Biographical Sketch of

Captain David Evans

Transcribed by Joan Benner for the Marquette Co WI Pages



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 339 - 342


CAPTAIN DAVID EVANS, one of the United States Revenue Marines, and a 
pioneer of the city of Berlin, whose portrait appears on the opposite 
page (page 338), was born on the 4th of July, 1817, in Merionethshire, 
North Wales, and is a son of David and Ellen (Roberts) Evans, who were 
also natives of the same country, and were descended from families of 
long established worth and high respectability. Our subject attended 
school at Harlich, a seaport town of his native county, and when fifteen 
years old, some time in the spring of 1832, went to sea. He served the 
most of his apprenticeship on the Swallow, of Carnarvon, sailing 
between Liverpool, Bangor, Carnarvon and New York in the emigrant trade. 
In 1837, when in his twenty-first year, he took command of a vessel 
sailing in the merchant service between Europe and America, and in 1840 
built the Gwen (or Winnifred) Evans, which was the first three-masted 
ship built in the principality of Wales. It sailed principally between 
Europe and Boston during the summer, making a voyage in the winter to 
some port on the Mediterranean Sea. On the 15th of December, 1844, that 
vessel was lost on Point Eunostus, or rather on an outline reef off that 
point, and just outside of the harbor at Alexandria, Egypt. The 
lighthouse, which has stood there from time immemorial, had been removed 
a few weeks previous to the misfortune, and no public statement made of it.

On his return home, in 1845, Capt. Evans, at the owner's request, went 
to Holland to rescue a valuable ship which had been stranded near Texel.

He succeeded admirably in his mission, rescuing the vessel, named the 
Jane and Eliza that for fourteen years was classed A1 at Lloyd's. 
Next he commanded the ships Northumberland and Oregon. In 
1847 the latter took 4,000 bales of cotton from New Orleans, and drawing 
eighteen feet of water stuck on the bar in the Southwest Pass. After 
several days' detention she was extricated, and proceeded to Liverpool. 
This was said to have been the heaviest cargo of cotton ever taken from 
the Crescent City to Europe in those days. In the latter part of 1849 
Capt. Evans, becoming tired of the Oregon negotiated for the bark 
Jane Tudor which had been newly built in Bath, Maine, and which 
was but a few hundred tons smaller than the Oregon. He fitted her 
up in elegant style, with all modern improvements, and chartered her for 
San Francisco with a general cargo and passengers. He made a very 
successful voyage around Cape Horn, reaching San Francisco in the height 
of the gold excitement in 1850. While many vessels lay in that port 
deserted by their crews, who had been lured from the fulfillment of their 
contracts with the lasters by the glittering temptation of sudden riches,
Capt. Evans' men remained true to him, and after discharging cargo took 
the vessel in its way. The Captain returned by the way of the west coast 
of South America and Cape Horn to Europe, whence he continued on his way 
to Bombay, India, retaining almost the same crew which had gone with him 
to San Francisco during the gold fever. After several long voyages he was 
induced to take command of the steamship Arno, of Liverpool, the 
first steamer which sailed from that port to the Mediterranean Sea.

Although in command of a beautiful ship and in a pleasant line of trade, 
Capt. Evans felt that he would enjoy a change. He had made many long 
voyages, and found his health impaired from sojourns in unhealthy 
climates so conceived the idea that he would go to the great West. In 
1853, much against the remonstrances of the owners of his ship in 
Liverpool, he left her and his beautiful home in Carnarvon, North Wales, 
and came to Wisconsin, joining his relatives who had preceded him several
years. He settled in Berlin, then Marquette County, in the summer of 1853,
and has since made his home in that community. Not readily finding help to
carry on a large farm, he bought a sawmill that had just been finished, 
and began the manufacture of lumber without delay. The great panic of 
1857 made the business outlook discouraging, and the captain again longed 
for the sea. He went to Boston where he bought and took command of the 
Chesapeake, of that city, a fine large bark, with which he sailed 
in the trade of the West Indies, the Gulf of Mexico and South America. 
Until the breaking out of the War of the Rebellion, when that line of 
travel proved uncertain and unprofitable, he chartered for England and 
took a cargo from Phildelphia to Her Majesty's Dock Yards, at Portsmouth, 
England. From there he sailed to Antiqua, West Indies, thence to the Bay 
of Honduras, where he loaded for the Queen's Dock Yards at Chatham, 
England. Being in London daily, he there learned of the defeat of the 
Union troops at the battle of Bull Run, and seeing that the affairs of 
the country were getting worse daily, he concluded to return home and 
offer his services to the Government. Consequently he went by Newcastle 
for coal to Boston, and immediately on arriving in that city, sold his 
ship and tendered his services to the navy department of the United 
States. He had an opportunity, which he accepted, to go out to the San 
Francisco mint with a friend, in charge fo some treasure. On arriving at 
San Francisco, he was appointed a member of the Naval Board, to examine 
some young officers at Port Townsend, and was there appointed a Third 
Lieutenant in the United States Revenue Marine Service, and remained on 
that side during the year. He then returned to the East for examination, 
and on his arrival at Washington was promoted to the rank of Second 
Lieutenant, with the promise of further promotion if he could pass a 
higher examination. He then went on board the frigate Savannah, but
having passed an examination for First Lieutenant, was ordered to the 
steam craft Naugautuck, and thence to the command of the new 
revenue steam cutter Kewaunee, built at Baltimore by Robb & Co. A 
few days after assuming command, a fear was expressed by the citizens of 
Baltimore that a raid would be made by the rebel, Gilmore, and the 
authorities expected the Captain to place the ship in the best position 
to defend the city. There were no commissioned officers on board except 
Mr. Evans, but he had a good set of warrant officers and a few good men 
were sent him from Washington. He consulted Gen. Morris, by whom he was 
supplied with fixed ammunition for his eight 24-pounders, Dahlgren,
and some for the 30-pounder Parrot. He hauled the ship to the 
stream and put springs on his cable. Picking out an efficient crew in the 
custom house and around the streets, he drilled them until they were 
excellent gunners, and kept them under arms three or four days. In the 
meantime, all the banks in the city sent their treasure abroad, and the 
custom house placed $500,000 under the care of Capt. Evans. In all, the 
treasure of which he had charge amounted to 13,000,000, which was in 
strong casks that he stowed in the new magazine. They were now ready to 
receive Gilmore, but he did not make his appearance, so Capt. Evans 
disbanded his hastily gathered crew, and returned to Gen. Morris his 
ammunition, and to the banks and custom house their moneys. Shortly 
afterward, he received on board all the necessary ammunition and small 
arms as well as several commissioned officers, and was prepared for active
duty. But a short time had elapsed, when he was ordered to New York, where
he was assigned ot special duty and detached from the ship. After several 
months he was ordered to the command of the Verona, and later the 
Tiger, and was on the latter vessel when the news of the 
assassination of President Lincoln reached him. Some time later he was 
assigned t the position of executive officer of the Cuyahoga, with 
Capt. Faunce. About the same time the Salmon P. Chase was 
completed, it being one of six sidewheel steamers for the inland lakes, 
and this one was designed for Lake Ontario. Capt. Cornell, who 
superintended their building, made application to the department for Capt.
Evans to take her up with him to Ogdensburg, New York, by way of Quebec 
and Montreal; which he did, arriving late in the fall of 1865. He was 
then ordered by telegraph to Baltimore, Md., to take the steamer John A. Dix 
thence to Key West, Fla. The following spring he was ordered to the 
New Dix at Detroit. While there, the revenue steamer 
Johnson, in command of Capt. Francis Martin, came there to take 
Gen. Sherman's staff to Lake Michigan, but by permission of the 
department, Capt. Evans made a change with the executive officer of the 
Johnson, who paid all expenses, although Capt. Evans got the best 
of the bargain, as he, by this arrangement, went to his home port. In 
that way he became placed on the station of Milwaukee and Lake Michigan, 
where he served so many years afterward at different times. In the spring 
of 1867 he was promoted to captaincy and was ordered to the old cutter 
Morris in Mobile Bay. The Morris needed repairs, and the 
Captain was ordered to take her to Baltimore, where she was condemned and 
sold. In the summer of 1869 he went to San Francisco on his way to Alaska,
in accordance with instructions, and after considerable detention in that 
city, obtained transportation for Sitka, Alaska, arriving at his 
destination fourteen days out. He then relieved Capt. Henriques of command
of the steamer Lincoln, and immediately prepared for a cruise in 
the Behring Sea. He visited all the Aleutian and Seal Islands. At St. 
Paul's, where most of the seals are caught, he remained several days, and 
during that time he had the misfortune to lose a boat's crew of five good 
men, by the capsizing of a gig in which they were going ashore for their 
captain. 
   
Capt. Evans cruised in that city during the season, visiting Onalaska 
several times, and n the fall went to Sitka, where he spent the winter. 
In the spring he was obliged to go to San Francisco for repairs, and in 
the summer of 1870 was ordered to Milwaukee to command the Johnson,
of which he had charge several years. He rebuilt the ship in Milwaukee, 
and was relieved by Capt. Davis in 1882, at which time he was sent to 
command the Commodore Perry, with headquarters at Erie, Pa. He held
a survey of her the following winter, and reported advising a new iron 
cutter; and they now have on that station one of the finest cutters 
afloat. In 1883 he was ordered to Galveston, Tex., to command the steam 
cutter McLean and cruised from the Rio Grande to New Orleans. he 
was subsequently transferred to the steam cutter W. H. Seward, on 
the same coast, where he continued until April 15, 1885, when, his health 
finally having become impaired from climatic causes, he was detached from 
the Seward on waiting orders, since which time he has been at home.
On leaving his ship, Capt. Evans was presented by his subordinate officers
with an elegant gold-headed cane, bearing an appropriate inscription 
expressive of their warm regard.

The parents of the Captain emigrated with their children from Wales to 
the United States, in 1846, and settled at Columbus, Wis., whence, in 
1850, they removed to Berlin. There was a large family of children, seven 
sons and four daughters, of whom only four are now living--Capt. David 
and three brothers. Mr. Evans was a farmer by occupation, a Republican 
in politics, and a very worthy man. His death occurred in April, 1854, 
and his estimable wife survived her husband but a few years. They are 
buried side by side in the Berlin Cemetery.

Capt. Evans has been twice married, and both times in his native country. 
He was married, in 1841, to Miss Catherine Morris, daughter of William 
Morris, and one child, Ellen, was born, but the mother and daughter both 
died in 1843. In February 1845, the Captain wedded Miss Ellen Lloyd, 
daughter of Capt. Richard Lloyd, and four children were born of their 
union, two sons and two daughters. David, the eldest, wedded Miss Mary 
Thomas, and is farming near Berlin. Richard L. is unmarried, and resides 
with his parents. Elizabeth is the wife of J. C. Fairweather, of 
Minneapolis. Nettie A. married Charles B. Wadleigh, of Minneapolis. Capt. 
Evans and his family are members of the Presbyterian church of Berlin. 
The Captain is a Republican in the broadest sense of the word, and is an 
earnest advocate of the broad principles of human liberty on which the 
government and the institutions of the country are founded. During all 
the years in which he has served the Government he has proved a most 
competent and trusty officer, and has been so zealous and prudent in the 
discharge of duty that he has never through any fault of his caused the 
Government the loss of a dollar's worth of property; while his ability, 
fidelity and integrity have always commanded the confidence and respect 
of the department officers under whom he has served. He has had a wide 
and varied experience of the world, having visited in the course of his 
seafaring life many ports of civilized nations, and some countries of the 
uncivilized and barbarous. He is a man ripe in the experience of the sea,
a skilled navigator and thorough seamen. His success in his chosen 
vocation, which has been marked, has been won by careful study, keen 
observation and close application, together with an earnest and 
conscientious endeavor to do his whole duty under all circumstances, 
both by his employers and his crew. Following the natural humane impulses 
of his heart, he has seldom, if ever, failed to win the utmost confidence 
and respect of his officers and men by showing due regard for their 
comfort and welfare, while treating all with justice, kindness and 
firmness. While in his seventy-third year, Capt. Evans is still hale 
and hearty, with mental faculties in full vigor, and to the casual 
observer would appear but little past his prime. Should his return to 
active service be required, it is evident that he would again tread the 
quarter-deck with as firm a step as ever. The Captain has a fine farm of 
sixty-four acres, situated within the city of Berlin, near the western 
limits, with a tasty and commodius residence facing Broadway, which is 
situated in well-kept grounds, shaded by forest trees. In this pleasant 
home he is content to pass his well-earned hours of ease in the company 
of his family and friends.








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