Gilbert, Frank T.  "Historic Sketches of Walla Walla, Whitman, Columbia and
Garfield Counties, Washington Territory; and Umatilla County, Oregon."
Portland, OR: Print & Lithographing House of A. G. Walling, 1882. p. a14.
 
MILTON EVANS

     was born in Pike county, Ohio, November 9, 1833. He was one of a family of
eleven children, and spent the years of his minority at the parental home. In
1860 his father, George W. Evans, removed from Ohio to Fremont county, Iowa,
with his family, where they staid one year and then crossed the plains to
Washington Territory. They left Iowa intending for California, but changed their
point of destination on the way because of favorable reports in regard to
Washington Territory. We speak of the family in this connection, because the
subject of this sketch was one of twelve, including his father, mother, seven
brothers, and two sisters, all of whom came with him to this country. The first
year after reaching this section, they rented a farm on Mill creek, and then
located the ones on that stream and Dry creek now owned by the different members
of that family. In 1861, after reaching Walla Walla, Milton Evans, thinking to
find the Golden Fleece, entered upon the miner's uncertain trail, and, being one
of a party of eight, prospected the Burnt river country. Among the eight were
some old mountain men, who soon discovered that the little party was being
shadowed by Indians. The arts of Indian warfare were resorted to, and finally
they escaped from the enemy's toils, and reached Walla Walla by forced marches.
Mr. Evans, less fortunate than his companions, lost his horse that fell dead on
the trail as they were making their retreat from the Burnt river country. Not
satisfied with this experience, he visited the Florence mines in 1862, and this
last was the one thing needed to banish his gilded dream, and cause him to
appreciate the advantages of anything in preference to the life of a miner. From
1862 until 1867, he followed teaming from Wallula to various points in the
interior, and from 1867 until 1873, stock raising and grazing occupied his
attention. Having become possessed of a farm, it became an urgent necessity for
him to obtain a wife to help in the management of his real possessions. This
resulted in a matrimonial alliance, and Mr. Evans was married to Miss Alice M.
Drake, of Uxbridge, Worcester county, Massachusetts, on the 27th of June,
1871. Since 1873, he has made a specialty of raising horses, having disposed of
his cattle. His home farm lies on Dry creek six and one half miles north east of
from Walla Walla, and contains 400 acres all inclosed and cultivated (see sketch
of it in this book). He, also, ownes two hundred acres north from and within
three-fourths of a mile of Walla Walla, to which add 640 acres of railroad land
and 40 acres of timber in the mountains, which gives 1280 acres of land owned by
him. Mr. Evans is one of the substantial men of the county, and has made his
money since he came here. He believes in schools, and is one of those who spends
time and money freely in that direction.

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Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in February 2007 by Diana Smith.

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.