James Canada Evans (1825 - 1903)

Born Jun 1825 in Winchester, Clark County, Kentucky, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Elizabeth (Hopkins) Evans — married 23 Mar 1852 in Scott County, Illinois, United States

Descendants

Died 5 Mar 1903 at age 77 in Bement, Piatt County, Illinois, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Eric Weddington [send private message]

Biography

James Evans served with the Illinois Volunteers during the Mexican-American War
Service Started: mmm dd, yyyy
Unit(s): 1st Regiment of Illinois Volunteers (12 months, 1846)
Service Ended: mmm dd, yyyy

"Bement, IL March 5 - At 6 o'clock this morning occurred the death of James C. Evans, a pioneer of this county and a veteran of the Mexican war, the last Mexican veteran in Piatt county. The deceased was born in Winchester, Ky. in 1826, being 77 years old next June. Had he lived until March 23rd, he would have been married fifty-one years. His wife survives him. Thirteen children were born to this union, eight of whom survive. Mr. Evans came to this county in 1855 or 1856 and lived on his farm west of town for about fourteen years since which time he has lived in town. He was engaged in the hardware business one year and then engaged in the lumber business under the name of Vaughn and Evans in 1868 and in 1892 this partnership was dissolved by mutual consent. His partner, D. Vaughn, died about nine years afterward. After a successful partnership business for thirty-three years he continued the business under the name of Evans & Son, J.O. Evans being the junior partner. His death was brought on by falling into the cellar on last Monday after lamp light."

Decatur, IL Review March 5, 1903 p7

"James C. Evans, formerly a farmer, but in 1880, a lumber merchant at Bement, Illinois." ^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ Case: No. 4068, pages 561, 668.

• "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M85S-5VH : accessed 12 April 2016), James Evans in household of Hezekiah Evans, Scott county, part of, Scott, Illinois, United States; citing family 273, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
  • James C. Evans has been added as a son to Hezekiah Evans. There is a reference of a marriage of James C. Evans to Mary E. Hopkins in Scott, Illinois. James' birth year (given by other references) also matches closely to this 1850 Census reference. Lastly, other references in James's profile match the move from Kentucky to Illinois. This is all perhaps inferred, but it's a strong correlation.

• "Illinois Marriages, 1815-1935," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V2PD-S54 : accessed 12 April 2016), James C. Evans and Mary E. Hopkins, 23 Mar 1852; citing Scott,Illinois; FHL microfilm 1,311,774.

• "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXH8-LYY : 30 December 2015), James Evans, 1860.

• "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6HR-NKF : 17 October 2014), James Evans, Illinois, United States; citing p. 13, family 82, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 545,767.

• "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXKQ-BL6 : accessed 12 April 2016), James C Evens, Bement, Piatt, Illinois, United States; citing enumeration district ED 175, sheet 177A, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0242; FHL microfilm 1,254,242.
  • Note: The last name is transcribed incorrectly.
  • Occupation: Lumber Dealer

• "United States Mexican War Pension Index, 1887-1926," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8H7-8X8 : accessed 12 April 2016), James C Evans, 1887; citing Pension, Illinois, NARA microfilm publication T317 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 537,004.

• "United States Mexican War Pension Index, 1887-1926," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8H7-8XD : accessed 12 April 2016), James C Evans, 1903; citing Pension, Illinois, NARA microfilm publication T317 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 537,004.
  • His wife is listed as widow on the Mexican war pension index in 1903.
  • Listed as Private, "Montgomery's Cal, Ill Vols"

• Robarts, William Hugh, Mexican War veterans : a complete roster of the regular and volunteer troops in the war between the United States and Mexico, from 1846 to 1848 ; the volunteers are arranged by states, alphabetically. Published 1887. Pages 43-44.
  • Lists a Captain Samuel Montgomery in the 1st Regiment of Illinois volunteers.
  • Note that Hezekiah Evans, presumably his father, is listed as a First Lieutenant in the same Regiment, page 44.

• "Illinois, County Marriages, 1810-1934," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK92-GXMC : accessed 12 April 2016), James Canada Evans in entry for Darl Evans and Cadus Turner Burns, 23 Jun 1898; citing Piatt, Illinois, United States, county offices, Illinois; FHL microfilm 988,100.

• "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSH3-QSB : 6 March 2015), James C Evans, Bement Township Bement village, Piatt, Illinois, United States; citing sheet 8B, family 205, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,240,336.

• "Illinois Deaths and Burials, 1749-1999", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HK7H-33ZM : 14 February 2020), James C. Evans, 1903.

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/63826420/james-canada-evans: accessed 18 October 2022), memorial page for James Canada Evans (Jun 1825–5 Mar 1903), Find a Grave Memorial ID 63826420, citing Bement Cemetery, Bement, Piatt County, Illinois, USA; Maintained by Jeanine (contributor 47391467) .

• "Illinois, County Marriages, 1810-1934," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KFKD-47P : 3 March 2016), James C. Evans in entry for James O. Evans and Edna F. Keller, 13 Sep 1903; citing Effingham, Illinois, United States, county offices, Illinois; FHL microfilm 1,010,048.

• "Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NQS3-4NG : accessed 12 April 2016), James C. Evans in entry for Charles Evans, 01 Feb 1930; Public Board of Health, Archives, Springfield; FHL microfilm 1,643,654.

• "California Death Index, 1940-1997," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VPCX-RW4 : 26 November 2014), Evans in entry for James O Evans, 27 Sep 1942; Department of Public Health Services, Sacramento.

• Case, Lafayette. The Hollister Family of America (Fergus Printing Co., Chicago, 1886)

• Descendant List of Joseph Hollister (A056755)

• https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/12348282/person/13945227581/facts

Research Notes

Could this be a match?:

• "Illinois State Census, 1855," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:61TG-PMM : 8 November 2014), James Evans, Township 3S Range 8E-Township 5S Range 14W, White, Illinois; citing p. 112, State Archives, Springville; FHL microfilm 977,063.

Other "James Evans" entries in the 1855 Illinois Census have larger number of family members, which don't match. This needs more research.

Family Artifacts

A straight razor, with a note indicating that it was from the time of the Mexican-American War, and a Naval shotgun, which has been identified by a gunsmith as being from the Mexican-American War, is in the possession of a direct descendant, Nancy Russell. It is believed that these were from James Evans.