The Life of John Evans - Research Paper Example

John Evans John Evans was born on March 9, 1814 at a place known as Waynesville in Ohio. His parents were David Evans and Rachel Burnett respectively. He descended from a family of quaking where his grandfather worked in manufacturing tools. His sons, Benjamin and Owen, afterwards continued with the same work and eventually invented the screw auger. David Evans, Evan’s father, represented the whole family. David left Pennsylvania and got in to the wilderness of Ohio where he involved himself in business activities and managed to accumulate wealth. John Evans played the role of a governor of the Colorado Territory for a short duration from 1862 to 1865. Evans studied Medicine in Philadelphia at Clermont Academy where he attained a degree in Doctor of Medicine (M.D) from the college called Cincinnati in 1838 (Boulder History Museum 7). He later moved to a place called Attica, Indiana, where he used his skills and involved himself in issues concerning his profession. He helped in the foundation of the Indiana Central State Hospital in Indianapolis. He is known for the establishment of two consecutive Universities known as Northwestern University and the University of Denver respectively. John Evans played different roles in his lifetime, which include physician, railroad promoter, U.S politician, Colorado’s Governor, Evanston namesake, Illinois, and Mount Evans. During his reign as the second territorial governor, his work was recognized as it was far-reaching, important, and effective. His keen vision into the future, he recognized the possibilities of the state and worked towards achieving his goals. His plan was to put measures which he secured and worked towards achieving his objectives and enable appropriate development of the state (Geni.com). John Evans married Miss Hannah Canby a daughter of a person by the name Joseph Canby in the year 1839. He later married again in 1853, a woman by the name Margaret P. Gray. Margaret was a daughter of the Hon. Samuel Gray who was from Bowdoinham, Maine and was the attorney of the city by then. Hannah Canby Evans and three of his sons were buried in a cemetery in Attica. He left for Chicago where he assisted in the development of Lakeside Hospital that was later renamed as Mercy hospital. He was responsible for bringing Sisters of Mercy to that Hospital. John Evans established his home in Attica, Indiana, where he won wide and well-merited reputation as the leading physician and surgeon and a farsighted businessperson (Shearer 175). He was much interested in condition of the insane wards of the state and his own interest matured in planning to improve the conditions. His efforts later resulted in the enactment of a measure by the legislative in 1841, which led to the building of the insane asylum, and upon the completion, he was appointed the superintendent. In the year 1845, Evans worked in Rush Medical College in Chicago for eleven years. He later founded the Illinois Medical Society. John Evans also researched the cholera epidemic, which occurred in 848 and 1849 and was instrumental in developing congressional quarantine laws in order to avoid the spread of this disease more (Achey 35). John Evan’s religious faith was a Methodist. He had involved himself in church activities since from Attica, Indiana, due to the teachings of the renowned Bishop Simpson. In 1853, he wanted to start a Methodist Educational Institution that he believed it was an opportune time for such movement. In connection with others about the plan, some selected suburb of Chicago as the site of the future School and the suburb renamed as Evanson in honor of him (Boulder History Museum 7). In duration of two years, the university was fully established and his intention in providing for the institution. Evans endowed the chairs of Latin and mental and moral philosophy worthy fifty thousand dollars and later increased the endowment to one thousand dollars. While residing in Chicago, he became a member for congress and was one of the known speakers at first republican convention, held in Aurora, Illinois. The American party candidate defeated him. He was a close friend of Lincoln, and a delegate to the state convention and nominated as the state’s candidate for president (Shearer 175). John Evans had several investments which enabled him cater for his daily needs, and politically influential. He had an investment in Chicago and Fort Wayne Railroad and the Evanston Railroad made him to be wealthy. Evans managed to become the Chicago City Council in 1852 and later founded the Republican Party where he ran for the Congress and became a friend of Abraham Lincoln’s. AS the founder of the Northwestern University, he was the chair of the Board of Trustees until death. In1861, President Lincoln offered Evans the seat of Governor in the Washington Territory but he declined. A year later, he accepted appointed as the Territorial Governor of Colorado succeeding William Gilpin. In his background in railroads, he was interested in a survey done by Captain Edward L. Berthoud, mainly to initiate a railroad route to Salt Lake City starting from Denver. In order to enable the creation of railroad the Legislature concerning the Territory incorporated the Colorado and Pacific Wagon, the telegraph and Railroad Company had to lure their own investors. Federal legislation was passed and enabled the creation of the union Pacific Railroad Company. The legislation passed neither did nor become the catalyst for the rail construction, but the supporters hoped that it would be. In1864, president Lincoln amended a bill, which was to create the transcontinental railroad. With the support of Colonel John Chivington who was, Evans close ally in Colorado enabled the creation of the Denver seminary, and later became the Denver University. Like his position with Northwestern University, Evans was leading the Denver Seminary Board of Trustees until his death. After completing two years in his administration (1864), Evans and the legislature received information that congress had passed an act. The act intention was to provide for the Colorado State Government. Governor Evans arranged for an election of the constitutional convention delegates, in which he oversaw five days of deliberation. After the election was over, the results satisfied the delegates (Shearer 176). The majority of the voting population voted against the step towards statehood. John Evans faced a controversy over the Seigniorage Act. Capitol Hill’s greed actions were geared towards the mining legislation or it seemed dependent on the mineral resources. The attacks on the mining industry included tax on al mineral resources and led to the elimination of mine ownership. Governor Evans and a person who was his Congressman Hiram P. Bennett utilized the influence successfully in order to defeat the bill, which had become popular. If the act were passed, it would have led to Colorado Territory economic base destroyed and a split between the Easterners and Westerners. The decisive issue during the Administration of Evans is what was termed as the “Sand Creek Massacre”. In the year 1864, the Plains Indians tried to shut down most of Colorado trails attacked travelers, and even frightened the new settlers. Major Edward Wynkoop, after he met with Chief Black Kettle from the Southern Cheyenne tribe, tried to discuss peace issues at Smoky Hill River. The success of that meeting led to another one with the Governor who agreed that Native Americans should have protection. Evans established an Indian-fighting regime, which was under Colonel John Chivington, and was extremely eager to give a lesson to the Indians. Governor Evans left the Territory for Washington, and the personnel left behind went contrary to his wishes. Chivington shuttered the peace, which was created by Wynkoop where he attacked Cheyenne Indian camp that was located at Sand Creek (Johansen 263). The attack caused loss of lives to many women, children, and the elderly. The attack led to a feeling of indignation extraordinarily strong in the East that later led to a congressional investigation. Due to what had happened, John Evans lost his federal appointment as a Governor. Colorado’s statehood was delayed, a circumstance that became a dominate aspect of Colorado politics in the following years. After political career ruined by previous events; Evans decided to involve himself in the development of Colorado’s railroads. Evans secured the federal land grants and country bonds to enable Union Pacific line creation from Cheyenne to Denver (Johansen 262). The route was over and opened on June 24, 1870. Evans continued to be the central financier of Denver’s railroad empire until 1897. John Evans was more determined and visional to meet his objectives and goals. He was a farsighted person who was willing to assist his people when in office as a governor. During his reign, he used much of his finance in development issues and enable transportation industry is better than he found it. Visitors are able to have a look at Colorado’s earliest human residents like the Ancestral Puebloans, at Mesa Verde National Park among other heritage areas. Dr. John Evans. Work Cited Boulder History Museum. Web 11 Nov 2012, from http://boulderhistory.org/PDFs/Niwot%20Image%20Gallery.pdf Geni.com. John Evans (1814-1897). Web 11 Nov 2012, from http://www.geni.com/people/Dr-John-Evans-2nd-Territorial-Governor-of-Colorado/6000000010925081078 Johansen, Bruce. and Pritzker, Barry. Encyclopedia of American Indian History. California: ABC-CLIO, 2007. Print. John Evans. Web 11 Nov 2012, from http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/govs/evans.html Shearer, Benjamin F. The Uniting States: The Story of Statehood for the Fifty United States, Volume 1. Westport: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2004, 175 Read More