Dear Editor,

I am searching for information about my great-great-grandfather, Thomas G. Evans, who lived near Columbiana in Shelby County from around 1854 to his death sometime before 1900.

Thomas (born around 1818) was originally from Abbeville and/or Edgefield counties, South Carolina, and was married to Mary Rountree. Together they had two sons: Oliver P. Evans (born about 1844) and, my Great Grandfather, Daniel Washington Evans (3 April 1847 – 15 June 1924). It appears that Mary died prior to 1850.

In about 1854, Thomas, Oliver and Daniel moved to Shelby County. On 28 March 1858, Thomas married Joanah H. Armstrong (1838 – 1910), the daughter of William W. Armstrong and Elizabeth B. Dunlap. Together, Thomas and Joanah had eight children: Savannah (1859 -1937), Elizabeth Viola (1863 – 1952), James H. (1866 – 1931), Mary Antoinette (1868 – 1918), Elmira (1871 – ?), Emma F. (1874 – ?), John O. (1877 – ?), and Robert W. (1879 – ?).

The last record of Thomas that I’ve been able to find is the 1880 census for Shelby County. Joanah Evans appears in the 1900 Shelby County census as a widow, indicating that Thomas died before that date.

I have made extensive use of the Shelby County Historical Society’s fabulous web site (Rootsweb.ancestry.com/~alshelby/shelby1.html), and want to publicly thank Bobby Joe Seales, my fifth cousin once removed, for all his work maintaining the website.

Now, I am how hoping to locate any descendants of Thomas G. Evans or anyone else who might have knowledge of him and his family. I can be reached at dilbert3703@mchsi.com. I would appreciate hearing from you!

Herb Evans

Columbia, Mo.