EVANS

Born on Christmas Day, 1790 in Smith Country, Tennessee, little is known about Joseph's life. We do know that by 1829, he was married to Sarah Griffin, and had a son, William. We know through the 1850 census that two daughters were born after William, but the 1840 census strongly implies there were other children as well. Unfortunately, they are not named, and so we cannot be sure. Joseph was a farmer, and passed away in DeKalb County, Tennessee in 1851.

Joseph and Sarah's children:

William Evans, 1829 - 1889

Paralee Evans, 1833 - 

Mary Evans, 1835 - 

Like Joseph, little is known about William. Born in 1829 in DeKalb, Tennessee, William farmed alongside his father as a young man, and married Cecilia Clark on the 22nd of January, 1852. The couple had 5 children, and continued to farm. In 1869, at just 39, Cecilia passed away, leaving William to raise these children, aged 4-13, on his own. Whether he remarried or not remains unclear - one source lists a Sarah as a possible second wife, but there is no verifiable evidence of this, so we must at least entertain the idea that William was both a farmer and a single father at a time when that was largely unheard of. William passed away in 1889. 

William and Cecilia's children:

Joseph Evans, 1853 - 

Robert Evans, 1855 - 1918

Mary Emeline Evans, 1857 - 1947

William Evans, 1861 - 

James Josiah Evans, 1865 - 1949

Born in August of 1855, Robert, like his father and grandfather, became a farmer early in life. In 1876, he wed Mary Roberts, and the couple had two children. It is not known how Mary died, but it can be speculated that a serious illness may have struck the family, as 28 year old Mary and their 6 year old daughter died just 22 days apart in 1883. In 1884, Robert married Malissa Brown. It does not appear that Robert and Malissa had children of their own. Robert passed away in 1918 in Kansas. 

Robert and Mary's children: 

Mallisa Evans, 1877 - 1883

Robert Wyatt Evans, 1879 - 1955

Robert Wyatt Evans, better known in his adult life as "Dock", was born on the 31st of July, 1879, in Tennessee. Unsurprisingly, he too became a farmer early in life. On the 22nd of December, 1899, he wed Stella Jennings, and they had a daughter the following year. The marriage apparently fell apart rather quickly, as by the time of the 1910 census, he and his second wife Beatrice had been married for 2 years and had a child of their own. This marriage, too, would fail - by the 1920 census, Beatrice was remarried, which is where the mystery I have been trying to unravel really begins, but more on that later. Dock served with the 14th Infantry Division during WWI, but apparently saw no active combat. What he did in the years between the end of WWI and 1940 is currently unknown, but in 1940, Dock is listed as living in a Veteran's Facility in Ohio. He passed away on the 14th of February, 1955.

Robert and Stella's children: 

Ida Evans, 1900 - 1985

Robert and Beatrice's children: 

Robert Clifford Evans, 1908 - 1979

Robert Clifford Evans, Robert Lee Evans, Robert E. Lee Christy, Robert E. Lee Christie. Whatever we choose to call him, he was one of my primary inspirations when I first began researching my genealogy, as back in 2005 when I began compiling my tree, his name was "unknown". After many years of searching, a DNA test, and a few very awkward conversations, I discovered that Robert Evans, better known as Robert Christie, was my great-grandfather. 

Robert was born in Illinois on the 12th of July, 1908, the only child of Robert and Beatrice. He was a member of the Navy and served in WWII. He then went on to become a member of the Chamber of Commerce in Florida, a medical administrator, and a high level Freemason, just to name a few of his titles. 

Robert's name changed a couple of times over the course of his life. Born Robert Clifford Evans, his name was changed to Robert Christy when his mother was partnered with Edward Christy, and she felt it best to enroll him in school under this name. At some point, he dropped the "Clifford", and adopted "E. Lee" as his middle name, both as a nod to Robert E. Lee and a desire to keep the "E" for "Evans". When and why the spelling of "Christy" changed to "Christie" is a complete unknown, but by the time he met my great-grandmother Goldene, this was the name he was using. He and Goldene dated briefly, and in 1932, their son was born. 

Between 1932 and 1949, Robert fathered several illegitimate children - whether he was aware of them or not is also unknown, but in 1949, at the age of 41, he married Alice Brady and settled into domestic life. The couple had 2 children together and remained married until his death in 1979. 

*Robert's children are not listed here for privacy reasons, as they are all living.