subject was a lad of nine years. The family included five children, of whom Daniel was the eldest; then came Elizabeth, Levi, Francis and Rachel. The mother kept the family together until her decease, which occurred in 1854.

In 1858 Levi, together with his brother Daniel, and sister Elizabeth, then Mrs. Henry Horn, came to Missouri. Mr. Evans and his brother-in-law purchased land where the former now resides, and by hard work improved it and developed a good estate.

Our subject’s opportunities for gaining an education were very limited, as he and his brother Daniel were the main support of the family after the father’s death. They were obliged to oversee the operation of the farm and do all the buying of provisions and selling of crops. When the trip was made to this state their household goods were conveyed hither by means of a one-horse wagon and an ox-team, and the journey consumed four weeks.

Levi Evans was married, April 9, 1861, to Miss Mary C. Minton, of Chilhowee, this county. She was likewise born in Warren County, Ky., the date thereof being June 2, 1839. Her parents were Thomas and Sarah A. (Seay) Minton, natives of that state, whence they crossed the line into this state in 1841. Mrs. Evans was reared in Lafayette County, where she obtained a fair education in the schools of her district. In 1860 her parents came to Johnson County, where Mr. Minton died four years later. His good wife is still living, and at this writing is in her seventy-fourth year.

When Mr. Evans first located on his present farm he made his abode in a very rude cabin, but as the years passed by and he became more prosperous he made many valuable improvements on his place, among them being a substantial residence, which was erected in 1883. During the late war, on account of having expressed himself very freely in regard to the slavery question, he was obliged to flee from home and seek refuge in another portion of the state. His wife, however, was not molested and lived in peace on the old homestead until the conflict was at an end.

Seven children were granted to our subject and his wife. Francis Marion, who was born April 22, 1862, married Fannie Thompson in 1882, and now makes his home in Vernon County, this state. Thomas H. was born November 15, 1863; his wife bore the maiden name of Nettie Malone. Daniel G. was born January 19, 1866, and died in infancy. Anna, who was born January 15, 1867, became the wife of George W. Holland December 30, 1886. Minnie M. was born May 1, 1869, and is now at home. Virgil was born August 27, 1871, and died February 11, 1883. George W. was born August 20, 1874.

Our subject was originally a Whig in politics and voted for Bell and Everett in 1860. He was greatly in sympathy with the Union cause during the war, and when Lincoln ran for President cast a ballot in his favor. He is in no sense of the word a politician, yet takes great interest in the success of his party, being now a Republican. Together with his wife and three of his children, he is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church. Mrs. Evans joined this denomination when fourteen years of age, and our subject has been connected with the same since 1866. He has served his congregation for twenty years in the office of Deacon and is regarded as one of the influential and valued members of the church he attends.