John Evans (March 9, 1814 – July 2, 1897) was an American politician, physician, founder of various hospitals and medical associations, railroad promoter, second governor of the Territory of Colorado, and namesake of Evanston, Illinois; Evans, Colorado; and formerly Mount Evans, Colorado.

He is most noted for being one of the founders of both Northwestern University and the University of Denver. The John Evans professorships, the highest honors bestowed on faculty members at both Northwestern University and the University of Denver, are named for him. By bringing railroad service to Denver from several directions, he was responsible for the growth of Denver from a settlement to a city.

Evans was forced to resign the governorship in 1865 for his role in instigating the Sand Creek massacre, one of the worst massacres of Native Americans in U.S. history.

Early life and education

Evans was born in Waynesville, Ohio, on March 9, 1814, to British immigrants Rachel and David Evans, a farmer, hardware store owner, and real estate investor. Rachel and David were both from Wales. He graduated from Cincinnati College with a degree in medicine in March 1838. To ease seasickness during travel, he patented a suspended bed for ships in 1872 in England, France, the United States, and Italy. While he lived in Evanston and later lived in Colorado, he donated money and land to fund the university's expenses after it opened in Evanston, Illinois, in November 1855. In the 1880s, he built the Denver and New Orleans Railroad. Railroad service into Colorado helped Denver grow to more than 100,000 people by the 1880s from a frontier town of just a few thousand people. The offer of sanctuary was perfunctory; his ultimate goal was to eliminate Native American activity in eastern Colorado Territory entirely, in hopes that this would help him earn a seat in the U.S. Senate.

thumb|Cheyenne and Arapaho Delegation, [[Fort Weld|Camp Weld, September 28, 1864]]

Chief Black Kettle had told Native Americans that it was important that they make peace with the settlers or they would be crushed. He met with Lincoln and was very proud to have been given a large American flag in the fall of 1864. Only a few Native Americans, including Black Kettle, were able to accept Evans' offer of amnesty; most of those who attempted approach Fort Lyon were turned away at gunpoint, which Evans characterized as them "refusing" amnesty. or 165 Native Americans

Two U.S. Congressional committees and one military committee were formed to investigate the massacre, finding guilt on the part of the U.S. government in 1865. Evans was accused of a coverup. He became a member of the Freemasons. She died as a young woman and Evans built the Evans Memorial Chapel in her memory. In 1868, John Evans and Samuel Elbert purchased land near Evergreen, Colorado, for a summer retreat and ranch called Evans–Elbert Ranch.

thumb|right|John Evans' grave marker in [[Denver, Colorado|Denver's Riverside Cemetery]]

Evans was in poor health in the last year of his life and his wife became the executor of his estate in November 1896.

He is also the namesake of Evanston, Illinois and Evans, Colorado.

In 1963, he was inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.

During the 21st century, Evans' legacy came under renewed scrutiny for his beliefs regarding Native Americans. Colorado State Historian David Halaas said, "When it came to Indians, Evans believed they didn't have souls, that they were heathen savages, they were infernal—all words that he used to describe Indian people."

See also

  • History of Colorado
  • Law and government of Colorado
  • List of governors of Colorado
  • Territory of Colorado
  • University of Denver
  • Northwestern University
  • Silas Soule (Sand Creek whistleblower)

Notes

References

  • Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site Study Act of 1998
  • The Governors of Colorado @ Colorado.gov
  • Biography of John Evans @ Colorado.gov