Daily camera., 1897-07-03
EVANS DYING.
Col orado's Pioneer Expected to Pass Away
at any Moment.

Denver. July 3-John Evans, Colora-
dos territorial governor in 1862, is pro-
nounced to be dying, and the end is ex-
pected at any moment. 1t was believed
that he would die last night, but though
growing more feeble every moment, he
was still living at 2:3o this afternoon.
The Tramway cars have arranged to
pass by another route ana patroimen are
stationed in front of the home to prevent
the passing of vehicles, SO as to insure
quiet to the dying man.
John Evans was born near Waynes-
vile, Ohio. March 9, 1874, he being the
eldest son of David and Rachel Evans.
He grew up on the farm and attended
district school. When he became of age
he went to Philadelphia where he took
course at the Clemont academy, and in
1896 began the study of medicine, gradu-
ating in 1888.
He first practiced among the pioneer
settlers on the Illinois river. In 1889 he
married Hannah Candy and removed to
Attica, Ind. He gained prominence by
making specially of the study of the
insane, and on account of the passage of
bill introduced by him in the legisla-
ture was appointed as first superintend-
ent of the insane asylum. In order to
attend to his duties he removed in IS4I
to Indianapolis. While living in Indiana
he edited the Northwestern Medical and
Surgical journal Of Chicago for several
years.
By judicious investments in Chicago
MIR. Evans laid the foundation of his
large fortune. He became prominent in
city affairs and in 1925 he served as
member of the city council.
He selected Chicago suburb for the
site of the Northwestern university and,
with the assistance of Bishop Simpson,
DIR. Evans secured the passage OF bill
by the legislature perpetually exemPting
the property of the university from tax
alton. His foresight in buying for the
university, property in the heart of the
city and reserving one quarter of every
block in Evanston for an endowment
| has made the university one OF the
wealthiest educational institutions in the
country. DR.. Evans himself endowed
the chairs of Latin and of mental and
moral philosophy to the amount of $780,
900, and later increased the endowment
to 100000.
In 1862 the president offered to make
him territorial governor of Colorado, and
this he accepted. He came to Colorado
in a troubled time. Gov. Gilpin had
been removed because of his unauthor-
lied action of drawing drafts upon the
United States treasury to the amount OF
s375,ooo to pay the expenses OF equip
ping and feeding two regiments enlisted
in Colorado for the war. The drafts
were afterwards paid, but feeling was
intense on the matter when DIR. Evans
became the governor.
Gov. Evans proved equal to the
emergency however and quiet was re-
stored. He vas elected with H. M.
Teller in 1864 to serve as senator in the
event of Colorado being received as
state, but the plan did not then succeed.
In 1866 the bill for statehood passed
both houses, but was vetoed by Presl-
dent Johnson and Evans again lost
the chance of becoming senator. He
soon after resigned the governorshiP OF
Colorado.
He founded the Colorado Seminary,
afterwards the Denver university in 1853
In railroad building, he was the most
prominent in Colorado's early day and
secured the Union Pacific branch to
| Denver, the Kansas Pacific. and the then
Denver Pacinc to Cheyenne. The Boul
der valley road was one OF his Interests
as was also the South Park to Leadville
He was the principal organizer and
stock holder of the Denver City Elec
trio railway. He was liberal contrl'
butor to the churches of Denver and
built many fine blocks.
! Heartily and sincerely devoted to the
establishment and advancement OF this
state from its early infancy. the traces
of his handiwork are everywhere apPar
ent and will ever remain as living monu
ments to his memory.
| Let Us He Prompt.
Lieutenan mt Peary has started after the
north pole, and it will be well to begin a
once to arrange for "a relief expedition,