An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., 
The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893, pages 405-406

	JOSEPH McEVOY, one of the oldest settlers of Walla Walla county, Washington,
and an old soldier of the Indian wars of the coast, is our subject. He was born
in Ireland, in May, 1832, and was the oldest son of a family of five children
born to Patrick and Bridget McEvoy. Our subject lived in Ireland until he was
eighteen years of age, securing such educational advantages as were afforded by
the common schools of that country. He was, however, too ambitious to be
satisfied there, and sailed for America, landing in New York, July 11, 1850.
After one year in New York our subject enlisted in the United States army, the
date being December 24, 1851, and he was placed in the mounted rifles, and was
later transferred to the First Dragoons. He was then sent to Fort Lane, Oregon,
where he soon was called upon to participate in the Indian wars. He served
through 1855-í56, during which time he had been in many battles and skirmishes
with the savages. Two of the battles were known to history as Hungry Hill and
Evans Creek.
	During his frontier service he was engaged all along the coast, was marched
from Fort Lane to Vancouver, then to The Dalles, where they spent one winter,
and then into Washington, camping at Walla Walla, where an attempt was made to
treat with the Indians, but although Governor Stevens remained all one winter
in. camp trying to accomplish a treaty nothing could be done, and when he
started for home he was surrounded by Indians on Russell creek, and would have
undoubtedly massacred if the troops had not arrived in time to rescue him.
	After Mr. McEvoy's term of enlistment had expired he was discharged, and
then went to work in the quartermaster's department, where he remained five
years, thus making ten years of service for Uncle Sam. He then took up a claim
on Garrison creek, four miles southwest of Walla Walla, where he still lives,
being one of the oldest settlers in the county, having come to Walla Walla when
there were no houses in the place.
	Our subject was married, March 10, 1859, to Miss Eliza Bann, a native of
Ireland, who came to America in 1856, and they have a family of nine children,
as follows: Patrick, now living in Portland; Charles, in Farmington; Sarah,
Kate, John, George, David, Mary, and William.
	For a man who arrived in this country with only a six-pence in his pocket,
he has done well, having become a man of means and one who is respected the
county over.

Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in October 2003 by Jeffrey L. Elmer

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Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies.