Deidre Ramthun, I believe I mentioned to you once before, that your great-great-great grandfather, Owen Evans had been born in 1798 in Cardigan, Wales. Owen married your great-great-great grandmother, Eleanor James on January 29, 1830, and Owen and Eleanor and three children: David O., Jane, and William Evans came to America in 1839, landing at the port of Baltimore, Maryland. A couple of months later, they to a Welsh settlement in the northwest corner of Gallia County, Ohio were some of their relatives had settled before them. At that time there were several Evans families living in the Thurman, Ohio area, and there are several Evans families still living there today. Here is what I really wanted to bring to your attention. On October 16, 1861, and at the age of 63, Owen Evans and four of his sons enlisted in the Union Army. Owen was assigned to the 56th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and fought in the battles of Shiloh, Tennessee, and Vicksburg, Mississippi. Owen Evans died September 5, 1885 near Thurman, Ohio, and he was buried at Hill Cemetery, in Jackson County, Ohio, which is just across the county line from Thurman. I think that its admirable than an immigrant Welshman would serve his new country in battle at the age of 63. I doubt that you would find many immigrants that would do that today.
Posted on: Wed, 05 Nov 2014 23:16:06 +0000