THOMAS EVANS AND ELIZABETH (BETSY) REES
Thomas Evans and Elizabeth (Betsy) Rees were natives of
Pembrokeshire, Wales. They were devout members of the LDS Church and came to
Utah as converts.
Elizabeth (Betsy) Rees was born May 25, 1845 and died
December 26, 1920. She was the daughter of Thomas Rees and Rebecca Williams,
the fourth child of a family of twelve. They were: Mary, Rebecca, Elizabeth,
Heber, Sarah, Brigham, Ellen, Noah, Margaret, Lettice, and Thomas Parley Rees.
Thomas Evans was born August 8, 1858, and died March 2,
1889. They had three children: Sarah Evans (Morse), Williams Evans and David
Evans. They later lived in Washakie, Box Elder County, Utah, for a time, as
Betsy's father was an Indian Agent there. While they were there, their only
daughter Sarah Annie was born September 29, 1883. The parents must have moved
to Samaria, Idaho shortly after, as Edward William Evans was born March 18,
1885, and David Asa Evans was born June 11, 1887, in Samaria.
Thomas Evans died soon after coming to Samaria at the age
of 30. They homesteaded 160 acres in the southern part of the community,
halfway between Samaria and the point of the southern mountains.
If you built a liveable cabin and stayed there for five
consecutive years, 160 acres were yours; or you could stay there nine straight
months, then pay $2.50 an acre and the 160 acres were still yours. You could
claim the land either way.
Grandma reared three small children on her homestead. She
had a sense of duty and a tireless willingness to work and what was to her a
lavish amount of fertile soil, opportunity, and a promise. The country was
rough, rugged, uncivilized and yet unnaturally beautiful. Because she was a
widow with three small children to support, she endured hardships even greater
than the ordinary pioneer. She will be remembered as a wonderful mother; a
woman who was kind and patient. She was always helping people and if necessary
waiting on folks. We will always remember her pleasant smile and disposition.
Grandmother Evans was living with her son Dave and
family, in the Stone area where he was employed as a school teacher at the time
of her death, December 26, 1920. She was buried next to her husband in the
Samaria Cemetery. For all the pioneers, our ancestors in this and other areas,
we should be eternally grateful. They were good, honest, hard working people.
The Family of William E. Morse
