My Genealogy Hound

BENJAMIN EVANS, senior partner in the firm of B. Evans & Brother, coal dealers at Norristown, located at George street and Stony Creek Railroad and at Main Street Station, was born in Lykens, Pennsylvania, October 3, 1866. He is the son of Benjamin (deceased), and Mary Ann (Thomas) Evans, both of whom were born in southern Wales, he at Blanavon and she at Tredeger. The couple had seven children, four sons and three daughters, four of whom are now living, as follows: Margaret, wife of Isaac Jervis; Miss Catharine Evans, Benjamin and William, all of Norristown.

Benjamin Evans (father) was a coal miner in Wales, who came to America in 1855, and located in Virginia, near the Maryland line, engaging in the occupation of coal-mining there for about two years. He then came to Conshohocken where resided his uncle, William Davis, who operated the blast furnace there. Benjamin Evans married at Conshohocken, a few months after his arrival, he having known Miss Thomas, who became his wife, in the old country. He afterwards worked in Harrisburg and various places, and the last twenty-five years of his life were spent in Norristown, where he established a coal-yard, and in conjunction with his two sons, built a number of houses. He died in Norristown, April 25, 1899, aged sixty-six years. His wife survives him and is now seventy-five years of age. She is an Episcopalian and he was a Baptist. He was a lifelong Republican and was an active worker in its behalf.

Evan Evans (grandfather) was a native of Wales. He was a coal miner and came to America in 1857, living in Lykens, Pennsylvania, where he died in his seventy-seventh year. His wife was Kitty Davis. They had a large family of children.

William Thomas (maternal grandfather), was a native of Wales. He came to the United States in 1853, and instructed his son-in-law, William Davis, in the blast-furnace business at Conshohocken. He first settled at Farnsville when the country was very wild and was infested with wolves and bears. He died at Conshohocken, aged ninety-one years, and was buried at Merion Square. He was a large man, six feet, two inches in height. His wife was Katie Powell, daughter of Thomas Powell, a tanner in Breckon, South Wales.

William Thomas and wife had ten or eleven children. The oldest son’s name was John. He went to London and died there of cholera. William Powell’s wife was buried at Trededwyn churchyard. She died at the age of fifty-two years.

Benjamin Evans, born at Lykens, was six years old when his parents left that place. He came from Lykens, to Matsunk, now Swedeland, and lived there from 1871 to 1873, his parents removing from Swedeland to Mahanoy City in Schuylkill county. Benjamin Evans attended the public schools there until ten years of age and then went to work, picking slate from the coal in the breaker. On February 22, 1879, he came with his father’s family to Norristown, where he worked in a cotton factory until 1882. On reaching early manhood, he began work as a contractor, digging cellars, quarrying stone, and doing other work of that kind. His father’s health failed and Mr. Evans and his father engaged in the coal business at the corner of Marshall and Kohn streets, and for the past eight years he and his brother William have been together in business as partners. The firm are builders as well as coal dealers and own several valuable properties in Norristown. They have erected many handsome residences in West Norristown, and are among the most prosperous business men of the county.

He is not identified with any church but is a Baptist in religious faith. Politically he is a Republican and occupied the position of councilman from the seventh ward. Mr. Evans resides in a substantial brick residence, No. 719 George street, built in 1866.