William B. Evans, a well known, progressive and prosperous agriculturist of Bethlehem township, was born on the old homestead farm in this county on the 27th of December, 1867, his parents being Alexander and Mahala A. (Cochrell) Evans. Daniel Evans, the paternal grandfather, settled in Monroe township, Coshocton county, Ohio, in 1842. His family numbered nine children , as follows: Elizabeth, Mary, Martha, Matthew, Alexander, Albert, Alfred, William and John. The year 1838 witnessed the arrival of the Cochrell family in this county, the grandmother of our subject walking the entire distance from Woodsfield, Ohio. She carried in her arms her little daughter, Mahala A., and on the journey she stopped and rested for a while among the Indians at Gnadenhutten. After arriving in Coshocton county she settled at Roscoe, where she made her home until the marriage of her daughter, Mahala A., to Alexander Evans on the 16th of March, 1858.

Alexander Evans, the father of our subject, was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, December 24, 1835, and took up his abode on a farm in Bethlehem township, Coshocton county, in 1868, residing on that place until called to his final rest on the 10th of July, 1894. He carried on farming and stock-raising throughout his active business career and met with a gratifying measure of success in his undertakings, being widely recognized as a substantial and enterprising agriculturist of his community. A loyal supporter of the Union, he enlisted in 1862 as a member of Company K, Nineteenth Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and went with General Sherman on the march to the sea. He received his discharge at Nashville, Tennessee, in 1865, returning home with a most creditable military record. His brother, William Evans, who was a member of the Fifty-first Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry, was captured at Chickamauga and incarcerated in Libby and Andersonville prisons, his death occurring at the latter place. Alexander Evans upheld the candidates of the republican party where national issues were involved but at local elections cast an independent ballot, supporting the man whom he believed best fitted for the office in question. He capably served his fellow townsmen in the position of assessor and was a member of the school board for fifteen years, the cause of education ever finding in him a stalwart champion. Though not a member of any religious denomination, he usually attended the services of the Methodist church and was a man whose upright, honorable career commanded the regard and esteem of all with whom he was associated. His wife, whose birth occurred in Monroe county, Ohio, March 16, 1835, passed away on the 10th of June, 1904.

William B. Evans, whose name initiates this review, attended the schools of his home locality until sixteen years of age and received a certificate to teach school, which he held for eight successive years. He never followed the profession, however, as his assistance was needed in the work of the home farm. His entire life has been spent on the old homestead where he was born and in cultivation and development he is still successfully engaged, the fields annually yielding golden harvests as a regard for the care and labor which he bestows upon them.

On the 8th of October, 1892, Mr. Evans was united in marriage to Miss Emma Mullet, a daughter of N.J. and Mary Ann (Mullet) Mullet, who are mentioned in another page of this work. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Evans have been born seven children, namely: Katie Oka, Mary Ellie, Mona Belle, Russsell Otis, Charlotte Goldie and William Owen, all at home; and Harold Orlando, who died in infancy.

Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Evans has given his political allegiance to the men and measures of the democracy and has been the efficient incumbent in the offices of township clerk and assessor. while for twelve successive years he acted as a member of the school board. He and his family are all devoted members of the Methodist church, in the work of which they take an active and helpful interest. He was early trained to habits of industry, enterprise and integrity, and these have proven strong elements in the success which has come to him and which entitles him to representation among the prosperous and well known citizens of his native county.
 
 

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