BIOGRAPHY: Alvin EVANS, Cambria County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Lynne Canterbury and Diann Olsen. Portions of this book were transcribed by Clark Creery, Martha Humenik, Betty Mirovich and Sharon Ringler. USGENWEB ARCHIVES (tm) NOTICE All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information are included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cambria/ ____________________________________________________________ From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 154-5 ____________________________________________________________ ALVIN EVANS, a talented, well-known and leading attorney-at-law of Ebensburg, is a son of David J. and Jane Ann (Jones) Evans, and was born in Ebensburg, the county seat of Cambria county, Pennsylvania, October 4, 1845. His grandfather was John Evans, who was a native of the Principality of Wales, but who, in about 1833, left the parental roof to seek a new home and new associations in America. His first location was in Cambria township, this county, but he afterwards removed to Ebensburg, his home at the time of his death, in 1847. He was a carpenter and wood-worker by trade. A skilled and proficient artisan, he followed that craft successfully all his life, combining with it, during his more mature years, the manufacturing of lumber, by what was known as the old whip-saw process. He married and reared a large family, one of whom, David J. Evans, was the father of the subject of this biography. He was born in Wales in 1813, and came to the United States in about 1836. He was a tailor by trade, and plied his craft at Munster, Pittsburg, and other places and finally located in Ebensburg, and embarked in the merchant tailoring and clothing business, which he continued the remainder of his life. Originally he was an old-line whig, but upon the disruption of that party, and the organization of the present Republican party in 1856, he became a republican, and filled many local offices. Religiously he was a member of the congregational church. He married Jane Ann Jones, who was a daughter of David Jones, a native of Wales, but who in 1836, came to America. Mr. Jones was married prior to his emigration, brought his wife and family with him, and settled in Cambria township. Here he and Mr. Evans' paternal grandfather, John Evans, figured prominently in the pioneer life of that section, toiling together in sympathetic harmony, and contributing their share to the conversion of the virgin forest into farms and homes, fit for the habitation of civilized man. They were warm friends and close companions through the various trials and vicissitudes incident to pioneer life, and their last remains were laid to rest in the Ebensburg cemetery, where their unurned ashes now tranquilly and peacefully repose. Alvin Evans acquired his early mental training in the public schools, and in the Iron City business college, at Pittsburg. He entered the battle of life on his own account at the early age of sixteen years, his mother having died when he was but a mere child. He worked at the lumber business in his native county until he arrived at the age of twenty-three years. In 1870 he entered the office of the late George M. Reade, of Ebensburg, as a student of the law, and was admitted to the bar of Cambria county in 1873, since which time he has been in the continuous and active practice of his chosen profession. He enjoys a large remunerative and appreciative clientage in Cambria county, and practices in the Supreme Court of the State and in the United States Circuit Courts as well. He is also solicitor for the Pennsylvania Railroad company in Cambria county. Politically, Mr. Evans is a republican, loyal and firm in his convictions, and has always taken a deep interest in the success of his party, and, at the convention of his party held at Ebensburg in the spring of 1896, he received the unanimous endorsement of the Republican party in the county of Cambria for Congress in the Twentieth Congressional district, being the only aspirant in the four counties comprising the district who received a unanimous endorsement. Each county had its candidate. Religiously he is a member of the Congregational church, to whose support he is a liberal contributor. Fraternally he is a member of the Summit Lodge, No. 312, Free and Accepted Masons, and the Improved Order of Heptasophs, both of Ebensburg. On November 17, 1875, the nuptials were celebrated which made Mr. Evans and Miss Kate E. Shroyock, a daughter of John K. and Susan M. Shroyock, husband and wife; and their union has been blessed in the birth of four bright and interesting children: John E., Charles S., Flora M., and Alvin W. In professional and private life Mr. Evans has borne himself above reproach, and, by his superior ability and manly traits of character, has won an enviable respect and popularity. As a lawyer he takes rank with the leading attorneys of the State of Pennsylvania. He is a careful student of law literature, possesses a keen and discriminating mind, and is always alert in the detection of technical points and legal manoeuvering. He is an earnest and fluent speaker, and a gentleman of pleasant address, polished manners, and a deep, sympathetic nature -— qualities of head and heart which have made for him a host of warm and admiring friends.