Owen Evans was one of the most overlooked brother in the Evans family. There was nothing much about him except where his home was in Lower Gwynedd. If Owen Evans was overlooked, how come his home still exist to this day?
Owen Evan's Descendants
Owen Evans was granted 538 acres of land in 1703 after he and his brothers settled in Gwynedd in 1698. At that same year, Owen built his home. In 1720, Owen nearly sold 2/5 of his land, including the land he gave to his eldest son Thomas Evans (1682-1760). After obtaining the land given by his father, Thomas became a farmer as well as an innkeeper.
Sad Fact #1: Thomas's daughters Jane and Elizabeth were the first two victims of the 1745 epidemic that occurred in Gwynedd.
Thomas's son Thomas, Jr. (1733-1818) bought his father's property in 1776. After Thomas died, his son Caleb Evans (1768-1855) purchased the property, owning it for 37 years until his death. Caleb was married twice, one to Agnes Roberts whom had a son Cadwalader Evans (1821-1861). Unfortunately, his life was cut short, and left behind his wife Ellen H. Evans (1823-1906) and his five children. Ellen and her son Joseph S. Evans (1851-1934) would become owners of the property.
Fun Fact #1: In 1897, Joseph's wife Emma Evans was elected the school director of Lower Gywnedd. She was the first female elected in Montgomery County.
Fun Fact #2: Joseph ran numerous times for PA House of Representatives as part of the Prohibition Party. In the 1908 Election, he lost to Republican John H. Bartman. 1908 was the same year William H. Taft won presidency and was inaugurated as the 27th President of the United States.
Architecture
If you notice right away, you would see how the home was "split." It was due to the additions made around the home since it was built in 1703. According to the Ambler Gazette, the rear section of the home was added in 1745, and the east wing of the home was added in 1802. It also said the home was made out of sandstone.
It's a simple colonial home. It contains 6x6 sash double-hung windows, end chimneys, pedimented triangular door surround, and dormers. With these features, this home would be a Georgian-style home. Even with the additions made on the home, you can still see the symmetry of each section.
Bibliography
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Morris, William E, and Smith & Wistar. Map of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania: from original surveys. [Philadelphia: Smith & Wistar, 1849] Map. https://www.loc.gov/item/2012590207/.
Nominations for the Offices of Representatives in Congress, Senators in the General Assembly, Representatives in the General Assembly and Judges of the Various Courts Made at the Uniform Primary Election Held on Saturday, April 11, 1908: As Returned to the Secretary of the Commonwealth by the County Commissioners of the Several Counties of the Commonwealth. (1908): 24.
Quinn, James A. and Elfed Owen. "Descendants of Ievan known as Evan Robert Lewis, The Evans family of Gwynedd, Pennsylvania." Gwynedd Friends Meeting History Page. Last modified August 2010. https://www.friendsjournal.org/legacy/abington/gwynedd/evans.htm.
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Smith, J. L. Montgomery County 1893, Upper and Lower Gwynedd Townships, Lansdale, North Wales, Spring House, Ambler Right, 1893.