Edward Patton Evans
Edward Patton Evans was born May 31, 1814, on Eagle Creek. Jefferson Township, in Brown County, Ohio. He was the eldest son of William Evans and his wife, Mary Patton, daughter of John Patton, of Rockbridge County, Virginia. His mother was born in Rockbridge. County, Virginia, in 1789, and was married to Charles Kirkpatrick in Virginia in 1806. She and her husband came to Ohio in that year, and he bought the farm on Eagle Creek on which our subject was born. In 1818 Kirkpatrick obtained his deed to the farm of one hundred and thirty-eight acres in Phillip Slaughter's Survey No.—, of 1.000 acres, and paid $600. The deed was executed in 1812 before John W. Campbell, justice of the peace, at West Union, Ohio, and afterwards U. S. Judge for Ohio, and was witnessed by him and his wife, Eleanor Campbell.
The same year Charles Kirkpatrick went out in Captain Abraham Shepherd's company, and on his way returning, was shot and wounded by Indians, and died of his wounds at Chillicothe, Ohio, and was buried there. William Evans was his friend, and had to break the news to his widow. Next year, August 13, 1813, he married her, and our subject was their first child. He had nine brothers and sisters, and on March 22, 1830, his mother died at he early age of 41.
When our subject was born, it was customary to name the first boy for his two grandfathers, so he got Edward on account of his grandfather Evans, and Patton, for his grandfather, John Patton. As his father and mother had four other sons, they might have saved the name of one grandfather for one of them. His grandfather, Edward Evans, was born in Cumberland County, Pa., in 1760, and was a member of Col. Samuel Dawson's company, 11th Pennsylvania Regiment, Col. Richard Humpton, in the Revolutionary War, and was in the battles of Germantown, Brandywine, and Monmouth, and spent the winter of 1777 at Valley Forge. His great-grandfather, Hugh Evans, was also in the Revolutionary War, and before that had been a school teacher in Chester County, Pennsylvania, and had had Mad Anthony Wayne for a pupil, when the latter was only twelve years old. He was a very unruly pupil and always at pranks. His four times great-grandfather, Hugh Evans, came over with William Penn in 1682, and the family were Quakers until the Revolution.
Edward Patton Evans worked on his father's farm and went to school of winters until his eighteenth year. He went to school at Ripley for awhile, and afterwards at Decatur. He became a school teacher and law student, and May 20, 1839, he was married to Amanda J. King, at Georgetown, Ohio. Subsequent to his marriage, he carried on a general store at Hamersville, Ohio, and afterwards removed to Sardina, and carried on a cooperage business there. In 1842 his eldest son was born, and in 1844 he was admitted to the bar. He removed to West Union, Adams County, Ohio, in April, 1847, and continued to reside there until his death. He was engaged in the active practice of the law from his location in West Union in April, 1847, until 1877, when he retired on account of failing health. He was a Whig until that party dissolved. When the Republican party was organized he identified himself with that, and was an enthusiastic Republican all his life. But at all times he was an anti-slavery advocate. He was a very successful lawyer, and made more money at the practice of his profession than any lawyer who has ever been at the bar in Adams County. When he was at his best, physically and mentally, he was on one side or the other of every case of importance. When he brought a suit, he never failed to gain it, unless he had been deceived by his client. The fact was, he would not bring a suit unless he believed his client had the chance to win largely in his favor. Once a farmer called on him to bring a suit in ejectment. Mr. Evans heard his statement and informed him that if he brought the suit he would lose it, and declined to bring it for him. This made the farmer very angry, and he went away in a great passion. He found a lawyer to bring his suit, and Mr. Evans was employed by the defendant, and won the case. He was very positive in his judgment about matters of law, but his judgment in such matters was almost invariably correct. He was an excellent trial lawyer, and commanded the confidence of the entire community. He never sought office, but in 1856 was presidential elector on the Fremont ticket, and, as such, canvassed his entire congressional district with Caleb R. Smith, R. W. Clarke, and R. M. Corwine. From 1856 until after the war, he usually attended all the State conventions of his party. In 1860 he took part in the canvass for the election of President Lincoln, and during the war was chairman of the military committee of Adams County, which was charged with raising all the troops required in the county. As such, he did a great work in aiding the prosecution of the war. He also did a great work in looking after the families of the soldiers. In the fall of 1864 he went out with the 6th Independent Infantry to guard rebel prisoners at Johnson's Island. In 1862 he became a member of the banking house of G. B. Grimes & Company, and continued in that business until 1878. During and directly after the war for a time, he owned and was concerned in operating the flour mill at Steam Furnace. In the seventies he and three others for a time conducted a woolen mill at West Union, but, it proving unprofitable, the business was closed down. Up till 1877 he had apparently had an iron constitution, had never been sick, but in that year his health began to fail, and continued to grow worse until he gave up all business. He survived until April 17, 1883, when death ended his sufferings. He was an honest man, punctual about all his obligations. He was positive in his convictions on every subject. He was devoted to the interests of the community in which he lived, and in the county seat contest spent his money, time, and labor freely for West Union. He was energetic and enthusiastic in eyerything he undertook. He was always in favor of public improvements, and the West Union school house and new court house in West Union were largely due to his efforts.
From History of Adams County, Ohio from its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time - by Nelson W. Evans and Emmons B. Stivers - West Union, Ohio - Published by E. B. Stivers - 1900