| Biography |
- JOHN EVANS, who has for many years been identified with the industrial interests of Punxsutawney, is the owner and proprietor of a planing-mill at that place, and has taken an active part in the upbuilding and progress of the city. Upon the business activity of a community depends its prosperity, and the men who are recognized as leading citizens are those who are at the head of extensive business enterprises.
Mr. Evans was born in 1825 in Centre county, Penn., a son of Ellis and Rebecca (McMullen) Evans. The birth of the father occurred in Morristown, Penn., but the grandfather, William Evans, was a native of Wales, whence he emigrated to the New World when about twenty-one years of age. He married Rachel Bonner, a sister of the grandfather of Robert Bonner, of the New York Ledger. Ellis Evans, who was a farmer by occupation, departed this life in 1878, having long survived the mother of our subject, who died in 1838. She was born in Centre county, of Irish parentage.
Amid frontier scenes John Evans was reared to manhood, his educational advantages being only such as the public schools of that early day afforded. The terms were very short, and the schools were of an inferior grade. His training at farm work, however, was not so meagre, and he continued to assist his father until he reached the age of twenty, when he began learning the carpenter's and cabinet maker's trades, which he successfully followed for many years. In 1875 he embarked in the planing-mill business in Punxsutawney, and although now seventy-two years of age, he is still well-preserved and able to look after his business interests. In 1848, he was married to Miss Mary J. Drum, daughter of John Drum, an honored pioneer of Jefferson county. Of the eleven children born to them, two died in infancy, but the others are still living, namely: Martha R.; Emma, wife of W. P. Hastings, proprietor of a publishing house at Milton, Penn.; Carrie, wife of Rev. H. W. Millan, of New Sheffield, Penn.; Mary M., wife of John Clawson, of Punxsutawney; Sallie, wife of A. B. White, who is engaged in the railroad business; J. Harry, a resident of Punxsutawney; John D., deputy recorder of Jefferson county; Anna, wife of James Dinsmore, of Pittsburg, Penn.; and Charles Ellis, of Punxsutawney. The children were all born and reared at the home which the parents still occupy, it being built by our subject a short time after his marriage.
During the Civil war, Mr. Evans manifested his patriotism by enlisting, in 1865, in Company B, Seventy-fourth P. V. I., and serving for six months, when hostilities ceased. For many years he was identified with the Democratic party, but now lends his support to the Prohibition party, whose principles he stanchly advocates. Both himself and wife are consistent members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, in which he is a ruling elder, and they have reared their children in that belief. For almost half a century they have traveled life's journey together, sharing its joys and sorrows, its adversity and prosperity, and as they pass down the sunset hill of life enjoy the esteem and confidence of their neighbors and affection of their children and friends.
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1825 - 1905 (80 years)
