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biography from Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
CAPT. JOSEPH H. EVANS is a well-known farmer residing upon section 2, of Jefferson Township. He is a native of Maryland, born Aug. 10, 1822, and is a son of Jacob and Mary Evans, both of whom were natives of Wales. His father died when he was one year old, and his mother when he was twelve years of age. He was then taken by an uncle, Jesse Evans, who lived in Tippecanoe County, Ind., where he spent his youth and worked in a mill until 1854. Capt. Evans was married in 1844, to Lucy A. Gerard, a native of Indiana, born Dec. 30, 1827, and a daughter of Joseph and Ann (Dollison) Gerard. Nine children were born to them: Mary J., born Sept. 19, 1845, is now the wife of Joseph Blakeslee, of Des Moines City; Harvey P., born Jan. 3, 1848, by profession a school teacher and farmer, died June 9, 1877; Alonzo T., born in La Porte, Ind., April 18, 1850, died July 2, 1878; Charles P., born Oct. 12, 1852, died Aug. 7, 1860; Jesse A., born in Jones County, Iowa, Sept. 30, 1856, is now engaged in teaching and farming in this county; Eleanor, born in Jones County, Iowa, Jan. 23, 1859, is now the wife of J. G. Harrold, a farmer of Des Moines Township; Edward M., a twin brother of Eleanor, is a farmer and school teacher in this county; Ann, born April 9, 1862; Joseph Howard, born in Mahaska County, Nov. 6, 1869, died Aug. 13, 1871. Mrs. Evans died March 3, 1881. She was a member of the Universalist Church, of which body Capt. Evans is also a member. Mr. Evans was again united in marriage Nov. 25, 1886, choosing as a companion Sarah M. Timms, daughter of Richard and Elizabeth (Bibbee) Timms, both of whom were natives of West Virginia. On the 12th of August, 1862, Mr. Evans enlisted in Co. G, 31st Iowa Vol. Inf., as a private, being promoted Captain March 31, 1863, and served as such through the war, taking part in the battles of Chickasaw, Walnut Hill, Port Gibson, Brush Creek, Raymond, Jackson, siege of Vicksburg forty-seven days, second battle of Jackson, Decatur, Tenn., Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, Delta, Resaca, Dallas, New Hope Church, Snake Creek, Kennesaw Mountain, Peach Orchard, Ackworth, Chattahoochee River, siege of Atlanta, ,Jonesboro, Lovejoy Station, and Bentonaville, N. C. After this last battle the regiment went to Washington and participated in the grand review. Capt. Evans was never off duty during the three years of his service. At the close of the war our subject returned to his home in Jones County, Iowa, and remained until the spring of 1869, when he came to Mahaska County, where he bought a farm of 180 acres of land on sections 1 and 2, Jefferson Township, where he has since continued to reside. His farm is well he has since continued to reside. His farm is well improved and the dwelling-house on it cost $2,200. While a resident of Jones County and before the war, Capt. Evans served eight years as Justice of the Peace. He was elected a member of the Lower House of the 18th General Assembly from Mahaska County, and served not only with credit to himself but to his constituents. At present he is a member of the Board of Supervisors. In politics he is a stanch Republican, believing in the principles of the party, which he is ready to defend upon any and every occasion. Socially he is a member of the Masonic fraternity.
Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
Mahaska County, Iowa Genealogy