Joseph Evans
Joseph Evans was born in Mason County, Ky., April 2, 1796, the son of Edward Evans and Jemima Applegate, his wife, both of whom are fully noticed in the sketch of Edward Evans herein. At the age of four years his parents removed to Adams County, Ohio, and located in what is now the central part of Jefferson Township. Brown County. They located in the primeval forest, and Joseph, one of a large family of brothers and sisters, was brought up as boys of his time.
When Joseph Evans became a youth, there were three courses open to a young man in his situation. He could become a hunter, he could be come a keel-boatman, or he could learn to still whisky. Joseph Evans chose the first of the three, and became a skilled hunter. This was in accordance with his natural tastes. He loved the solitude of the forest and the companionship of the inaminate objects of nature. Farming there was none. There was a contest with the wilderness, and all had to engage in it whether he would or not. He early developed his taste for hunting and kept up the habit all his life. He was very successful in the pursuit of game and an excellent marksman with the rifle. Like most of the early hunters he had a favorite rifle which he kept his entire life. He named it "Old Betsey," and it did him good service so long as he was able to use it. Once returning alone through the forest, at night, from a hunt, he was followed by a panther. He had just crossed a large log, and when he heard the panther mount the log, he turned and gave the wild beast the contents of "Old Betsey," and its final quietus. His wife, Matilda Driskell, was born November 16, 1802, in Mason County, and died August, 1863. Her people removed to Ohio, near his. when she was a child. They were married January 21, 1823, in Brown County, Ohio, and continued to reside there until 1829. In Brown County, four of their seven children were born, and the other three in Indiana. Three of these are still living, Mrs. India Ann Jolliffe, of Nineveah, Ind.; Dr. John T. Evans and James Edward Evans, at Clay City, Clay County, Ill.
At fifty years of age Joseph Evans was six feet tall, weighed two hundred pounds, was of full habit, with dark hair, ruddy complexion and gray eyes. He always had perfect health. He never followed any occupation but that of farming. He was of a retiring and quiet disposition; never sought publicity of any kind. In 1828, he visited Indiana and took up land from the Government in Johnson County. In 1829. he and his family moved on to this land, where he resided until his death fifty-eight years later. He obtained a patent for his land November 6. 1830, signed by President Andrew Jackson and no transfer of it of any kind was made until after his death, among his heirs. He lived a quiet and most unostentatious life, owing no one anything. He was never a member of any church, and politically he was a Whig and a Republican, though he took but slight interest in politics. He died October 9. 1887, aged ninety-one years. It cannot be said that he died of any particular complaint. The machinery of his body was simply worn out and stopped.
His son, John T. Evans, studied medicine but has not practiced it for many years. He is a successful merchant and business man at Clay City, Ill. He stands high in the church of the Christian Disciples and takes a great interest in church work. He is also very prominent in the Masonic Order. In his political views he is a Republican. Surrounded by an interesting family of children and grandchildren, he is aiming to fulfill the duties and obligations of a good citizen and a good Christian, and those who know him say he has succeeded well.
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