ROBERT M. EVANS, justice of the peace, and one of Monroe Township's leading and substantial citizens, resides on his farm of eighty acres, which lies on the west side of the Dayton Turnpike Road, six miles south of Troy. He also owns a second farm containing forty acres, which is situated in Section 28, Monroe Township, one-quarter of a mile west of his present home. He was born on his father's farm, about one-half mile from his own land, in Monroe Township, Miami County, Ohio, March 18, 1845. His parents were. Robert and Mary (Jenkins) Evans.

Among the big farm wagons that carried a family of pioneers into Ohio and passed the lonely log cabins that then represented the present busy city of Dayton, was that owned and probably driven by Joseph Evans, the grandfather of Robert, M., who brought his family all the way from Georgia, in 1801, hoping to find a satisfactory place to locate, in a free state. The first stoppage was made in Montgomery County, near the Miami County line, but conditions not proving altogether to his mind, Joseph Evans resumed the journey and landed his family at Laporte, Indiana. There the pioneers lived until 1804, when they returned to Ohio and settled on what is now the Martin Idemiller farm, on the county line between Montgomery and Miami Counties. There Joseph Evans died some years later and his burial was one of the early ones in the Quaker cemetery at Mill Creek.

Robert Evans, father of Robert M., was, born February 7, 1789, in Georgia, and hence was fifteen years of age when his parents finally settled in Ohio. When he reached maturity he entered Government land, securing a farm in Montgomery County, on the line, and there he built a typical southern house, two stories in height, probably with double "galleries," as they are still denominated in Georgia, and it is not difficult to believe that he took great comfort in this home. Evidently others thought well of the place as some years later he sold it to advantage and bought land in Miami County, on which the southern half of Tippecanoe City stands. At that time all this land was a thicket, except where Indians had made small clearings. By 1837 he had about cleared up this second farm and he then traded it for the partly cleared northwest one- quarter of Section 28, Monroe Township, the transaction being entered into with John Clark, who then laid out Tippecanoe City. On this farm Robert Evans died in June, 1863. He was a vigorous man into advanced age. He married (first) Eleanor Jenkins, and they had the following children: Thomas J., Joseph, Julia Matilda, Esther, William, Moses, Eli, and Maria, the last named being now the only survivor. She is the widow of Samuel Jay and lives in Indiana. The second marriage of Robert Evans was to Mary Jenkins, who w as born August 20, 1839, and seven children were born to this union namely: Mary, Esther and Aaron, all deceased; Jesse, who was a member of the Ohio National Guards,. during the Civil Way, now deceased; Kerren H., who is the wife of Darius Jester, of Montgomery County, Ohio; Robert Milton; and Elizabeth, who married William Macy and resides in North Dakota.

Robert M. Evans has a vivid recollection of a happy boyhood spent mostly in the fields and woods, with occasional attendance at the district school and of the time thus well spent he has a memento, a little gift which was presented to him in 1851, by an appreciative teacher, as a reward for good conduct. When he was about eighteen years of age his father died and he inherited the east one-half of the home farm and remained on the place until 1879. He then went to Ginghamsburg, in Monroe Township, where he entered into business with A. C. Beson, embarking in the general mercantile line, they carrying a large stock of farm implements, groceries and dry goods, and operating under the style of Beson & Evans. The partnership continued until August 2, 1894, when Mr. Evans sold out to Mr. Beson. In 1890 Mr. Evans bought his home farm from his father-in- law, Louis Keller; on this place his wife was born and reared. For many years it was known as the old Keller farm and the old brick house is still standing although, in 1896, Mr. Evans erected his more modern residence. He does not personally cultivate his land, his time being fully occupied with his public duties.

On March 2, 1867, Mr. Evans was married to Miss Minerva J. Keller, who died February 6, 1909, aged sixty-three years. She was a lady of Christian life and exemplary character, one who filled every position that life presented to her, with the completeness of a good woman. To this marriage were born eight children, namely: Mavis and Howard Virgil, who both died young; Zenetia B., who died at the age of nineteen years; Lilly H., wife of Adam Underwood; Sarah, wife of Harry Barnhart; Laura, the wife of Ira Oaks; Anna P., the wife of William Kendall; and Rhoda M., who resides with her father. Mr. Evans and family are united with the United Brethren Church.

Mr. Evans is one of the leading Republicans of Monroe Township. His war record is as follows: In June, 1863, he became a member of the Twenty-fifth Regiment, Ohio National Guards, which was then organized, entering Company G, under Capt. Newell Kerr and Col. B. F. Rossin. In 1864 the regiment responded to the call of the President and for four months did duty in the forts in the vicinity of Washington City. This regiment was known at that time as the 147th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. On November 6, I876, Mr. Evans was elected justice of the peace, an office he has continued to hold ever since. In point of years of service, he is the oldest justice in Miami County.