Bishop David Evans and His Family

His Leadership in Utah, 1851-1883

Personal Life

Very little is recorded regarding David Evans' family life in Utah. It is known that he loved the Gospel, and that he did not hesitate to make any sacrifice for it. Some of his children were heard to say that his religion, his commitments to it, and the covenants he had made with his God were paramount with him. They dominated his every action; with members of his family as well as with his fellowmen.

He has been variously described by others as a man of great determination; strong in character, yet humble, kind and charitable; frank and outspoken, yet tactful and diplomatic; full of witticisms which he used wisely; "a pioneer in every respect."

Although church and public responsibilities throughout life demanded his time and energies, there is evidence in his correspondence that the maintenance of close family ties were important to him; that concern for their physical and spiritual welfare was ever with him. This was emphasized in the following letter to his wife, Barbara Ann, December 30, 1856 while he was in Salt Lake City serving in the Territorial legislature:

Great Salt Lake City
December 30, 1856

Dear Companion:

I take this opportunity of writing to you to let you know that I am well, and enjoying myself every day as either Brother Brigham or Brother Heber and the twelve are with us almost every day--preach to us the principles of the Reformation and the unsearchable riches of Jesus, and the mysteries of the Kingdom.

We feast here every day, and the fire of God is burning in our hearts, and we have good times here in the midst of blessings. I think of my family, and pray for you daily that the Reformation may sink deep into each of your hearts, and the Lord bless you all with understanding hearts that you may understand some of the things that are coming upon the earth, and also upon the Saints if they repent not.

When I come home I shall endeavor to proceed further in setting my family in order that the fire of the Lord may be kindled in every heart in my house and round about it, and that our habitation may be a habitation of health and peace, and wickedness and evil spirits have no place with us, and not only with us but in our City, that our City even the City of Lehi may be cleansed with the spirit of judgment and burning, and every soul therein that will not worship the Lord, our God, shall die.

Dear wives and children, remember this, the admonition of your husband and father and act accordingly, and the Lord will bless you. Read this to Brother Able and Brother Thomas, and all my family, and all who may wish to hear from me, for the day to trifle with this people is gone by, and they must repent or be damned.

Come down in about two weeks from New Year's Day, and stay until I return. I remain as ever your husband in the bonds of the new and everlasting covenant.

(Signed) David Evans

Some indication of his home life, as viewed by a stranger, is found in correspondence of Captain Jesse A. Gove, a member of Johnston's Army, who visited the Evans family in June, 1858, and remained overnight.

Descending a gradual slope we soon arrived at Lehi, thirty-two miles south of Salt Lake City. As it was already night we laid over in that little town till the ensuing morning.

Lehi is a little town of about 1,200 inhabitants, built of sun-dried bricks, and, like all the other towns in the valley, having its streets laid at right angles to each other. The buildings are small, sparsely located, having large gardens between them. The town is surrounded by a mud wall eight or ten feet high and four or five feet thick, so access to and exit from it can only be obtained through a gate on one principal street at each side of the wall. The wall was built to protect the inhabitants from Indian depredations.

Bishop Evans was our host; he is the highest church dignitary in the place and keeps a sort of hotel. The Bishop is a corpulent and quite sociable old man, A multitude of children were running about the house; they were very well behaved, made no noise, kept out of the way and bore a very retiring disposition; they took care of each other, the elder ones acting as matrons to their younger relatives, whose exact consanguinity it would doubtless have been very difficult for the little creatures or even elder ones to trace. We did not ask the corpulent bishop the number of his spirituals, nor did he instruct us upon that point, so we were left in unhappy ignorance. Several women were moving round the house. It was very easy to distinguish the one old lady who claimed priority as mater familias. There were three quite young women who worked about the house more quiet than tongue-tied servant girls. Whether they were daughters of our pursy host, or whether they were some of his "better halves, "we were unable to decipher even after comparing notes. - - - -The children all looked well, fat and hardy.

It is clear that David enjoyed socials and loved dancing. In the letter to his brother-in-law and sister, William and Nancy Dolsen, in Ontario, Canada, July 13, 1871 (infra), he said:

I should be much pleased if you were here to see one Mormon Frolic on a Grand Scale, when Israel was here he seen one on a small scale. Israel did not Participate in the Dance but Jane and me had a good one together."

According to some of his children, David always felt kindly toward the Indians. He viewed with sympathy their grievances and pleas for justice and assistance. He ate at the same table with them and permitted them to sleep in the tithing office building during stormy weather. They soon came to accept him as an unfailing friend on whom they could depend for counsel and material assistance. This endeared him to them; and some of the Indians called him "Bishop. According to one account, the Indians after David's retirement still insisted he was Bishop and refused to accept his successor, calling him a "boy bishop."

It is said that the Indians visited rather frequently the homes of David's wives. On such occasions they were always invited in as guests and offered refreshments. This continued for many years after David's death.

In the letter to his brother, Israel, at Chatham, Ontario, Canada, May 5, 1859, David describes the ordeal of living in hiding in the mountains while avoiding arrest. The warrant had been issued because he refused to testify as a witness in Judge Cradlebaugh's court under procedures David felt were, to say the least, irregular and unfair. His very deep feelings about the injustice of his situation is best expressed in the opening sentence of one of the paragraphs: "O Liberty, O humanity, O Justice, where hast thou fled...."

The letter, in full in his own handwriting, is reproduced, infra. In fairness to him, its publication demands an elaboration of the circumstances in which he found himself. The explanation, as written by Orson F. Whitney, follows:

All Utah County was now aroused and petitions and protests.., began pouring in from every side. Judge Cradlebaugh paid no attention to them whatever, but kept the courthouse surrounded by soldiers while he awaited the desired action of the grand jury, to wit: the indictment of the Mormon leaders for the crime referred to in his extraordinary address. More troops soon appeared upon the scene...

Public excitement and indignation increased correspondingly, and...the people of the Territory at large now appealed to Governor Cumming against this flagrant infringement of their liberties. That appeal was not in vain. The Governor, not being in sympathy with the course pursued... and recognizing the rightfulness of the people's cause, promptly requested General Johnston to order the troops removed. The General, however, ... refused to comply...

Judge Cradlebaugh, without waiting for the grand jury to present the indictments he desired.., began issuing bench warrants for the apprehension of certain persons suspected of complicity in the Springville murders. These warrants were served by the U. S. Marshall, accompanied by a squad of soldiers. Several men were arrested, among them some Mormon witnesses subpoenaed by the grand jury...

After waiting in vain two weeks for the grand jury to gratify him, Judge Cradlebaugh became angry, .. discharged them, at the same time dismissing the prisoners then in custody and closing his court...

And so ended Judge Cradlebaugh's vain attempt- -could it be otherwise than vain? - -to saddle upon the Mormon Church, upon an entire community, crimes committed by a few individuals, for whose conduct that church, that community, 20 could not justly or reasonably be held responsible.

Facsimiles of original letters written by David to his brother, Israel, in 1859; to his sister, Nancy, in 1871; and to his sister Eliza, 1874, follow in that sequence. (Beginning at page 44a.) All three evidence his personal interest, his humor, and his qualities of character.

Also included is a facsimile of personal notes, in David's handwriting, listing information relating to his wives and children.

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