Biography - William Evans
William EVANS, farmer, P. O. Virden, was born in Pittsburgh, Penn., February 12, 1828, and was brought to Illinois when but nine years of age; his father, Henry EVANS, settled in Alton when there were but three log houses in the town; he remained there about twenty years, engaged in blacksmithing, and his was the first shop in the town; he was a native of Ireland, and, when twenty-four years of age, emigrated to America with his wife and one child; he died in 1861, aged sixty-five years; his wife, Isabella GORDON, was also a native of Ireland; she died in 1854, aged fifty-seven years; she was the mother of nine children, of whom William was the second child. He assisted his father in his shop until he was nineteen years of age, when the family removed from Alton and settled upon a farm, where the father of our subject remained, engaged in agricultural pursuits up to the time of his death. William remained upon the farm until he reached the age of twenty-three years, when he entered upon his career in life, following in the footsteps of his father, as a blacksmith; he continued in that occupation at Otter Creek, Jersey County, about twenty years, at the end of which time he again took upon himself the duties of a farm life, purchased the property upon which he now resides, and upon which he has made all the improvements, which denote his energy and enterprise as a man, and show him to be a practical farmer; he farm consists of 160 acres of choice land, all of which is under cultivation; although he grows all of the usual farm crops, he makes a specialty of grain. He was married, in Jersey County, April 7, 1847, to Miss Louisiana NOBLE, who was born in Mississippi July 4, 1829; she has borne him eight children, viz.,: Henry (deceased), Isabella, Martha Ann, Albert, Kate, Benjamin, Hattie, William (deceased). Mrs. EVANS was a daughter of Solomon and Louisiana (SOJOURNER) NOBLE, natives of Mississippi. Mr. EVANS has served the people as Supervisor two years; was once elected Justice of the Peace, but declined to serve; politically, he is identified with the Republican party; he has been a member of the I.O.O.F. for a number of years, and is also an active member of the A., F. & A. M. at Virden. Socially, he ranks high in the community, and in him are found the elements which, combined, make a man a good neighbor, a kind husband and an indulgent father.
Extracted 20 Nov 2016 by Norma Hass from 1882 History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 2 Biographical Department, pages 272-273.
