EVANS, Milton, b. 1834: 1905 Bio, San Miguel County, Colorado http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/sanmiguel/bios/evans-m.txt --------------------------------------- Donated June 2004 Transcribed by Judy Crook from the book: Progressive Men of Western Colorado Published 1905, A.W. Bowen & Co., Chicago, Ill. --------------------------------------- Milton Evans A pioneer of 1876 in Colorado, and one of the first miners in what is now San Miguel county, where he has ever since been an active and prominent man deeply interested in all public affairs, and giving his time and attention freely to their proper management, Milton Evans, of Placerville, has witnessed the growth of the region from a wilderness practically unbroken save for the numerous mining camps which were opened in it from time to time, to its present prosperous and progressive condition blessed with all the elements and fruitful with the products of civilized and cultivated life. He was born in Ohio on May 13, 1834, and is the son of James and Mary O. Evans. He remained at home until he reached the age of twenty-one and received his education in the schools of his native county. Then in 1856 he turned eagerly from the associations and scenes of his childhood, youth and early manhood to the inviting fields for enterprise in the farther West and moved to Iowa where he remained ten years engaged in farming. In 1866 he crossed the plains with his own ox teams to Salt Lake City, and from there made a trip northward through Idaho and Montana, stopping for a time at Fort Benton. He there took passage on a steamboat down the Missouri river to his former home in Iowa, and during the next eight or nine years was occupied in the grain and stock business. In 1876 he came to Colorado and located in what is now San Miguel county, which later he helped to organize. Here in the neighborhood of the present town of Telluride he engaged in mining, being the first man to follow the industry in that section. He was also an early prospector and miner where Ophir now stands, and was actively concerned in opening up the whole region to the hopes and the employments of men. In 1877 he bought an interest in the Nevada Mining Company, soon after selling a part of his stock for seven thousand, five hundred dollars. He has since been offered forty thousand dollars for the rest of his stock in this company, but has refused to sell and still owns it and has charge of the property. He also has interests in other mines in this locality, and has shipped ore from ten of them. In 1890 he settled at Placerville, and here he has charge of the Copper Basin Mining Company and the Placerville Gold and Copper Mining Company. At the same time, while looking out for his own interests and building up his own fortunes, he has been active and zealous in promoting the welfare of the section and aiding in its progress and development. He was influential in organizing the county and served as one of its first county commissioners, holding the office eight years. For many years he has belonged to the order of Odd Fellows and has been active and influential in its work and history. He was married in 1856 before leaving Ohio, to Miss Eliza Brown, a native of Virginia, who died in 1878 in Iowa, leaving four children, James W., Herbert C., Milton A. and Sarah. The sons live in San Miguel county, Colorado, and the daughter is a resident of Minneapolis. He was married a second time in 1884, being united on this occasion to Miss Nellie Steele, a native of New York, the wedding occurring at Durango, this state. She died in 1887, leaving no children. =================================================== Contributed for use by the USGenWeb Archive Project (http://www.usgenweb.org) and by the COGenWeb Archive Project USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access.