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Samuel Evans, of Columbia,
Pa., was born in Donegal, Lancaster County, Pa., January 20, 1823. His
great-great-grandfather, Lazarus Lowrey, came from the North of Ireland in
1729, and settled in Donegal, Lancaster County, Pa., and became an Indian
trader and large land-holder.
His son, Alexander, married
Mary Waters, by whom he had several children. She died in 1773, and he
married secondly Ann Al-ricks, widow of Herman Alricks, of Cumberland
County, Pa.
Col. Alex. Lowrey became a
distinguished man, and one of the largest land-holders in Pennsylvania;
was a member of the Pennsylvania State Legislature for a number of years,
and was colonel commanding the county militia at the battle of Brandywine,
in September, 1777, and at Germantown. By his second wife, Ann Alricks, he
had one daughter, Frances, who married Judge Samuel Evans, of Chester
County, Pa., who was also a member of the Pennsylvania Legislature. He was
an ensign in the Revolutionary Army. His father, Evan Evans, was a colonel
in the Revolutionary Army, and his brother George was a surgeon in Col.
Bailer's regiment, of Virginia, in the Revolutionary War. After the war he
married Miss Peyton and settled in Virginia.
Among other children of
Samuel Evans and Frances Lowrey was born, March 22, 1799, Alexander L.
Evans, who married Hannah Slaymaker in 1820, who was the daughter of the
Hon. Amos Slaymaker, an officer in the Revolutionary War, and a member of
Congress in 1811, 1812.
Alex. L. and Hannah Evans
had one child, Samuel Evans, born January 20, 1823; educated at the common
schools; was lumber-merchant and builder up to the year 1853; was elected
justice of the peace in and for Columbia, Lancaster County, Pa., and in
the year 1857 was elected clerk of the courts of Oyer and Terminer and
Quarter Sessions for Lancaster County, Pa., for three years.
In May, 1861, enlisted as a
private in Company K., Fifth Regiment Pennsylvania Reserves in the late
war; promoted to second lieutenant June 19, 1861, and in November, 1861
was promoted to first lieutenant, and assistant quartermaster of Fifth
Regiment Pennsylvania Reserves; and in April, 1864, was appointed on the
staff of Gen. Warren. For meritorious service in the "Wilderness Campaign"
was promoted to a captaincy; in June, 1864, returned to Columbia,
Lancaster County, Pa., and was elected justice of the peace, and has been
in commission ever since. He is author of many historical articles, and of
a history of Lancaster County, Pa., published in 1882; member of the
"Historical Society of Pennsylvania," of the "Sons of the Revolution," and
of the "Scotch-Irish Society of Pennsylvania," and of the United States.
The Slaymakers were
Huguenots. Amos Slaymaker married Miss Fleming, whose ancestors came from
the North of Ireland. |
