John G. Evans
History of Montana,by Joaquin Miller, 1894
USGENWEB Montana Archives
May be copied for non-profit purposes.

Col. John G. Evans, ex-Postmaster of Butte City, Montana, 
and now engaged n the book and stationary business this 
city, was born in Wales, December 23, 1852. His ancestors 
as far back as known were Welsh people and his parents, 
David and Margaret (Griffiths) Evans passed their lives 
and died in Wales. David Evans was a farmer in early 
life but later became a merchant. He died in 1876 in 
the seventy-second year of his age and his wife died 
in 1881, also at the age of seventy-two. Five of their 
eleven children are still living, John G. being the 
next youngest of the family and the youngest now living.

Colonel Evans was reared and educated in his native 
town Maesteg, and there learned the grocery business. 
In 1875 he emigrated to America, believing that this 
country offered better advantages for an ambitious 
and enterprising young man than did his own and upon 
his arrival here located at Salt Lake City, not with 
the intention of becoming a Mormon but to accept a 
clerkship in the store of Walker Brothers. After 
he had been with this firm five years he was given 
the management of a store on the Denver and Rio 
Grade Railroad. Some time later he returned to 
Wales on a visit and remained six weeks and upon 
coming back to the United States he took up his 
abode in Butte City. 

That was in 1882. For one year he managed the store of 
J.B. Meredith and the following year he opened a 
general merchandise store in Anaconda for David 
Cohen, Sr. After this he was engaged with Robert 
Grix in the book and stationary business up to 
1889 at which time he received the appointment of 
Postmaster of Butte City from President Harrison 
and entered upon the duties of the same. For four 
years and two months he rendered most efficient 
service as Postmaster, giving general satisfaction 
both to the Department and to the citizens of 
Butte and on the first of April 1894 turned the 
office over to his successor with everything in 
the best of running order.

Soon after retiring from office, he opened at No. 43 
West Broadway, his present book and stationery 
business. Here, in addition to books and stationery, 
he keeps a full line of fancy articles and as he is 
so well known and popular in Butte City, he starts 
out in this business with the bright prospect for 
success.

Mr. Evans was married, December 25, 1887 to Mrs. 
Gussie Grant, widow of W.F. Grant and daughter of 
James Carty of Halifax, Nova Scotia. She had a 
daughter by her former husband--Fultie Grant--
and she and Mr. Evans have two sons, W. Vivian 
and John Roscoe.

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