BIO: Jonathan EVANS, Huntingdon County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: 
Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, 
Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. 
Runk & Co., 1897, pages 284-285.
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  JONATHAN EVANS, Eagle Foundry, Huntingdon county, Pa., was born at 
Broad Top, Bedford county, Pa., October 26, 1822. He is a son of Joseph 
and Hannah (White) Evans. The great-grandfather of Jonathan Evans, 
Joseph Evans, was born in Pennsylvania, of a family of Welsh 
immigrants. His son, Amos Evans, father of Joseph, and grandfather of 
Jonathan, was born in 1747, in Norristown, Montgomery county, Pa., but 
came to Bedford count, and there spent his life. He was a cooper and 
distiller; he also cleared and cultivated a farm on Broad Top. He 
belonged to the Society of Friends, and was an intelligent and well-
educated man. He was of the "old line" Whig party; ran for Congress in 
Bedford county, but was defeated by four votes. He was a justice of the 
peace. Amos Evans married a lady named Margaret Evans, but not at all 
related to his family. Their children were: Nathan; Miles; Aaron; 
Joseph; Elizabeth; Mary; and Abigail. The fourth of this family, 
Joseph, was born at Broad Top, in April, 1792. He was fairly well 
educated, and taught school in Bedford county. He had some poetic 
talent. He combined the occupations of cooper, farmer and miller, at 
Broad Top. Joseph Evans was an old line Whig, and when party lines 
changed, became a Republican. He took an active part in politics, being 
endowed with the social and oratorical qualities that fit a man to be a 
leader among his fellows. He was the first justice of the peace elected 
under the new law. Mr. Evans was of a very hospitable disposition. His 
wife, Hannah White, whom he married in Bedford county, was born in 
Pottsgrove, Pa., and was the daughter of Thomas White, an immigrant 
from Ireland. Mr. White is remembered as having taken part in the 
"Boston tea party," that event so significant in the history of the 
American Revolution. He was farmer, nail-maker, and soldier in the 
Continental army. Mr. White was born in May, 1739, and died September 
13, 1820; his wife, Elizabeth Jones, whom he married in 1771, was born 
June 24, 1754, and died February 2, 1844. They were the parents of 
twenty-one children. They gave three sons to the war of 1812: Ezekiel; 
Thomas; and John; the first named was killed in battle. The children of 
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Evans were: Elizabeth, deceased, was the wife of D. 
Barnett; Aaron W., deceased; William, deceased; Miles, deceased; 
Septimus, deceased; Levi, deceased; Jonathan; Lemuel, deceased, was a 
general in the State militia, and fought in the war of the Rebellion; 
Mary, deceased, wife of D. Fluke; Margaret A., widow of William 
Anderson, of Nebraska; Zerah, deceased; Hannah, deceased wife of D. 
Young. Joseph Evans was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, was 
class leader, superintendent and teacher in Sunday-schools, and a 
diligent worker in all departments of church enterprise. His wife died 
in 1864, at Broad Top; and Mr. Evans died at the same place in 1875.
  "The log school house" and some subscription schools were the scenes 
of Jonathan Evans' education. He began business life on the homestead 
farm, the cleared part of a tract of 1,000 acres. On this place he 
remained until April 2, 1855, when he removed to Huntingdon county, and 
settled in Tod township. Besides his other employments, he had for 
seven years taught school in Bedford county. He now devoted himself to 
farming and stock raising, making a specialty of breeding first-class 
working horses. He erected necessary farm buildings, and made various 
improvements on his property; he has lived for the rest of his life in 
Tod township. Mr. Evans has held many positions of responsibility and 
influence. He was lieutenant in the Pennsylvania State Militia; was 
school director and auditor, in both Bedford and Huntingdon counties, 
also assessor; he was jury commissioner for one term of three years, 
and was elected county commissioner in 1871, on the Republican ticket, 
by the largest majority ever obtained in the county. He was postmaster 
for twelve years, from 1880, and justice of the peace for twenty years. 
Three of his brothers were justices at the same time with himself. 
Certainly few citizens have received more evidences of esteem and 
confidence from the community in which they lived, than Mr. Evans. 
  Jonathan Evans was married, June 1, 1843, to Elizabeth Griffith, of 
Broad Top. Their children are: Solomon, deceased; Sarah J., deceased 
wife of James W. Taylor, of Tod township; Wilson, deceased; Mary M. 
(Mrs. Eli Keith), of Tod township; Amy (Mrs. William Taylor); Joseph 
F.; John A., deceased; Amos, farmer and school teacher, Cass township, 
Huntingdon county; Simpson B., preacher of the Methodist Episcopal 
church, Williamsport, Pa.; Charles T., lumber dealer, Robertsdale, Pa.; 
Hannah A.; Olive; one child died in infancy. Mr. Evans is an active and 
devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church; is a trustee, and has 
labored faithfully in the Sunday-school, both as teacher and as 
superintendent. He is held in grateful regard for his exemplary life 
and long services.
  Joseph F. Evans, son of Jonathan Evans, was born at Broad Top, June 
1, 1853. He attended the common schools of Tod township, Juniata 
Collegiate Institute, Martinsburg, Pa., and the State Normal School, 
Shippensburg, Pa., where he graduated in 1875. He taught school for 
twenty-one years in Huntingdon and Bedford counties; besides helping 
candidates for the same profession out of his own long experience, in 
summer normal schools. He now farms the homestead for his father. He is 
a Republican; he was auditor of his township, and ran for the office of 
county superintendent of schools, but was defeated. He belongs to the 
A. P. A., Council I, Eagle Foundry. Joseph F. Evans was married in 
Hopewell township, Bedford county, in 1877, to a native of that county, 
Susan, daughter of Eli and Margaret (Ake) Eichelberger; her father is a 
miner of Broad Top. Their children are: Wilbert Ira, at home; Chloe G., 
at home; Jonathan L.; Bessie E.; Eli V.; Edison H.; Lena B.; Mary L.; 
and Twilla P.