Genealogical and Personal History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania, 1912
Evans, Rees Biography
This family is of Welsh origin and is traced in Wales to a chieftain Gwdhno Gown, to whom arms were ascribed: "Argent, a lion passant between three fleur de lis gutes." There are many families of the name in Wales, as there also are in the United States.
(I) The family herein recorded descend from David ap (son) Evan, who died about 1640. His wife made a will later. and among others named a niece Catherine Rees. This surname was adopted later as a christian name and was borne by Rees Evans, the American ancestor of the Evans family of Western Pennsylvania. There were a great many soldiers by name Evans in the Colonial armies of Independence serving from Pennsylvania, and among them that of Rees and Reese Evans, the former serving in the Chester county company commanded by Captain Samuel Evans. Under the latter spelling Reese Evans was sergeant of Captain Evan Anderson's company, Chester county militia, also a private in the York county company, also ensign, January 1, 1777, to June 26, 1777, Fifth Pennsylvania Regiment, Continental line, and a private of Major's company, Ninth Pennsylvania line. These references found in Pennsylvania Archives, volumes iii, iv, v, could all refer to the same man. It is positively known that Rees Evans came to America from Wales about, 1755, and that he served in the revolution. After the war he formed one of a party of fourteen men who crossed the mountains to Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, where he settled on land in Elizabeth township, granted him by the government for his services. He lived on his tract, then moved to Pittsburgh, where he died, leaving issue.
(II) Evan, son of Rees Evans, was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and lived his entire life and died there. He was a ship carpenter, and continued at his trade until 1846, when he built the first dry dock in Pittsburgh; he operated it himself, at the same time running a ferry from the point to the foot of Charters street, Allegheny City. He later sold out and began building and running steamboats on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. He became a large vessel owner, and during the civil war had several of his boats impressed by the government for army service. One of his steamboats was used as headquarters boat by General Grant at Vicksburg and Island No. 10. For a time he commanded one of his own boats that was used to carry wounded and sick prisoners from the south to purer northern air, and thereby contracted a disease that caused his death not long after the war closed. He married Jane Carr, born in Pittsburgh, daughter of Edward and Elizabeth (Evans) Carr, who were both born in London, England, and came to the United States prior to the year 1800, settling in Pittsburgh, where they built the first frame house erected on Fourth street on the block between Ferry and Market streets, now the site of a hotel. Edward Carr was a teacher, maintaining a private school in Pittsburgh until his death. He had thirteen children, all girls and all now deceased. Evan and Jane (Carr) Evans left issue, including a son David L., of whom further.
(III) David L., son of Evan and Jane (Carr) Evans, was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, March 17, 1840. He was educated in the city, and employed by his father in his business operations until April 13, 1861, when he enlisted in Company E, "Friend Rifles," an independent military company. They went to New York City and were assigned to "Excelsior Brigade" under the command of the brave General Daniel E. Sickles, as Company E, Seventieth Regiment New York Volunteer Infantry. He served two years and four months, seeing hard service and participating in several of the historic battles of the war, including Fredericksburg. At the battle of Williamsburg twenty-six men were lost out of his company. He was honorably discharged prior to the completion of his term of enlistment on account of disabilities. At the time of his discharge he was sick in the hospital and had been a patient in a field hospital at the time it was destroyed by fire shortly before. When his company started for the war a silk flag made by young lady friends and relatives of Mr. Evans was presented to the company, and after the captain's return on furlough from battle, it was presented through him to David L. Evan, who treasures it among his relies of the war and of his kindred who have passed away. The captain, Jacob Brohn, was killed after his return to the front.
After returning from the army and regaining his health, Mr. Evans began learning the watchmaker's and jeweler's trade, and for nine years was in the employ of one jewelry house on Fifth avenue, Pittsburgh. His eyesight was somewhat impaired from so fine work, and he was obliged to retire. He later engaged in the machinist's trade, in which he had formerly been employed for a time. In 1900 he came to Uniontown, Pennsylvania, and in company with his son organized the Evans Mold & Machine Company, which has been and still is one of the successful business enterprises of Uniontown, and with which he is still connected. He is independent in polities, and has served at Bellevue and Rochester as assessor, tax collector, justice of the peace and treasurer of the school and borough funds of the borough. He is a member, with his wife, of Great Bethel Baptist church (organized 1770).
He married, December 25, 1862, Emma Martin, born July 29, 1846, daughter of Samuel and a granddaughter of Robert Martin, who came from Ireland and served as a soldier in the Continental army, later came to Western Pennsylvania and settled at Castle Shannon, near Pittsburgh, where he followed farming until his death. Samuel, son of Robert Martin, was born at Castle Shannon, Pennsylvania, was a hatter, married Caroline Davis, and moved to Jeffersonville, Indiana, where he died; their children: Sarah, residing at Castle Shannon, deceased, single; Mary, married Robert Harper; Emma, born July 29, 1846, married David L. Evans, and resides in Uniontown; John, deceased; Caroline (Carne), married Joseph Taylor, whom she survives.
Children of David L. and Emma (Martin) Evans: 1. Carrie, died aged five years. 2. James Carr. 3. David Crawford, of whom further. 4. A. Edna, an artist and teacher of water color and decorative painting.
(IV) David Crawford, son of David L. Evans, was born in Bellevue (Pittsburgh), Pennsylvania, September 11, 1872. He was educated in the public schools. Since the age of sixteen he has worked at the trade of mold making, and is an expert worker in iron and steel. Since 1900 he has been associated with his father as one of the proprietors and manager of the Evans Mold & Machine Company of Uniontown, and is also a member of the firm of Evans & Springer (foundry). He married, September 12, 1905, Frank Alberta, daughter of Arthur I. Ellis, of Uniontown, Pennsylvania, a music dealer.
Source: Genealogical and Personal History of Fayette County, John W. Jordan, Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1912.
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