Bishop David Evans and His Family

From Cecil County Maryland To The Salt Lake Valley, 1804-1850

Illinois to Utah (The Pioneer Trek West)

Continued and increasing persecution from the unfriendly mobs caused the saints, who could get no legal redress from their enemies, to sell out as best they could and leave the State. So it was with Bishop David who 20 April 1846 sold his property just south and east of the City for $100.00, and joined the Westward migration. Barbara Ann tells it as follows:

I remained in Illinois until the exodus from that state, which was in 1846. Some of the Saints had neither teams nor wagons. The brethren united together and made wagons for those that had none: by that means all had wagons, but not teams, and we were obliged to get away, as the mob was howling around, and Nauvoo was threatened. So my husband, being bishop of the Eleventh Ward, concluded to take the teams they had and move as many as they could. We made a start with what teams we had, crossed the Mississippi River, went a day's journey, and set the families down on the prairie. The next day they took the teams and brought the rest.

With great hardship, because of insufficient teams for all their wagons, they moved across Iowa and on the 21 July 1846 were among those who watched the mustering in of the men of the Mormon Battalion at Council Bluffs, Iowa. Israel Evans, son of David, was signed up in Company "B" for what became a march unsurpassed by foot soldiers. Through the States of Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Old Mexico, Arizona and Southern California, a distance of more than 2000 miles, only to be mustered out 29 January 1847 in San Diego, Calif., more than a thousand miles from their planned for homes in the Utah Territory.

With Israel "gone for a soldier, " the Evans Company, made up of 11th Ward members and David Evans' converts, began the preparation for their trek across to the Rocky Mountains. Barbara Ann tells it this way:

Soon after the men got employment breaking prairie and other work. We took oxen and milk cows, so in the fall all had teams and provisions for the winter. I did considerable spinning in the tent, also quilted several quilts. One great blessing, we were generally well. We did not have many luxuries, still we felt thankful for what we had. We then started for Council Bluffs, but it was late in the fall, winter had set in, and we stopped on the headwaters of the Nodaway. The men cut hay and put up log huts. My husband made a sideloom, and I did considerable weaving that winter. The cattle could not live on the frost-bitten hay so they commenced to die; our provisions began to get short; and we were obliged to leave in the month of February, 1847. We started for Missouri, lost our way, our teams that were left gave out, and we had to kill and eat them to save our lives.

My husband and two other men, Joseph Smith (Lehi) and Shaw, went down to Missouri to get fresh teams and provisions, while they left their families camped on a small stream which was called Starvation Creek. We suffered from hunger and cold, but we did not complain, for we were united; we truly lived the order; we all shared alike. My husband came with fresh teams and provisions. I tell you it was a day of rejoicing. We had not heard from them since they left. They had had hard work to get teams. The people were so prejudiced against the Mormons, they were almost to return without anything. My husband told the people he would return and die with the rest of the people. One gentleman spoke and said, 'Can't you do something for these men; they seem to be honest?' The men began to volunteer, and he soon had all the provisions and teams he wanted.

We then made another start for Missouri. The snow had fallen to a great depth, and we could not keep on the divide. After wallowing in the snow for four or five days, camping on the prairie without fire, we arrived in Nodaway County, Missouri, March 1, 1847. My son, Joseph, was born April 7th, in a house without doors, windows, chimneys or floors. My food was corn bread ground on a hand mill; we had bran for coffee. We stayed there three years, had plenty of work, made a good outfit and started for Utah, May 15th, 1850. My baby was ten days old when we started. After the company got together, Bishop Evans was appointed captain. They were organized, and on June 15 we made a start for Utah. "

To catch up on the statistics--Biblically it would be said, "And So & So begat." During their stay on Nodaway Ridge, Missouri, the oldest child of David's, Eliza Jane, married Ira Hinckley, August 1848. On the 7th April 1847, Joseph, Barbara Ann's #4 child was born on the Nodaway Ridge, Missouri. On the 27 April 1849, Sarah, the #5 child was born to Barbara Ann. 1 June 1849, Israel, son of David, married Matilda Thomas in Great Salt Lake City, Utah Territory. In October 1849 Mary Ann, David's #4 child, married John Henry Glines. 6 May, Susannah, Barbara Ann's #6 child, was born. On the 15th of May they left their log shelter on the Nodaway Ridge and traveled to Kanesville where on 15 June, together with two other companies of Saints, they started for Utah. Bp. David Evans was in charge of a company of 54 wagons.

Almost immediately after they left Kanesville, the cholera broke out. On the 27 June 1850, Eliza Jane Evans Hinckley, #1 child of David Evans, passed away leaving a baby daughter. There were five deaths in the company. Barbara Ann gives the following in her life sketch:

The cholera soon broke out in camp. People were stricken down on every side. There were five deaths in our company, my husband's oldest daughter, Mrs. Ira Hinckley, was one among them. That was a trying time. I had six small children, but none of them had the horrible disease. Had it not been for that we should have had a pleasant journey. After we arrived at Laramie, we all enjoyed good health.

In the year 1850, September 15th, we arrived at Salt Lake Valley, and lived there until February 15, 1851. We then moved to what was then called Dry Creek. We have made our home in Lehi ever since.

The tender compassion of David Evans is reflected in an incident remembered by the family of Abigail who tells of falling from the wagon shortly after they left Kanesville. Her back was badly hurt and the pitch and roll of the wagon caused her pain. Bishop David wrapped her in his coat and, walking beside the oxen, carried her in his arms a good part of the way.

By Walton Evans Foulger
(a great grandson of Bishop David Evans)

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