BIOGRAPHY: Josiah T. EVANS, Cambria County, PA 

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From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria 
County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 67-8
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JOSIAH T. EVANS, mine inspector for the Sixth Bituminous Coal district of the 
State of Pennsylvania, is a son of Henry D. and Ann Lovett Evans, and was born 
in Pittsburg, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, July 24, 1848.
     His paternal grandfather, Josiah Evans, was a native of Carmathenshire, 
Wales, but moved to Merthyr Tydvil, Glanmorganshire. His father, Henry D. Evans, 
was a native of that place, born April, 1812, but at the age of twenty-eight, in 
1840, emigrated to America. He obtained a good elementary education in the 
schools of his native country, which he further improved and broadened by an 
extensive course of general reading. Naturally of a literary bent of mind, he 
contributed many articles to the press in the Welsh language, which were ably 
written and widely read.
     Soon after landing in this country he located at Brownsville, on the 
beautiful and historic Monongahela river. Then he found employment with his 
uncle, Edward Evans, who had preceded him, and who was engaged in operating a 
rolling-mill. He remained there, however, but a short time, about one year, when 
he removed to Pittsburgh, where he spent about ten years, thence to Dravosburg, 
near McKeesport, being engaged in mining, his avocation, the remainder of his 
life. In 1854 he located at Johnstown, and died there June 12, 1883.
     He was an old-line whig in politics in early life, but upon the 
dismemberment of that party in 1856, he associated himself with the Republican 
party, then in process of formation. Religiously, he was a baptist, and was one 
of the charter members of the Welsh Baptist church of Johnstown. He was kept in 
official position in the church organization all his life. A man of positive 
character, deep sympathy, and a true Christian, he did much for the cause of 
Christ, and the ultimate amelioration of mankind. He married Ann Lovett, who was 
also a native of Wales, born in the year 1818, and passed away in the year 1883. 
A devout Christian, a loving and devoted mother, she was universally loved and 
lamented. The progeny of their union were seven children, five of whom died in 
infancy. Of the remaining two, Josiah T. is our subject, and Israel died in 
1876.
     Mr. Evans attended the public schools of his day; but the essentials of his 
education -- and he possessed a good business education -- were acquired through 
self-study and experience in business. At the tender age of nine years he was 
employed in the mines, and continued a miner until thirty-four years of age. In 
1881 he was employed by the Cambria Iron company to make explorations in the 
Adirondack mountains for iron ore. Returning from the Adirondacks, he was made 
superintendent of the Woodvale mines, which supplied the Johnstown Manufacturing 
company.
     In 1885 having, for the third time, successfully passed the required 
examination, he was appointed mine inspector for the Sixth Bituminous Coal 
district of Pennsylvania, which includes Cambria and parts of Somerset and 
Indiana counties, and has since ably filled the position. Politically, he is a 
republican, and has always taken an active interest in the success of his party. 
He was a candidate for county treasurer in 1896; went into the convention with 
more delegates instructed for him than any other candidate, but he failed to 
secure a plurality. He is a member of the Baptist church, and has served that 
organization as trustee for about fifteen years. Fraternally, he is a member of 
Alma Lodge, No. 528, I. O. O. F., and William F. Packer Encampment, No. 127; 
Cambria Lodge, No. 278, F. and A. M.; Portage Chapter, No. 27 R. A. M.; Orient 
Commandery, No. 61, K. T.
     Mr. Evans has been twice married. His first marriage was with Mary Ann 
Morgan, who bore him eight children: Annie May, Maggie M., Harry, William, 
Walter, Lake, Josiah, and Ira.
     Mrs. Evans and four children, Maggie, Walter, Lake and Ira, were lost in 
the Johnstown flood, which occurred on May 31, 1889, and which wrought such 
wonderful havoc and terrible destruction to life in the city of Johnstown and 
the valley of the Conemaugh. Josiah and Anna May had died prior to the flood; 
hence, but two of those children survive:  William and Harry.
     Mr. Evans married for his second wife Miss Maggie Lewis, a daughter of 
David and Ann Lewis, of Johnstown. Two children bless this union:  Lewis and 
Margaret.
     Mr. Evans is a pleasant and companionable gentleman, attends closely to the 
duties of his office, and is popular and well liked as an official.