Andrew Wallace Evans papers

In 1730, Robert Evans (1710-1775) purchased 300 acres of land on the Big Elk Creek west of Cowantown in Cecil County, Maryland. He was a successful tanner, and acquired large quantities of land at the Head of Elk, in New Munster, and elsewhere. He married Margaret Kilpatrick (1712-1781), and the couple had two sons, Robert and John Evans, and six daughters, Jane Evans, who married Henry Hollingsworth, of Elkton; Hannah who married Rev. James Finley, pastor of the Rock Church; Mary who married Zebulon Hollingsworth Jr., of Elk Landing; Isabella who married William Montgomery; Margaret who married James Black; and Eleanor who married Amos Alexander, of New Munster.

When Robert Evans died in 1775, his sons inherited the tan-yard on the Big Elk. Robert was commissioned lieutenant in a military company early in the Revolutionary War, but was thrown from his horse and killed while riding home from Cowantown before he entered the army. John (1760-1823), the surviving brother, continued to reside on the family homestead on the banks of the Big Elk, where he engaged in the manufacture of bar iron and nails. He and the celebrated Paul Revere, the hero of Longfellow's "Midnight Ride", are believed to have been the only rollers of copper in the United States at that time and all vessels of the American navy are said to have been coppered with material of their manufacture. John Evans married Mary Alexander (1761-1820), of the Alexander family of New Munster. They were the parents of Amos Alexander Evans; Sarah Evans who married John Gallaher; Robert Evans who married and removed to Iowa; John Evans; Jane Evans who died young; Levi Hollingsworth Evans who was state senator and Judge of the Orphan's Court of Cecil County; George Evans who went to Mexico and died in the city of Matamoras; and William and Mark, both of whom died young.

Amos Alexander Evans, the oldest son of John Evans and Mary Alexander, was born November 26, 1785, at the residence of his parents on the banks of the Big Elk, about five miles north of Elkton. He attended school in Newark, Delaware, and at the age of 19 began the study of medicine with Dr. George E. Mitchell, of Elkton, with whom he studied for three years. He also attended the lectures of Dr. Benjamin Rush (signer of the Declaration of Independence), and the lectures of other professors at the University of Pennsylvania. Amos Evans passed an examination by board of medical officers and was licensed to practice medicine by the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of Maryland. In 1807, he was appointed surgeon's mate to the 49th Regiment of Maryland militia, and in 1808, he was appointed an assistant surgeon in the United States Navy by President Thomas Jefferson. On April 20, 1810, he was commissioned as surgeon. He joined the crew of the frigate Constitution, then at Washington City, and sailed on June 11, 1812.

From the 16th to the 19th of June, the Constitution was pursued by the British fleet. Dr. Evans wrote in his journal: "thus terminates a disagreeable chase of nearly three days attended with inexpressable anxiety, and alternate elevation and depresseion of spirits, as the winds were propitious or otherwise; we had many times given over all expectation of making our escape, and had it not been for uncommon exertion we must inevitably have fallen prey to the superiority of our enemy." The Consitution later saw action with the British frigate Guerriere in August 1812, and the British frigate Java, in December 1812.

After the close of the war, Dr. Evans was stationed at Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston, Massachusetts. He attended medical lectures at Harvard University, where he graduated with distinction on August 30, 1814. In July 1815, Dr. Evans sailed with Commodore Bainbridge aboard the Independence, as fleet surgeon in the war against the Algerians. On his return from the war with the Barbary States, Dr. Evans was again stationed at the Charlestown Navy Yard. While there, he met Mary Oliver (1795-1881), of Boston, and the couple were married on March 28, 1816. Shortly thereafter, he applied to be relieved from duty at the Charlestown Navy Yard, and proceeded to Elkton, on leave, where he continued to practice medicine. Dr. Evans resigned his position in the Navy in 1824. Amos and Mary had three children together: Alexander Evans (1818-1888), Andrew Wallace Evans (1829-1906), and Mary Evans Clayton (1833-1908). Dr. Evans died on January 15, 1848 in Elkton. His wife outlived him by 33 years, dying on January 4, 1881.

Alexander Evans, the elder son of Dr. Evans and Mary Oliver, was born on September 13, 1818. He attended the local academy at Elkton and studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1845 and commenced his practice in Elkton. Alexander Evans was elected as a Whig to the 30th, 31st, and 32nd Congresses (March 4, 1847-March 3, 1853). He thereafter continued to practice law in Elkton until his death on December 5, 1888. He had one son with his wife Mary Manly, Alexander Evans Jr. (1861-1915).

Alexander's younger brother, Andrew Wallace Evans, was born on July 6, 1829. He received his early education at Elkton Academy before going on to Harvard College. In 1848, he entered the United States Military Academy at West Point, and graduated on July 1, 1852. Upon leaving West Point, Captain Evans was assigned to the United States Cavalry and served in Indian Territory and later, under General Albert Sidney Johnston, in the Utah War (also known as the Mormon War or the Mormon Rebellion). On February 21, 1862, Evans was promoted to Major, and spent many months inspecting Union Army outposts in New Mexico. On December 1, 1863, Evans was commissioned Colonel in the 1st Maryland Cavalry, and served with the Army of the Potomac in the battles of Deep Run, Darbeytown Road, New Market Heights, Dinwiddie Court House, Five Forks, and Petersburg. Col. Evans was reportedly in the saddle at Appomattox Court House when General Lee surrendered on April 9, 1865.

After the Civil War, Evans continued to serve, and was commissioned major in the 3rd United States Cavalry on May 10, 1867. In 1868, he served in New Mexico as an integral part of General Philip Sheridan's campaign against the Kiowa and Comanche tribes. On Christmas Day 1868, Major Evans led an attack on an Indian camp on the Red River. For this action, he was breveted a lieutenant colonel. Throughout the 1870s, he served in Nevada, Arizona, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Wyoming, during several of the Indian clashes with the government. After a fight with the Apaches at Big Dry Wash on July 17, 1882, Lt. Col. Evans announced his decision to retire. He returned home to Elkton and in 1886, married Susan Tuite (1851-1908). Four years later in 1890, the United States Army breveted Evans as brigadier general for his actions at Big Dry Wash. During the years of his retirement, he enjoyed researching his family's genealogy, and spent many years in correspondence with distant family members. General Evans died on April 24, 1906 at the age of 77, after suffereing for some years from Bright's disease.

Mary Evans, the sister of Alexander and Andrew Wallace Evans, was born on February 12, 1833 in Elkton. In 1861 she married James White Clayton (1834-1880), a politician from Delaware. The couple had one son together, Paul Clayton (1862-1932). On November 6, 1894, Paul Clayton married Helen Brown of Philadelphia. The couple had two children, Mary Evans Clayton (1895-1992) and Barbara Lydia Clayton (1904-20001). Barbara married Walter Edwin Rex Jr. in 1923, and had two children, Barbara C. Rex Darsey (1924-2014) and Walter Edwin Rex III (1927-2010). Mrs. Darsey and Walter E. Rex III are the donors of this collection, having inherited the materials through the above line of descent.