Biography
David Evans was born 27 October 1804 in Spruce Creek, Cecil County, Maryland, United States to Israel Evans (1770-1851) and Abigail Alexander (1782-1846) and died 23 June 1883 Lehi, Utah County, Utah, United States of unspecified causes. He married Mary Beck (1804-1841) 25 July 1826 in Pennsylvania. He married Barbara Ann Ewell (1821-1898) 23 November 1841 in Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois. He married Sarah Thornton (1806-1892) 18 October 1852 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah. He married Clymenia Azuba Shaw (1834-1920) 16 March 1854 in Provo, Utah County, Utah. He married Edna Hinchcliff (1828-1906) 23 November 1854 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah. He married Rebecca Coleman (1838-1923) 18 November 1856 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah. He married Margaret Christine Holm (1843-1898) 4 May 1861 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah.
David Evans, of the First Quorum of the Seventy and Bishop of Lehi, Utah county, Utah, from 1852 to 1879, was born October 27, 1804, in Cecil County, Maryland, the son of Israel and Abigail Evans. His early training in life was on the frontiers in Pennsylvania. His rugged character qualified him for the events which were to follow.
In 1826 he married Mary Beck and moved to Richland county, Ohio. Here he bought and opened up a new farm, where he lived until he was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, April 6, 1833. On the 11th of the same month he was ordained a Priest and immediately commenced traveling and preaching, selling his farm to enable him to perform his missionary labors.
Zions Camp Participant
This Judith Mehr rendition depicts struggles endured by members of Zion's Camp, an expeditionary force to help Church members in Jackson County redeem their brethren.
One of the most interesting episodes in the early history of LDS Church was the march of Zion's Camp (1834). The members of the Church in Missouri were being persecuted, and the Prophet Joseph made it a matter of prayer and received a revelation on February 24, 1834. The Lord instructed the Prophet to assemble at least one hundred young and middle-aged men and to go to the land of Zion, or Missouri. (See D&C 130:19–34.)
Zion’s Camp, a group of approximately one hundred and fifty men, gathered at Kirtland, Ohio, in the spring of 1834 and marched to Jackson County, Missouri. By the time they reached Missouri, the camp had increased to approximately two hundred men.
Nauvoo 11th Ward Bishop
He then went to Adams County, Illinois, and commenced preaching and baptizing many. He lost his wife, after which he moved to Nauvoo and married Barbara Ann Ewell in November, 1841. In 1842 when Nauvoo was organized into Wards he was ordained Bishop of the Eleventh Ward. He remained in Nauvoo until the Saints were driven out, when he was appointed captain of a company to cross the plains, and arrived in the Valley Sept. 15, 1850.
Lehi Utah Mayor and Bishop
He moved to Lehi the following February, over which place he was appointed to preside as Bishop, the duties of which he faithfully performed for twenty-eight years. He tendered his resignation on account of old age and failing health, Aug. 24, 1879.
Elder Evans located the city of Lehi and laid it off into blocks and lots with a pocket compass, tape line, and square. He was elected to the first legislature of Utah and acted for many years as a member of that body. He was colonel of militia, served as major of the Lehi Military District several terms and was mayor of Lehi city three terms.
His death occurred June 23, 1883, and the following day a special train was dispatched from Salt Lake City, which brought President Wilford Woodruff, Bishop Edward Hunter and several other leading men to attend the funeral. The cortege to the cemetery was the largest ever formed in Lehi, 115 vehicles being in line. Bishop Evans was remarkable for his great industry, frugality and charity to the poor, his public spiritness and broad self-acquired education.
Marriage and Family
In 1826 he married Mary Beck and moved to Richland county, Ohio
- Eliza Jane Evans (1827-1850) - died on the Mormon Trail in Nebraska.
- Israel Evans (1828-1896)
- Henry Beck Evans (1830-1911)
- Mary Ann Evans (1832-1884)
- Margaret Evans (1835-1836)
- Araminta Evans (1838-1838)
- Emma Beck Evans (1840-1913)
He married Climena Gibson in 1854, Rebecca Coleman in 1856, and Christina Holm in 1861, was the father of forty-one children and a good provider for all his family.
Children
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Eliza Jane Evans (1827-1850) | 16 April 1827 Hanover, Licking County, Ohio | 15 June 1850 Near Platt River, Nebraska | Ira Nathaniel Hinckley (1828-1904) |
| Israel Evans (1828-1896) | |||
| Henry Beck Evans (1830-1911) | |||
| Mary Ann Evans (1832-1884) | |||
| Margaret Evans (1835-1836) | |||
| Araminta Evans (1838-1838) | |||
| Emma Beck Evans (1840-1913) | |||
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Martha Evans (1842-1926) | |||
| Amanda Evans (1844-1881) | |||
| Abigail Evans (1846-1932) | |||
| Joseph Evans (1847-1899) | |||
| Sarah Evans (1849-1893) | |||
| Susannah Evans (1850-1932) | |||
| David Evans (1852-1923) | |||
| Hyrum Evans (1853-1862) | |||
| Barbara Ann Evans (1855-1926) | |||
| Rozilla Barbara Evans (1856-1940) | |||
| Ephraim Evans (1858-1863) | |||
| Eleazer Evans (1861-1884) | |||
| Mosiah Evans (1862-1921) | |||
| Mary Ann Evans (1864-1931) | |||
| Jacob Abel Evans (1867-1953) | |||
| Sophia Beck Evans (1876-) | |||
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Phebe Jane Evans (1855-1855) | |||
| James Evans (1857-1940) | |||
| Edwin Evans (1860-1946) | |||
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Samuel Evans (1855-1855) | |||
| Hannah Evans (1857-1857) | |||
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| George Coleman Evans (1858-1906) | |||
| Prime Evans (1860-1901) | |||
| Sarah Coleman Evans (1864-1946) | |||
| Rebecca Evans (1868-1869) | |||
| Emma Jane Evans (1869-1942) | |||
| Martha Ann Evans (1872-1942) | |||
| Ella Ellen Evans (1875-1962) | |||
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| John Holm Evans (1863-1864) | |||
| Margaret Christine Evans (1865-1941) | |||
| Jane Evans (1867-1919) | |||
| Hannah Evans (1870-1953) | |||
| Rachel Evans (1874-1962) | |||
| Clara Evans (1876-1920) | |||
Siblings
References
- Elder David Evans - Grandpa Bills GA Pages