Researching Evan Evans

"It doesn't matter if you're in a wheelchair or have healthy legs," Evans added "If you have the will to do something, you can get it done. I race the same as anyone else does; I just don't use my feet. And, I never give up."

Evans was born at Gellillyndy, Llanddewibrefi, Cardiganshire, 8 March 1804. He commenced preaching with the Calvinistic Methodists in 1825; became a total abstainer in 1830, and met with much persecution for his advocacy of temperance principles, which were new in those days. In 1847 he joined the independents, and continued a popular minister among them through life. In 1869 he was induced to emigrate to America, whither a daughter and several brothers and sisters had gone before him, taking up his residence at Oak Hill, Ohio. In 1881, he collected a small Welsh church in Arkansas, the first in the state, and continued in charge of it until his death on 29 October 1886. His wife died in January of the same year.

Evans, son of Jenkin Evans, was born at Cynhawdref, in the parish of Lledrod, Cardiganshire. He received his education at the grammar school of Ystrad Meurig, under the scholar and poet Edward Richard. He moved to Oxford, and entered Merton College in 1751 but left without graduating. He had conveyed a small freehold in Cardiganshire to his younger brother for £100, in order to support himself at the university.

By 1754 he had been ordained as a priest, and he served as curate in at least eighteen different parishes, including at Newick in Sussex, at Tywyn in Merionethshire, at Llanberis and Llanllechid in Carnarvonshire, and at Llanfair Talhaiarn in Denbighshire.

He attended University of California, Los Angeles and Nadia Boulanger Institute in Paris. He apprenticed with several important entertainment industry personalities, including Argentinian film composer, concert composer and pianist Lalo Schifrin.

He generally composes for independent films. His compositions are often highly complex and dark and atmospheric.

In 1999 he founded the record label, E3 Records; E3 is named after his three initials.

Evans is also a successful semi-professional poker player and is the author of several works offering winning tips.

Evans, son of William and Catharine (Howell), was born Jan. 6, 1827 in Llangyfelach, near Swansea, South Wales. His parents moved to Bradford County, Pa., in 1831, where he obtained his early education. He graduated from Yale College in 1851. He studied theology at New Haven for about a year, and then became principal of the Delaware Literary Institute, in Franklin, N. Y. From this position he was called to a tutorship at Yale, which he resigned, however, after one year's service (1855-6). In 1857 he was appointed Professor of Natural Philosophy and Astronomy at Marietta College, Ohio, and filled that place until 1864. He was then for three years occupied in Mining Engineering, and spent a fourth year in European travel. He was the first professor appointed in Cornell University, N. Y., and from the opening of that institution, in the fall of 1868, until 1872, filled the chair of Mathematics. He resigned on account of failing health, and after an absence of a few months at the South, returned to Ithaca, and gradually sank, until his death of consumption, May 22, 1874. Professor Evans was a general scholar, and while excelling in mathematics, was perhaps the most thorough Celtic student in this country.

He was married, Aug. 6, 1856, to Helen E., daughter of Rev. Dr. Tertius S Clarke, then of Franklin, N. Y. She survived him, with several children.

Evans was born at Nantcol in the parish of Llangelynnin, Merioneth, the elder son of Lewis Evans, farmer, who removed in 1856 to Tynllyn, Trawsfynydd, in the same county, by his first wife. The registration of the birth cannot be traced. He was for some years a pupil teacher in the national school at Trawsfynydd and later an assistant in the village store. In 1872 he removed to London, where he remained until his death. Some clerical employment brought him into touch with the Chancery Lane Safe Deposit and Offices Company, Limited, the service of which he entered, becoming first secretary and then managing director. He was attracted to journalism, becoming a member of the parliamentary press gallery, and he continued throughout his life his connexion with the press and particularly with the South Wales Daily News, for the London letter of which he was for many years largely responsible. He was intimate with the younger members of parliament from Wales and welcomed the advent of his neighbour David Lloyd George to London on his election as member for Carnarvon Boroughs in 1890.

In 1881 Evans became secretary and editor of the publications of the National Eisteddfod Association and in 1884 a member of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion, the council of which he joined in 1886. He became secretary in 1887, and later undertook the editorship of the society's publications and may be said to have re-established the society. He retained his offices in both these institutions until his death.

The strong national feeling which manifested itself in Wales during the last two decades of the nineteenth century looked to the ‘London Welsh’ for guidance, and Evans's interests and associations connected him with many bodies, and in particular with the university colleges at Aberystwyth and Bangor of the university of Wales, of which he was a governor, and which in 1922 conferred upon him the honorary degree of LL.D. Among other offices he was a governor of the Welsh National Museum and the National Library of Wales; president in 1918 of the Cambrian Archaeological Society; chairman of the executive committee of the Welsh Bibliographical Society; treasurer of the Welsh Folk-Song Society; and he took a large part in organizing and recruiting the London Welsh battalions during the war of 1914–1918. Although he made no claim to scholarship, many articles of useful comment and careful compilation were published by him in the Cymmrodor and the Transactions of the Cymmrodorion Society.

Evans, who was knighted in 1909 for his services to Wales, and appointed Companion of Honour in 1922, was of sturdy build, somewhat above the middle height, with a large and striking head, typical of the people of the uplands of Merioneth. He married in 1881 Annie Elizabeth (died 1898), daughter of Thomas Beale, of Oxford, and had a son, Mr. Lewis Noel Vincent Evans, C.B., deputy director of public prosecutions, and a daughter. Evans died in London 13 November 1934.

Evans' public appointments included:*Chairman of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales and Monmouthshire*Governor of the Welsh National Museum*Governor of the National Library of Wales*President of the Cambrian Archaeological Society (1918)*Vice-chairman of the executive committee of the Welsh Bibliographical Society*Treasurer of the Welsh Folk-Song Society