The Pioneer Spirit Lived On in the Children of Pierce and Mary Ann Evans - Alvaro, Orlando and Allen -1

 Of the eleven children of Pierce and Mary Ann Braucher Evans, six decided to go West to try their fortune: Orlando, Alvaro, Allen, John Newton, Alphonso and Mary Ann Evans Arrowsmith.  (Only one, Reynaldo/Rinaldo, stayed home and farmed his father's land.  Three children died young: Helen at three months, Horatio at 21 and Frederick at 2 years.  Nancy married James Cheney and they lived in the Fort Wayne area.)  Those who settled in the West became quite successful. They often partnered up for investments.

Alvaro was the first to try his luck in 1850 when he traveled to California from Ohio by ship, cruising around Panama.  His first interest was mining in Nevada and he formed a mining company there.  His obituary described his accomplishments in the Reno Evening Gazette of January 26, 1915: 

"FUNERAL OF AGED PIONEER HELD AT HOME

Alvaro Evans Laid to Rest in Masonic Cemetery With Simple Ceremony.  Associates of Early Days in Role of Pall Bearers at Obsequies.

In the presence of only the members of the family and of a group of pioneers selected to serve as pall bearers, the funeral of Alvaro Evans, the Nevada pioneer, was held this afternoon at the residence, 707 West Seventh Street.
By request of the family there were no flowers and the ceremony was unusually simple and quiet because of the serious illness of both Mrs. Evans, the widow, and Mrs. William Sharon, daughter of the dead pioneer.  Rev. Brewster Adams, pastor of the Baptist Church, officiated, and interment was in the Masonic Cemetery.

Oldest Mason in State

Mr. Evans was the oldest Mason in the state, it is believed.  He joined the order in early life in Ohio, and he was 88 years old when he died.

Edward Barber, who came to Nevada in 1875 and who had been an intimate friend of Alvaro Evans, was in charge of the securing of the pallbearers today.  After the list had been completed, he nominated himself, as honorary pallbearer because H. J. Pratt, an old friend of Alvaro Evans, wished to be included as an active bearer.  

When Mr. Barber came to Reno, Alvaro Evans was residing on the Constantia ranch in Long Valley.  The men who served at the funeral today as pallbearers were then engaged in ranching near Reno.  On the list were Dan Wheeler, William McKay, John Horn, H. J. Pratt, Alfred Nelson, Joe Blackburne and Howard Barber.

Gave Hearst His Start

Some of the old timers who knew Alvaro Evans recall that it was he who gave Senator George Hearst his start toward a great fortune.  Evans and another man secured options to Virginia City miners and permitted Hearst to join with them. Hearst then began to acquire the fortune which later figured in his own prominence in California.

According to a history of Nevada published about 15 years ago, Alvaro Evans made a great fortune as manager of the Buckeye Hill Mining Company in Nevada county, California.  After coming west in 1850, he took charge of the property and directed the driving of a tunnel that required eight years to complete.  Over a million and a half dollars were taken from the property before it was sold for $200,000.  Mr. Evans managed the mine for 10 years, but in 1859, he took up cattle raising as a side line and went to Iowa, where he bought stock that he drove over the plains to Lassen county, Cal.

Formerly in Humboldt

Some years later, Mr. Evans branched out in the cattle business by purchasing stock in Texas for extensive ranches he had purchased in Humboldt county, Nev.  He formerly owned a quarter section of land in the northwest part of Reno and 860 acres in ranches south of Reno.

Alvaro Evans was a veteran of the Mexican war, although he did not see actual service, his regiment going no farther than the Texas border.

                                                    Old Reno, Nevada

The oldest son, Orlando, called "General," was a postmaster in Defiance from 1842 - 1845, also serving as Clerk of Courts, Recorder, and in other county offices.  In the 1850 census, he was listed as a merchant, but the gold rush was tempting, and off he went west with his family in 1851. His story was told in the Nevada State Journal of August 21, 1897 and in the Reno Evening Gazette of August 20, 1897.

From the Evening Gazette: 

"GENERAL ORLANDO EVANS PASSED AWAY THIS MORNING

General Orlando Evans, a pioneer of California and Nevada, died at the residence of his brother, Alvaro Evans, at 5:30 this morning.  General Evans has been ailing for many months, but only took his bed two weeks ago Sunday.  His great age prevented him from rallying, and the Destroyer claimed him at an early hour this morning and his spirit returned to the God who gave it.

But few men have a more interesting history than General Evans.  He was born in Washington Co., Ohio, on January 22, 1818, and was the oldest of eleven children, four of whom are still alive - Alvaro Evans, J.N. Evans, A.A. Evans and Mrs. Mary Arrowsmith.  In 1838, he was married to Miss Louisa Woodward, and two children were the fruits of the union, one of whom, Mrs. Bennett A. Prior, is living and was at his death bed.

General Evans was engaged in business in Defiance, Ohio, for many years and is closely identified with the early days of that commonwealth.  He was an honored and respected citizen of Ohio until 1851, when imbued with the ambition of the hardy pioneers who came to California in the early days, General Evans came to the coast and settled in French Corral, Calif. where he did a prosperous business.  

Then he removed in 1864 to Buckeye Hill, Nevada Co., where he located a mine which was subsequently sold to an English syndicate and General Evans became very wealthy, but, like many others, let it get away from him."

                      Orlando Evans tombstone, Masonic Cemetery, Reno, Nevada

The other obituary added that he had served as Clerk of Courts, a four year term as Postmaster and was serving as Deputy Assessor upon his death.  It was noted that he thought money should be used for the betterment of humanity and helped others freely. His funeral was held at the home of his brother, John Newton Evans.

Allen Braucher Evans, the fifth son and seventh child of Pierce, arrived in California in 1853, settling in San Francisco.  His mission was to buy California land.  His first partner was a Pitt River Native American woman named Suzi Wilie-Kol-Kold Jack. A marriage record was found for them in 1866. They had two children: George que eom I goos Evans, called George, and a daughter, Edna Evans. His second partner was Mrs. Margaret (Frank) Cummings, married in 1880, and they had one daughter together, Edith Mary.

His obituary appeared in the Reno Evening Gazette on December 20, 1890, on page 1:

"DEATH OF ALLEN EVANS

An Old Pioneer Gone to Rest After an Eventful Life

The sad news of the death of Allen B. Evans, formerly of Long Valley, but now of San Francisco, was received here this morning.  He died last night after being confined to his bed for several months past.  He had lost the use of his lower limbs, and was almost helpless.  

He leaves a wife, a sister, Mrs. Mary E. Arrowsmith, and three brothers, Newton, Alvaro, and A. A. Evans of Reno to mourn his loss.  Pete (Alphonso) Evans and Mrs. Arrowsmith leave for San Francisco tonight.

Mr. Evans was born in Ohio on the 7th day of April, 1832.  He came to Long Valley in 1859, and with his brothers, Alvaro and Newt, were among the first settlers of that section.  For years they lived there and endured the privations of the pioneer, and made for themselves a lovely and happy home.

About seven years ago, the place was sold to John M. Rhodes, when Mr. Evans took up his residence in San Francisco, where he has since resided.

He was buried in the now defunct Laurel Hills Cemetery.  His remains were removed to another cemetery, unnamed.

Newspaper reports showed that the brothers did not always agree.  Allen once sued Alvaro for $80,000, and a fight ensued over portions of the Reno Water Company and fields of alfalfa that were next to each other.  Other times, they pooled their money for land or investments and seemed to get along.  But they were all businessmen who watched their money.

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Pierce Evans, Early Settler and War of 1812 Veteran

 

Pierce Evans was an early settler in Richland Township, Defiance County, as early as 1823, when the area was still in Henry County.  

Born on August 28, 1793, in Bourbon County, Kentucky, he enlisted in the Ohio Militia of Volunteers in September, 1812, for 30 days.  He was in the Company of Captain Moses Patterson, discharged in October, 1812.  

The next year he reenlisted in July 1813, into the Company of Captain Hugh Rogers and Colonel Keys for a 40 day term.  Pierce served from July 29 to August 26, not a full term.  The War of 1812 was fought against the British and some of the Native Americans as a protest against Britain's restrictions on our trade and their impressment of our seamen.  They would take our men from American merchant ships and force them to serve on British ships. 

It was said that Pierce Evans liked the Defiance area so much when he was stationed in Ohio that he came back to it to settle.

At some point upon his return from war, he married Mary Ann Braucher. A marriage record could not be found, but an estimate for the marriage date would be between 1814 and 1817, considering the age of their eldest child in the Federal Census of 1830.

In the early censuses of 1830 and 1840, the couple were found in Richland Township, Henry County, as Defiance County was not formed until 1843. In the Federal Census of 1850, Pierce, 56, and Mary, 50, Evans were in Richland Township, Defiance County on July 26, 1850.  He was farming real estate worth $12,250.  His son, Horatio, 18, was helping on the farm.  His other children at home included: Allen B., 16; John N., 13; Mary A., 11; Alphonse B., 8 and Elizabeth (Evans) Wank, 21, and her husband, Jacob Wank, 20 who also helped with the farming.

In the year 1850, Pierce Evans also applied for the bounty land due to him for his service in the War of 1812.  A law had been passed in 1850 allowing these grants. On December 9, 1850, Pierce wrote a letter to the court requesting this land as follows:

"The State of Ohio, County of Defiance

On this 9th day of December A.D. 1850 personally appeared before me, a Justice of the Peace within and for the county and state aforesaid, Pierce Evans, aged 57 years, a resident of Defiance county in the state of Ohio, who being duly sworn according to the law, declares that he is the identical Pierce Evans who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Moses Patterson in the First Regiment of Ohio Volunteers commanded by Colonel Samuel Findley in the war with Great Britain declared by the United States on the 18th day of June 1812, that he volunteered at Hillsborough, Highland County, Ohio on or about the 13th day of September A.D. 1812 for the term of 30 days (under the call of General Harrison for volunteers to furnish their own horses, guns, provisions, etc. in consideration of which they were to have the credit of a 6 months term) and continued in actual service in said war for the whole of his said term and was honorably discharged at Urbana, Ohio (though he thinks his discharge was written and dated at Hillsborough after they got home) on the 12th day of October A.D. 1812, as will appear by the muster rolls of said company.

And that he is the identical Pierce Evans who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Hugh Rogers in the Regiment of Ohio Volunteers commanded by Colonel William Keys in the War with Great Britain declared by the United States on the 18th of June 1812, that he volunteered at Hillsborough, Highland County, Ohio on or about the 29th day of July A.D. 1813 for the term of 40 days and continued in actual service in said company for the term of 25 or 30 days and was honorably discharged at Upper Sandusky in the latter part of August A.D. 1815 as will appear by the muster rolls of said company and he further states that both of his original certificates of discharge, one lost or so miss laid that he cannot find them.

He makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the bounty land to certain officers and soldiers who have been engaged in the military service of the United States, passed September 28, 1850."   His signature:

 

It should also be noted that Pierce Evans received Homestead Land before his Bounty Land, beginning in 1824 with 82.02 acres; in 1835, 35 acres and 80 acres; in 1837, 80 acres and last in 1837, another 80 acres, his already established farm.

Hence, in the 1860 Federal Census in Richland Township, the value of his land jumped to $22,250.  Pierce, 65, and Mary, 59, lived with just their youngest son, Alfonso, 21, who worked on the farm, and daughter, Mary.  Several men worked as laborers on the farm, and Dora Schultz, 25, worked as a servant.  

The agricultural census of June 18, 1850, in Richland Township noted that Pierce had: 100 acres improved, 700 acres unimproved, 2 oxen, 10 other cattle, 203 sheep, 40 swine, 450 bushels of wheat, 2000 bushels of corn, 200 bushels of oats, and 250 pounds of wool.  The value of the farm was 22,000.

Their children numbered eleven, beginning with the oldest son, Orlando, followed by Reynaldo, Helen, Nancy, Alvaro, Horatio, Allen, John Newton "Newt", Alphonso, Mary Ann and Frederick Richard.

Both Pierce and Mary Ann died in 1862. Pierce died on January 15th, and Mary Ann died on January 22. An obituary for Pierce appeared in the Defiance Democrat on January 18, 1862.

"Died on Wednesday past, January 15th, after a short illness, in the 69th year of his age.  *Judge Evans was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, August 28, 1793.  He settled on the Maumee in 1822, and since 1825 has resided on the farm near Defiance which he entered and improved.  He was thrifty, upright and a respected citizen.  The funeral will take place today, Saturday, at one o'clock p.m., at the Presbyterian church."

*Pierce also served as an associate judge in probate court in Defiance.

Pierce had written his will in August of 1850, and it was filed for probate in Defiance County on June 20, 1862.  In it, he gave to his wife, Mary Ann, two farms in Richland Township and all the household goods, stock and farming implements for her natural life for the support of her and the minor children.  To sons Horatio, Allen, John, Alphonso and daughter, Mary Ann, he gave $1,000.

To his children, Orlando, Rinaldo, Nancy B. and Alvaro, he gave $1.00  After paying expenses of his sickness and funeral, the rest would be divided.  He gave them the right to sell land excepting the two farms for Mary Ann, containing about 800 acres.  

After Mary Ann died quickly after Pierce, the executors moved to have a farm sale.

Both Pierce and Mary Ann were buried in the Old Riverside Cemetery in Defiance, Old Section A, Lot 30

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