William F. Evans (April 15, 1799 - November 7, 1865) was a Texan politician who served in the Texas House of Representatives from 1851 to 1853.[1][2]

William F. Evans
Member of the Texas House of Representatives
from the 3rd district
In office
November 3, 1851 – November 7, 1853
Preceded byJames Shackelford Gillett
Succeeded byJohn H. Fowler
Personal details
BornApril 15, 1799
Davidson County, Tennessee, United States of America
DiedNovember 7, 1865(1865-11-07) (aged 66)
Texas, United States of America
Spouse
Nancy W. Davidson
(m. 1822)
Children14
Parent(s)Joseph Evans
Margaret Evans

Biography

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Evans was born on April 15, 1799, to Joseph and Margaret Evans in Davidson County, Tennessee.[3] in September 1814, he enlisted in a brigade of the Tennessee Volunteer Mounted Gunmen in Fayetteville, he served for five months as a private in the War of 1812 and was discharged in 1822.[2]

He married Nancy W. Davidson on October 8, 1822. Evans and Davidson had 14 children together, one of whom was Martha Melissa Evans, who later married Edward Clark, who became governor of Texas in 1861.[3]

Evans moved with his family to Marshall in 1842, with Evans becoming the first doctor to settle there. He opened a drugstore and grocery business with Edward B. Griggs and Hobart Key, and owned twenty-six slaves by 1850. he was elected to the Texas House of Representatives for the 3rd district in 1850, and served for a single term until 1863. Evans died suddenly in his home on November 7, 1863, shortly after his appointment by Andrew Johnson to serve as the Texas tax commissioner, which was scheduled to begin on November 30.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Legislative Reference Library of Texas". Legislative Reference Library of Texas. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
  2. ^ a b "A Guide to the William Evans Papers, 1815-1856". Briscone Center. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  3. ^ a b c "TSHA | Evans, William F." Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 2022-05-18.