A Memorial and Biographical History of McLennan, Falls, Bell and Coryell Counties, Texas. Page: 470

                                
HISTORY OF MCLENNAN, FALLS,

himself a man of superior business ability. His
counsel is highly esteemed by his fellow-citi-
zens, and his advice is often sought on matters
of moment.
Mr. Burwitz was married in 1884, to Miss
Anna Black, and to them three children have
been born, one of them is deceased. He is a
member of the Knights of Pythias. The Tem-
ple City Company was aided in its organiza-
tion by him, and he is its present efficient secre-
tary, and he is also President of the Temple
Improvement Company.
LFRED EVANS, a pioneer of Bell county,
Texas, was born in North Carolina, No-
vember 15, 1810, son of David Lee and
Eliza (Porter) Evans, both natives of North
Carolina. His father, Captain Lee Evans, com-
manded a company at Fort Johnson, during the
war of 1812, and died of fever contracted there.
The Captain was a son of Theophilus Evans,
one of the signers of the Mecklenburg Resolu-
tions. The latter was a faithful soldier in the
war of the Revolution, but while at home, six
miles south of~the Cross creek, he was captured
by the notorious Tory, David Fanning, on his
return from  delivering  Governor Burke to
Major Craig at Wilmington. The Tories tied
him by his hands and feet under the belly of a
horse, and carried him  to Cross creek. They
stopped at a tavern, kept by Mrs. Gee, a sister
of Evans. She supplied them   liberally with
liquor, and while they were carousing she as-
sisted her brother to escape.
Alfred Evans lived in North Carolina till he
reached his majority, and then went to Talla-
hassee, Florida. When the Seminole Indians
commenced hostilities, Colonel Clinch, in com-
mand of the regular forces, called on the Gov-
ernor (Call) for volunteers. Mr. Evans enlisted
in Captain Throop's company, Colonel Parish's
regiment. Governor Call, in command of the
whole, authorized Captain George Fisher to
select a spy detail from the different companies,

and Mr. Evans was detailed from Throop's
company, for that service, and he was at the
first battle of Withlacoochee. He afterward
carried dispatches to General Scott, when he
was trying to get the Creek Indians out of
Alabama.   Then Scott had been recalled by
President Jackson, and General Jessup placed
in command, and the papers turned over to
him, Jessup. He was in the Seminole war for
two years, and during that time carried dis-
patches from the Governor of the State to Gen-
eral Scott, in Alabama.
In 1838, Mr. Evans came to the Republic of
Texas. He was in Brazoria county one year,
and from there went to Austin county, where
he lived for twenty years, engaged in agricul-
tural pursuits, one year farming with Judge
Waller. In 1846 he entered the Mexican war,
being a lieutenant in Captain C. C. Herbert's
company, and a participant in the Monterey
campaign. After that lie enlisted for the war,
and became Captain of Company G, Jack Hayes'
Texas regiment, and was in the Mexico city
campaign. He was discharged and mustered
out of the service at Vera Cruz, in May, 1848.
Returning to his home in Austin county, he
resumed his farming operations, and prior to
the annexation was on numerous Indian raids
and did much fighting.  In 1859 he moved to
Bell county, and bought a farm in the southern
part of the county.  Here he mado many im-
provements. He was County Commissioner
for many years, ever taking a prominent part in
county affairs. He was one of the commission-
ers to push forward the work of building the
county courthouse. In 1887 he moved to Bel-
ton, and the following year opened a hotel, the
Belton House.
Mr. Evans has been twice married.  In Flor-
ida he wedded Lucy Peebles, who died in Texas,
leaving one child, a son, John W., who died
while 'with his regiment at San Antonio, in
1862. Mr. Evans' second marriage occurred in
1865, with Serilda Jarnagin, and by her he has
two children: William Augustus and Barton.
His wife is a member of the Methodist Episco-

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