John J. Evans of Wales and Plymouth, Pennsylvania stands between his mother Mary Williams Evans Davis and his stepfather William Davis. This handsome young man is my great grandfather and the only son of John D. Evans who perished in the infamous Pennsylvania Avondale Mine Fire of September 6, 1869. A mining disaster that claimed the lives of 110 men and young boys. Many related as father and sons, brothers and brother-in-laws. He is buried with others victims in the Washburn Cemetery, Scranton, PA.
The brave John D. Evans vicitm #78 left behind a young widow of 27 and five young children. One son and four daughters. The Evans family arrived on the ship Hibernia in 1865 at the end of the American Civil War, only a short time before his demise.
This coming September will be the 140th anniversary of that most wretched day To honor this branch of my family a joint research project of this the first of my Welsh ancestor is underway, though in my and my first cousin Mary's case we have been asking questions about our all family lines since we could talk! Near fifty years!
The Welsh origins of both John D. Evans and Mary D. Williams are being sought and cousin Steve Kondrad is in the process of trying to date a tintype photograph that may be a photo of John D. Evans.
to be cont.
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