Passaic County NJ Archives Biographies.....John EVANS, 1860 - 1911
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Author: Mary Depue Ogden, Editor  (1917)

EVANS, John,
Manufacturer, Inventor.

  The men of deeds are the men who excite the admiration of the world, and when
a man rises to a position of prominence, whether it be in the business world or
in private life, he merits and receives the esteem and respect of all by reason
of the sterling qualities he must undoubtedly possess. It is of such a man that
this review treats in the person of the late John Evans, of Paterson. New
Jersey. While he was just at the commencement of the prime of life, he had
attained a position of eminence in his industry, and his reputation as a
locomotive builder was constantly growing. Favored by nature with innate ability
for this line of work, his talent in this direction was fostered and expanded by
constant association with kindred minds, and his inventive genius increased. His
father, John Evans, was a Scotchman, who came to this country in 1868, and
followed his calling as a boot maker in Paterson, New Jersey. He married Ann
Crombie, also a native of Scotland, where they were married.

  John Evans, subject of this sketch, son of John and Ann (Crombie) Evans, was
born in Edinburgh, Scotland, January 3, 1860, and died at his home in Paterson,
New Jersey, December 6, 1911. He acquired his education in the public schools of
Paterson, which he attended until he was sixteen years of age, at which time he
entered upon his apprenticeship with the Cooke Locomotive Company to learn the
machinist's trade. Upon the expiration of his apprenticeship he remained with
this company, and rapidly rose from one position of responsibility to another,
by reason of his intelligent, careful and faithful discharge of the duties
entrusted to him. At the unusually early age of twenty-five years he had risen
to the important position of superintendent of the entire plant. He was in every
sense of the words the right man in the right place. He made himself master of
every detail of his industry, and being of an inventive turn of mind, he made
many valuable improvements upon various parts of the locomotives which he
assisted in building, and many of these are still in use at the present day. So
expert was he considered in all branches of the business with which he was
associated, that he was sent by the company to superintend the erection of
locomotives in various parts of the world, and in this connection visited Japan,
England and several other countries. He had a natural aptitude for the
successful handling of large bodies of men, and being imbued with a strict sense
of justice, a quality he displayed greatly to the benefit of the men under him,
they were devoted to him, and he was thus enabled to accomplish a vast amount of
work without unnecessary friction. Indeed, it is not too much to say that as a
practical builder of locomotives he was one of the skillful men in the world. At
the time of his death he had been in the employ of the Cooke Locomotive Company
for the long period of twenty-seven years, and had gained the good will and
esteem of all with whom he had been associated.

  In political matters he gave his consistent support to the Republican party,
but was never an aspirant to public office. He was a member of the Market Street
Methodist Episcopal Church, a member of the board of trustees of that
institution, and was secretary of the Sunday school at a time when there was an
attendance of five hundred pupils. He was of a quiet and retiring disposition,
kindly and thoughful, and devoted to his home and church. His last pastor says
of him:

  Mr. Evans was one of the most loyal and faithful church members I have ever
known. Though a very busy man, carrying heavy responsibilities, he was never too
busy nor too tired to undertake work for the church. He did not neglect his
business, but cheerfully drew upon his own time and strength for God's work.
After an arduous day he would often meet in church boards or committees till the
middle of the night, but I never once heard him complain of fatigue. The call of
the church seemed to nerve him with new strength and put him at his best. Yet he
never was an ambitious man. He sought no position, and aspired to no place but
loyally and modestly responded to every demand which the church made upon him.
Such sweet and glorious spirits are all too rare, and always have been. He was a
man of a thousand—nay, of ten thousand.

  Mr. Evans married Mary Elizabeth Beaumont, a daughter of John and Mary
(Parker) Beaumont, of Paterson, New Jersey, who were of Huguenot extraction, and
came to this country from England; both are now deceased. The children of Mr.
and Mrs. Evans: Russell Beaumont, John Clifford and Marian Elizabeth. Mrs. Evans
is still living at No. 478 Park avenue, Paterson, and she and her family attend
the Wesley Methodist Episcopal Church.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

MEMORIAL CYCLOPEDIA OF NEW JERSEY

UNDER THE EDITORIAL SUPERVISION OF MARY DEPUE OGDEN

VOLUME III
MEMORIAL HISTORY COMPANY NEWARK,  NEW JERSEY
1917


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