Evan Evans

Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois (edited by Newton Bateman, L.L.D., and Paul Selby, A.M.) and History of Peoria County (edited by David McCulloch), Illustrated; Volume II; Chicago and Peoria: Munsell Publishing Company, Publishers 1902; p. 801.

EVANS, EVAN: Farmer; born in Radnor Township; August 20, 1854, traces his ancestry from his paternal great-grandparents, Walter Evans, born December 2, 1751, and Mary (Smith) Evans, born January 22, 1760. Their son, Evan, born March 18,1789, married Amelia Morris, born January 23, 1786. His maternal grandparents were John and Polly (White) Dickison; the former died May 12, 1854. His father, Walter M. Evans, was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania, April 11, 1820 and died in 1879. His mother, Mary (Dickison) Evans, was born near Cincinnati, Ohio April 2, 1823, and died October 9, 1899. Evan Evans, Sr., brought his family from Pennsylvania, where they had operated a gristmill and soon after settled on a farm near Chillicothe. Walter M. and David Evans came to Radnor Township and rented a gristmill of their father on Kickapoo Creek, where they conducted the milling business for many years. He was a large landowner, and was Assessor of the township. Evan Evans owns three hundred and fifty acres of land, upon which he has a fine home and outbuildings. He is a very successful farmer and stock-raiser. He married Ella Mitchell in Rosefield, February 27, 1884. They have three children: Walter, born April 27, 1885; Elon A., born October 5, 1887; and Elbine M., born January 10, 1865. Mrs. Evans was born in Limestone Township, January 10, 1865. Her father, Elon Mitchell, was born in Devonshire, England, and came to Peoria in 1853. His father was John Mitchell, and his mother was Grace (Mills) Mitchell; both natives of Devonshire. They came to America when about sixty years of age, and settled in Limestone Township, about 1855. Both are now deceased. Elon Mitchell married Elizabeth Scott, a native of Onondaga County, New York. She was the daughter of John and Sarah (Stutt) Scott, both natives of Scotland. Mr. Scott died in Onondaga County, New York. His widow afterward married John Brown and settled in Peoria about the year 1859. Mr. Evans was a member of the Grange. In politics, he is an independent. Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell had two children: Ada, wife of Edward Siegle, residing on the old Mitchell Homestead, in Rosefield Township, and Ella, now Mrs. Evans. Mr. Mitchell moved with his wife to Pleasant Valley in Peoria Township.