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Archiver > JENKINS > 2001-07 > 0995005762


From: "Donna & Bob" <>
Subject: [JENKINS] Evans/Jenkins
Date: Fri, 13 Jul 2001 02:29:22 -0400


I need some help to unravel who's who please. I found this online
"The land upon which the village stands was first occupied by Robert Evans,
who, could he look upon the place as it now is, would probably not
recognize, in the streets so beautifully laid out and pleasantly shaded by
tall maples, the spot of ground from which he was able, only by extreme
manual labor, to produce for himself and family what was, at best, a scanty
livelihood, in the old pioneer days. The land in this vicinity, at that
time, was an unbroken forest, but, had the trees been invested with
reasoning powers, they might have known, by the echoes made by a resounding
axe in other places, that the footpath of American civilization was rapidly
advancing. Add to the drawback of the land being heavily timbered the fact
of its being rather low, and for many months, very wet and unfit to be
worked each year, and it was not surprising that the proprietor should grow
anxious to dispose of the place and seek another, where less difficulties
would have to be overcome. Accordingly, Mr. Evans exchanged farms, in the
fall of 1839, with his brother-in-law, John Clark, who had emigrated with
his parents from Sharpsburg, Chester Co., Md., when he was about nine years
of age, which would make the date of his location in Miami County, this
township, about the year 1804. Having arrived at the age of manhood, Mr.
Clark married a lady whose maiden name was Jenkins, who had immigrated to
this township with her parents from South Carolina in the early days of the
nineteenth century.In the fall of 1839, when seeking a permanent home for
himself and his growing family, Mr. Clark was so fortunate as to become the
possessor of the land on which Tippecanoe City is now located;... .....the
prosperity of any community, by founding the new town. Four blocks on what
is now First Street, first laid out, and divided into seventeen lots, which
were offered for sale, and for which he received $100 each. The original
lots east of First Street, were fifty-two feet in front and 187 feet deep,
while west of First Street they were only 152 feet deep. No public sale of
lots was made, but private enterprise willingly took hold of the
work,........was occupied by a store, blacksmith shop and tavern, three of
the most important factors in the establishment of a country village.".
Now, there's an Evans, a Jenkins and a Clark mentioned in this. All surnames
of mine who all ended up in Miami County.
Now, on the Miami genelaogical index it shows an 1818 marriage of a John
Clark to a Harriet Jenkins.
Also, a John Clark in 1837 had 5 deed transactions, in 1838 he had 2 and in
1839 he had 5. Lots of ownership transfers goin on.
Then in 1842, 45, 46, 47 and 48 there were ALOT of Tippecanoe Lots
beingdeeded by a John Clark.....selling the land he'd bought a few years
earlier for the town of Tippecanoe would be my guess. Also guessing that one
of the 1839 deeds is the farm trade between Robert Evans and John Clark
mentioned in the article.
I need to know if anyone knows anything about the Robert Evans listed here,
the John Clark or his Jenkins bride.
Thank you very much.
Donna Gill in MD

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