Bishop David Evans and His Family

Foreword

Bishop David Evans of Lehi--spiritual leader, confidant and emissary of the Prophet Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, colonizer, legislator, military commander, mayor--had a profound influence on events in the early history of the Mormon Church and the settlement of the West.

The purpose of this book is to preserve for posterity some of the intimate details about the life, activities and accomplishments of this rugged pioneer leader and his family.

The book is not a history. It is not a biography. Rather, it is a collection of available miscellaneous writings, photographs, and genealogical information relating to David Evans, his wives and children, and approximately 5000 descendants.

The personal history summaries of David Evans' wives and children were written personally by them, or by members of their immediate families who were familiar with the facts and circumstances described. Space limitations prevented including similar summaries for descendants beyond the second generation, and beyond the third generation in the family of David's first wife, Mary Beck.

Practical considerations also precluded the listing of complete genealogical information on all descendants whose names appear in this volume. However, for the researcher, sufficient data is given in the Genealogical Section to trace the lineage of each descendant, and to provide a lead into the more comprehensive compilation contained in the official records of the David Evans Family Association.

In scheduling the preparatory work on this project, it was necessary to establish February 1, 1971 as the closing date for statistical data in both the personal histories and the Genealogical Section. Data on descendants who died in infancy is included only in the latter section.

The Committee recognizes that no information is included for some descendants. It has worked diligently to avoid these gaps, but without success. All information submitted has been used.

For accuracy of content in personal history summaries, and of names and dates in the Genealogical Section, the Committee has relied primarily on the knowledge and careful work of family members who prepared and submitted the material. Submissions were then reviewed by the appropriate committee member representing the branch of the Evans family to which the information related. Efforts were made to avoid publishing any errors. But writers and editors are all human beings, and some mistakes may have slipped into the final printing. For any such the Committee extends its apology.

Readers will observe that each personal photo, personal history, and name listed in the Genealogical Section has a number assigned. This individual numbering system is the same as that used in the official records of the Bishop David Evans Family Association. Adding his number to that of his parent-descendant identifies the direct line of descent for each person. For example: Rebecca Coleman, the sixth wife of David Evans, is assigned No. 6. The number assigned to each of her descendants begins with "6" to which a number is added for each generation of her posterity. Thus her oldest child, George Evans, has No. 61; his oldest child, Charlotte Rebecca Evans Lewis has No. 611; Charlotte's fifth child, Agnes Lewis Cundick, has No. 6115; and Agnes third child, Marla Kay, has No. 61153. Where there are more than nine children in a given family, the alphabetical suffix, A, B, or C is assigned to the 10th, 11th or 12th child, e. g.: If George Evans had eleven children, the 10th child would have #6lA, the 11th child #6lB.

This publication would not have been possible but for the sustained interest and long years of dedicated effort of many descendants of David Evans.

For their assistance we are deeply grateful. The Family is especially indebted to Emma Jane Evans Roberts (a daughter), Christie Ellingson Peterson (a granddaughter), Lela W. Lott (a granddaughter), and Donnette P. Holmstead (a great, great granddaughter) for many years of research, data collection, and record-keeping; to David Heywood (a great grandson) whose leadership in the 1960's brought new vigor to the David Evans Family Association; and to Benjamin J. Lott (a great, great grandson) who, as the Association's President, gave general direction to the final preparation of the manuscript and its publication.

Publication Committee
The Bishop David Evans Family Association

Copyright ©1999-2002 The Bishop David Evans Family Association. All rights reserved.
Bishop David Evans Family Association, 172 West 400 South, Lehi, Utah 84043
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