July 18, 1929
Grave of the Wife of Evanston Founder Shrine for Visitors
In Attica, Ind., where Dr. John Evans, founder of the city of Evanston, lived in the early days of his marriage, Evanstonians vacationing this summer have found much interest centering about the grave in the little village burying ground there of his wife, Hannah Canby Evans.
Two sons by his second wife, Margaret Patten Gray, sister of Mrs. Orrington Lunt and aunt of Miss Cornelia Lunt, the one survivor of this family to which Evanston has paid homage through many years, are also buried there. The graves, those of William G. and Evan Evans, and of the mother, are enclosed by a quaint and interesting iron fence in the center of which is a simple shaft, and the whole is a shrine for the neighborhood and its visitors. Attica is out of LaFayette, Ind., and is one of the interesting towns of Indiana, known also as the place where Paul Dresser, brother of Theodore Dreiser, famed novelist, wrote the song, "On the Banks of the , Wabash."
Dr. Evans married Hannah Canby in 1839, according to records upon which the account of Dr. Evans' life was based that appears in Viola Crouch Reeling's "Evanston-Its Land and Its People." She relates that Dr. Evans took 'his bride to Attica and built up an influential practice and became one of the town's prominent citizens.
He Had Dreams
"The reputation of dreamer," Mrs. Reeling relates, had already been given to John Evans by his friends in Attica. One day he remarked that "before he died he intended to build a city, found a college" become governor of one of the states of the Union, go to the United States senate, amass a fortune and make himself famous."
"While residing there he began to publish articles in regard to founding hospitals for the care of the insane, who. in Indiana, were then kept in jails and poorhouses. Widespread interest in the subject was aroused, and in 1848 two wards of an insane hospital were completed, five patients were accepted, and Dr. Evans was made the first superintendent. The two wards were the nucleus of the Central Indiana hospital for the insane, located at Indianapolis."
In 1845 Dr. Evans became a faculty member at Rush Medical college in Chicago and later was elected to a 'chair in that institution. Mrs. Evans died in Chicago in 1850 leaving a half-grown daughter, Josephine, who later became I Mrs. Elbert, wife of Samuel Elbert. a governor of Colorado. She is not living, but another daughter, Miss Ann Evans, his youngest child and only surviving direct descendant, lives in Deaver, and is due in Evanston shortly for a visit with Miss Lunt on her way abroad. When the first Mrs. Evans died her body was taken overland by wagon to be buried in Attica. Dr. Evans was married three years later to Miss Gray. sister of Mrs. Orrington Lunt.
Governor of Colorado Territory
Dr. Evans later became governor of Colorado territory, having previously been offered by President Lincoln the governorship of Washington territory and Nebraska territory. Before accepting the Colorado office he made the trip to Denver by stagecoach in thirteen days while the prairie' schooners of the immigrants with their oxen and red-shirted horsemen, and the gold-seekers with their animals and packs were crossing the plains.
John Evans was one of the group of men who sought along the north shore a location for a "western" university in 1850 and established Northwestern university, and later was one of: the first residents of the town which was given his name although it was first suggested that is be named for Orrington Lunt, vice president of the university board and the man who made the first donation towards the university. Mr. Lunt modestly declined the honor, and Dr. Evan; also sought to have the town named to a close friend, Bishop Simpson, but town name was chosen for it.
