William  Evans

            William Evans  was born in Indiana County, Pa., in 1798.  He married  Margaret Elliott  in Butler County, Ohio, in 1820, and they moved from Ohio in August, 1823, and settled on the farm on  John Smock, on the east side of the Madison road, south of Pleasant Run.  Being a brick-moulder and layer, he took the job of building a brick house for John Smock, the first brick house ever built on the Madison road south of the city.  It was finished in 1824.  In the same year he bought land on the south side of Lick Creek, a quarter of a mile west of where the Shelby pike crossed the creek.  He remained there fifteen years, then moved to Sugar Creek, in Shelby County, adjoining Johnson County.  After living on his farm for many years he moved to Indianapolis, where he died, Dec. 15, 1872.  His wife survived him eleven years, and died in the city, Dec. 5, 1883.  When Mr. and Mrs. Evans came to the county, in 1823, they had two children.  They afterwards had born to them ten children, five of whom died in infancy, and seven lived to maturity, --- Sarah,  Andrew E.,  Thomas,  Mary,  Eliza,  Rhoda,  and  Ann.  The first-named two died after marriage; five are now living.  Thomas, who was the first born after they came to this county, is now living in the city, one of the most popular and ministers in the United Brethren Church.  Mr. and Mrs. Evans joined the Lick Creek Baptist Church at its organization in 1826, at the house of  David Fisher.  They were a very exemplary couple, lived a blameless and upright life.  Their family followed in their footsteps.  At Mrs. Evans' death, Dec. 5, 1883, she had been a faithful and true follower of the Lord over sixty years.
History of Indianapolis and Marion County, Indiana, by B. R. Sulgrove, Philadelphia: L. H. Everts & Co., 1884, page 586.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming

Biography Index       Main Page