The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1888-12-08
DEATH OF HON. ALEXANDER EVANS.
A LEADING LAWYER AND ABLE
STATESMAN PASSES AWAY.
His Ancestry-A Leader in Congregations
inence at the Bar-His Great knowledge
and Ability.

and Ability.
Hon. Alexander Evans died at quarter
before nine o'clock on Wednesday even
ing last after a lingering illness from
general debility. He had been confined
to his room for number of months and
his death was not unexpected. He was
born in 1918 and consequently was &c
years of age.
Mr. Evans was the most brilliant men,
! Der of family that is numerous in the
county and many of its members
have been prominent and successful His
great-grandfather Robert Evans was the
youngest of three brothers who settled in
this county over century and half ago.
He located on the Big Elk Creek, West
of Cowantown in 1870 purchasing three
hundred acres of land He had tan
yard and was tanner by trade. Being
successful he acquired considerable land
He married Margaret Fitzpatrick and they
had TWO sons and six daughters. The sons
were John and r bert Evans, the
former being the grandfather of Alexan-
der Evans. The daughters were Mar
garet who married James Black, the
grandfather of Mrs. John G. Groome;
Mary who married Zebulon Hullings-
worth; Hannah, who married Rev. Jas.
Finley, pastor of Rock Church; J can who
married Henry Hollingsworth; Eleanor
who married Amos Alexander and Isa-
bella who married VIM. Montgomery.
Robert Evans, grand uncle of Alexan-
in military company in the Revolution
airy War but was thrown from his horse
and killed before entering the army.
John Evans, the grandfather of Alex
ander engaged in the manufacture of bar
iron and nails and subsequently in roll
ing copper at the family homestead on
the banks of the Big Elk. Paul Revere
the hero of Longfellow's celebrated poem
and John Evans are believed to have
been the oaly rollers of copper in the
United States at that time, and all the
vessels of the American Navy are be-
lieved to have been coppered with mater
ial of their manufacture.
John Evans married Mary Alexander,
of New Munster and they were the par
ents of eight children among them A nos
Alexander Evans the father of the de-
ceased and Levi Hollingsworth Evans
who was State Senator and Judge of the
Orphans Court of this county.
The father of Alexander Evans was
educated at Newark Academy ard STU
died medicine with DR.. Geo. E. Mitchell,
father of DR.. IL. H. Mitchell. He also
attended the lectures of DR.. Rush, the
celebrated physician and signer of the
declaration OF independence. DR.. Evans
was assistant surgeon on the frigate Con-
stitution during her engagements with
the Guerrero and Java during the war of
1912 He was voted two valuable silver
medals by Congress for his services, one
for the Guerrero and the other for the
Java. II is stated that only 26 medals
have eyer been given by vote OF Congress.
He was fleet surgeon under Commander
cambridge aud cruised in the Mediter-
ranean during the war with the Barbary
States. DR.. Evans married Miss Mary
Oliver, of Boston, March 2Sth 1916.
He died in 1881. Alexander Evans
their oldest child was born in 1918. He
began his career as civil engineer hav-
| an
ne was appointed engineer in chief of
the Annapolis & Elk Ridge Rail
road. He subsequently read law and
was admitted to the bar at Elk
ton. By his knowledge OF law and
ability he soon took leading position at
the bar. In 1S47 he was nominated for
Congress by the Wing party. His oppo-
nent was Judge Richard B. Carmichael.
The district was then composed of Cecil,
Hartford, Kent, Queen Anne's and Caro-
line Counties MIR. Evans carried every
county his majority in the district being
465. In 1S49 he was again elected to
Congress defeating Mr.. Magraw. He
carried each county in the district but
Caroline where there was tie. His ma
ority IN Cecil county was 224 notwith-
standing that all four Wing candidates
for the Legislature were defeated. His
majority in the district was 5O6.
. Mr. Evans was again the Wing candi-
date for Congress in 1851, his opponent
, being Hon, Hiram Mccullough of this
county. This was memorable contest
: Mr.. Evans for the first time was defeated
in county in the district. Cecil and
Hartford gave majorities for Mr.. McCul-
Tough, the amount in the former being 81
votes. Mr.. Evans received majorities il
: Kent, Queen Anne's aud Caroline coun-
ties giving him a majority OF las in the
district.
, Mr.. Evans took leading part in de
bates in Congress. He favored the com
primise measures of Henry Clay, and
secured the modern system of light
houses. In regard to the latter, the
Washington correspondent of the Neu
York Herald in 1852 wrote: ''At one
fell swoop Congress has ordered a change
in the whole lighthouse system of the
United States. The President is author
ICED to appoint board of scientific anc
i military men to take charge OF the super
: intendence of lights. The present sys
tenn of lighting is said to be obsolete ane
O the new effort is to introduce gradually
}. the improved lights of England ant
France. This great reform has been eff
e fected by Hon. Alexander Evans, o
g Maryland. who carried the measure
through Congress against an opposition
6 of ignorance and prejudice. To Mr.. Evans
Il ability, eloquence and energy is the coun
'. try and commerce indebted for this grea
}, act of the session."
In the same connection the Norfolk
~ Va, argus said; maryland may well b
g proud of her representative the Hon
. Alexander Evans, for the prominent an
> successful part he played in its accomplish
ment. Without his eloquence and hi
- science this important event would hav
- been lost. Solitary and alone be comba
ted the whole house and finally carried
> by his uncomfortable energy and thol
o. ough knowledge of science. Mr.. Evar
10 has won the laurels of the session."
The Baltimore SUMS Washington CO.
- respondent in December, 1851, wrot
-, 1.-The leader of the Democratic side OF tt
laat