Henry S. Evans was born on April Fool's Day, 1813 in Doylestown, Pennsylvania to parents Septimus Evans, and Catherine Haupt Evans of Philadelphia.
He started his lifelong newspaper career in 1826. At age 13 Henry became a printer's apprentice at The Village Record newspaper in West Chester under the guidance of then owner and Editor Charles Miner. He showed a great deal of promise as an honorable intelligent quick study. In 1834, eight years after beginning work at the Village Record, Evans purchased the paper from his boss and mentor. With an efficient management skill, the energetic 21 year old Evans grew his newspaper's circulation eventually becoming the leading country paper in the state of Pennsylvania. Through the years the newspaper served as a medium for several political parties first for the Federalist Party, in later years the Whig Party, and finally the Republican Party.
In 1846 he was elected by the Whig Party to represent Chester County in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Evans served three one year terms in the House, while there he served as Whig Speaker of the House in the session of 1849. In 1851 he was elected State Senator serving both Chester and Delaware counties in Pennsylvania, a position he served for two terms. While in state government Evans was Chairman of the House Committee on Printing and Education. During that chairmanship, he wrote legislation for the regulation of schools in Pennsylvania; his bill passed both houses of the Legislature. Henry Evans work ethic, empathy, and honesty put him in high esteem with many of his colleagues in both government and business.
On March 11, 1841 Henry married Jane Darlington of West Chester. Jane was the daughter of eminent Botanist and Physician, William Darlington M.D. and Catherine Reynolds Lacey. They had seven children.
Henry Evans won his party's nomination for Governor of Pennsylvania in 1854. For reasons unknown he withdrew from the campaign. It has been reported that the Philadelphia delegation stood solidly behind him when he withdrew from the race. A possible explanation for his withdraw could have been his brother's illness. That year (February, 1854) his brother Columbus, then only 30 years old, who was also a newspaperman, and politician passed away in West Chester.
Henry S. Evans served as a Pennsylvania State Senator, 1852-1854, and 1871-1872
As a West Chester citizen he took a part in public enterprise serving on many local committees. He was also elected to several minor public positions, including that as chief burgess of West Chester 1861. Henry S. Evans died while in office as a Pennsylvania State Senator on February 9, 1872 a little over a month before his 59th birthday. He is buried near his wife's family in the southwestern most corner of Oaklands Cemetery, West Chester.
He started his lifelong newspaper career in 1826. At age 13 Henry became a printer's apprentice at The Village Record newspaper in West Chester under the guidance of then owner and Editor Charles Miner. He showed a great deal of promise as an honorable intelligent quick study. In 1834, eight years after beginning work at the Village Record, Evans purchased the paper from his boss and mentor. With an efficient management skill, the energetic 21 year old Evans grew his newspaper's circulation eventually becoming the leading country paper in the state of Pennsylvania. Through the years the newspaper served as a medium for several political parties first for the Federalist Party, in later years the Whig Party, and finally the Republican Party.
In 1846 he was elected by the Whig Party to represent Chester County in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Evans served three one year terms in the House, while there he served as Whig Speaker of the House in the session of 1849. In 1851 he was elected State Senator serving both Chester and Delaware counties in Pennsylvania, a position he served for two terms. While in state government Evans was Chairman of the House Committee on Printing and Education. During that chairmanship, he wrote legislation for the regulation of schools in Pennsylvania; his bill passed both houses of the Legislature. Henry Evans work ethic, empathy, and honesty put him in high esteem with many of his colleagues in both government and business.
On March 11, 1841 Henry married Jane Darlington of West Chester. Jane was the daughter of eminent Botanist and Physician, William Darlington M.D. and Catherine Reynolds Lacey. They had seven children.
Henry Evans won his party's nomination for Governor of Pennsylvania in 1854. For reasons unknown he withdrew from the campaign. It has been reported that the Philadelphia delegation stood solidly behind him when he withdrew from the race. A possible explanation for his withdraw could have been his brother's illness. That year (February, 1854) his brother Columbus, then only 30 years old, who was also a newspaperman, and politician passed away in West Chester.
Henry S. Evans served as a Pennsylvania State Senator, 1852-1854, and 1871-1872
As a West Chester citizen he took a part in public enterprise serving on many local committees. He was also elected to several minor public positions, including that as chief burgess of West Chester 1861. Henry S. Evans died while in office as a Pennsylvania State Senator on February 9, 1872 a little over a month before his 59th birthday. He is buried near his wife's family in the southwestern most corner of Oaklands Cemetery, West Chester.
Henry S. Evans was born on April Fool's Day, 1813 in Doylestown, Pennsylvania to parents Septimus Evans, and Catherine Haupt Evans of Philadelphia.
He started his lifelong newspaper career in 1826. At age 13 Henry became a printer's apprentice at The Village Record newspaper in West Chester under the guidance of then owner and Editor Charles Miner. He showed a great deal of promise as an honorable intelligent quick study. In 1834, eight years after beginning work at the Village Record, Evans purchased the paper from his boss and mentor. With an efficient management skill, the energetic 21 year old Evans grew his newspaper's circulation eventually becoming the leading country paper in the state of Pennsylvania. Through the years the newspaper served as a medium for several political parties first for the Federalist Party, in later years the Whig Party, and finally the Republican Party.
In 1846 he was elected by the Whig Party to represent Chester County in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Evans served three one year terms in the House, while there he served as Whig Speaker of the House in the session of 1849. In 1851 he was elected State Senator serving both Chester and Delaware counties in Pennsylvania, a position he served for two terms. While in state government Evans was Chairman of the House Committee on Printing and Education. During that chairmanship, he wrote legislation for the regulation of schools in Pennsylvania; his bill passed both houses of the Legislature. Henry Evans work ethic, empathy, and honesty put him in high esteem with many of his colleagues in both government and business.
On March 11, 1841 Henry married Jane Darlington of West Chester. Jane was the daughter of eminent Botanist and Physician, William Darlington M.D. and Catherine Reynolds Lacey. They had seven children.
Henry Evans won his party's nomination for Governor of Pennsylvania in 1854. For reasons unknown he withdrew from the campaign. It has been reported that the Philadelphia delegation stood solidly behind him when he withdrew from the race. A possible explanation for his withdraw could have been his brother's illness. That year (February, 1854) his brother Columbus, then only 30 years old, who was also a newspaperman, and politician passed away in West Chester.
Henry S. Evans served as a Pennsylvania State Senator, 1852-1854, and 1871-1872
As a West Chester citizen he took a part in public enterprise serving on many local committees. He was also elected to several minor public positions, including that as chief burgess of West Chester 1861. Henry S. Evans died while in office as a Pennsylvania State Senator on February 9, 1872 a little over a month before his 59th birthday. He is buried near his wife's family in the southwestern most corner of Oaklands Cemetery, West Chester.
He started his lifelong newspaper career in 1826. At age 13 Henry became a printer's apprentice at The Village Record newspaper in West Chester under the guidance of then owner and Editor Charles Miner. He showed a great deal of promise as an honorable intelligent quick study. In 1834, eight years after beginning work at the Village Record, Evans purchased the paper from his boss and mentor. With an efficient management skill, the energetic 21 year old Evans grew his newspaper's circulation eventually becoming the leading country paper in the state of Pennsylvania. Through the years the newspaper served as a medium for several political parties first for the Federalist Party, in later years the Whig Party, and finally the Republican Party.
In 1846 he was elected by the Whig Party to represent Chester County in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Evans served three one year terms in the House, while there he served as Whig Speaker of the House in the session of 1849. In 1851 he was elected State Senator serving both Chester and Delaware counties in Pennsylvania, a position he served for two terms. While in state government Evans was Chairman of the House Committee on Printing and Education. During that chairmanship, he wrote legislation for the regulation of schools in Pennsylvania; his bill passed both houses of the Legislature. Henry Evans work ethic, empathy, and honesty put him in high esteem with many of his colleagues in both government and business.
On March 11, 1841 Henry married Jane Darlington of West Chester. Jane was the daughter of eminent Botanist and Physician, William Darlington M.D. and Catherine Reynolds Lacey. They had seven children.
Henry Evans won his party's nomination for Governor of Pennsylvania in 1854. For reasons unknown he withdrew from the campaign. It has been reported that the Philadelphia delegation stood solidly behind him when he withdrew from the race. A possible explanation for his withdraw could have been his brother's illness. That year (February, 1854) his brother Columbus, then only 30 years old, who was also a newspaperman, and politician passed away in West Chester.
Henry S. Evans served as a Pennsylvania State Senator, 1852-1854, and 1871-1872
As a West Chester citizen he took a part in public enterprise serving on many local committees. He was also elected to several minor public positions, including that as chief burgess of West Chester 1861. Henry S. Evans died while in office as a Pennsylvania State Senator on February 9, 1872 a little over a month before his 59th birthday. He is buried near his wife's family in the southwestern most corner of Oaklands Cemetery, West Chester.
Inscription
Life Long Editor and
Proprietor of the Chester County
VILLAGE RECORD
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Headstone is very wind worn, and it is being taken over by mold
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