John Evans (politician)

John Evans

John Evans (born March 9, 1814 in Waynesville , Warren County , Ohio , †  July 3, 1897 in Denver , Colorado ) was an American doctor and politician . Between 1862 and 1865 he was governor of the Colorado Territory .

Early years and political advancement

Evans attended the Clermont Academy until 1838 , where he studied medicine. He then moved to Attica , Indiana , where he practiced as a doctor. There he was also one of the founders of the first state hospital in Indianapolis , of which he became the first director. After another move to Chicago , he also helped build a hospital there. He also published a medical newspaper there and founded the Illinois Medical Society . In addition, he received a professorship at Rush Medical College .

In addition to his medical work, Evans also participated in two railway companies. As a result, he quickly became a rich man who soon gained political influence. In 1851 he founded Northwestern University . Until his death he was chairman of the board of trustees of this university. He was also a co-founder of the Illinois Republican Party and became a personal friend of Abraham Lincoln .

Territorial Governor of Colorado

On March 31, 1862, President Lincoln named his friend Evans territorial governor of Colorado. In his new home, Evans also made friends with the Reverend John M. Chivington . Together they founded the later University of Denver . In 1864, Evans appointed Chivington colonel in a volunteer unit tasked with "calming" the Indians. With 800 men, Chivington came across an unarmed Indian group under Chief Black Kettle , who camped on Sand Creek. Chivington gave orders for an attack that ended in blood and became known as the Sand Creek Massacre . 53 unarmed Indians and 110 women and children were killed on November 28, 1864. Governor Evans not only endorsed the act, he recognized Chivington and his men for their actions, with the true course of events hidden. Because of the cover-up of the massacre, he was deposed as governor by the new President Andrew Johnson on July 18, 1865.

Another résumé

Even after his dismissal, Evans was very popular in Colorado. Until his death he was the chairman of the board of trustees of Denver Seminary .

The Mount Evans near Denver was named after him, as well as Evanston , the location of Northwestern University. Evans was the father-in-law of Samuel Hitt Elbert , who was also territorial governor of Colorado from 1873 to 1874.

Web links

• John Evans in the database of Find a Grave (English)
• The governors of Colorado (English)