Life Summary of David Evans

The following obituary published in the Deseret News in 1883 was titled "Sketch of the Life and Ministry of Bishop David Evans" and does well at summarizing the life of David Evans: father, religious leader, pioneer and statesman.

"David Evans the son of Israel and Abigail Evans, was born in Cecil County, Maryland, October 27th, 1804. When a small boy his parents moved to Pennsylvania, where he remained until 1826, when he was married to Mary Beck and moved to Richland County, Ohio. Here he bought and opened up a new farm, where he lived until he was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, April 6th, 1833. On the 11th of the same month he was ordained a Priest and immediately commenced traveling and preaching, selling his farm to enable him to prosecute his missionary labors. He was ordained to the office of an Elder on the 21st of July the same year."

"In 1834 he went in Zion's camp from Ohio to Missouri, with Joseph Smith the Prophet, for the redemption of Zion, and received his ordination to the First Quorum of Seventy, under the hands of Jospeh Smith and Sidney Rigdon, April 29th, 1835. He attended the School of the Prophets in Kirtland, in the winter of 1835 and 1836, and on May 20th, 1836, left Ohio for Missouri, in charge of a company of saints, most of whom he baptised himself. He settled on Shoal Creak, Caldwell County, buying some land and again making him a home; was with the saints through all their persecutions in Missouri among which was the barbarous massacre at Haun's Mill. In December he was compelled to leave the State without his family, who shortly after followed, leaving all their property behind. Arriving at Payson, Adams County, Ill., in the spring of 1839, he commenced preaching and baptised many persons, some of whom are now prominent members in the Church. He lost his wife June 20th, 1841, after which he moved to Nauvoo and married Barbara Ann Ewell, November 23rd, 1841, she being a member of a family he had baptised in Missouri. In 1842, when Nauvoo was organized into wards, he was ordained a Bishop, August 21st, to preside over the Eleventh Ward. He remained here until the Saints were driven from Nauvoo, when he was appointed Captain of company, many of the members remaining with the company until its arrival in the Valleys, September 15th, 1850."

"Moved to Lehi February 15th, 1851, over which place he was appointed to preside as Bishop, the duties of which he faithfully performed for 28 years, tendering his resignation, on account of old age and failing health, August 24th, 1879. He located the City of Lehi and laid it off into blocks and lots with a pocket compass, tape line and square. Was elected to the first legislature in Utah and acted for many years in connection with that body. He was Colonel of Militia, served as Major of Lehi Military District several terms, and held other responsible positions. His death occurred June 23rd, 1883, at 12:30 p.m. For several days he was not well, and on Tuesday, June 19, at 1 p.m., he received a heavy paralytic stroke which completely paralyzed his whole right side rendering him helpless and speechless, in which condition he remained until death."

"The funeral services were held in the Lehi Tabernacle at 3 p.m., Sunday June 24th, 1883. A special train was dispatched from Salt Lake City, for the benefit of his friends and acquaintances, among whom were President Woodruff, Bishop Hunter and others; also many came from Provo and adjacent settlements. The services were conducted by President Smoot and addresses were made by Bishop Hunter, President Woodruff, Bishops Hardy, Burten and others. After the services the remains were carried to the cemetary followed by a numerous procession, numbering 115 vehicles containing the relatives and friends of the deceased, this being the largest funeral cortage ever formed in Lehi."¹

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1. Deseret News (Salt Lake City, Utah) 2? June 1883, as quoted in The Bishop David Evans Family Association, Bishop David Evans and His Family (Provo, Utah: J. Grant Stevenson, 1972), pp. 43-44.

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