MRS. LAURA R. EVANS, PORTAGE, COLUMBIA COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
Mrs Laura Roberts Evans was the wife of Mr. William R. Evans. Mr. Evans was born on a farm called Plas Clocaenog, nr Ruthin, Denbighshire.Mrs Evans was the daughter of Griffith and Ann (Richards) Roberts. She was born at Hendre, Llandanwg, Merionethshire, Wales, and came alone to the United States in 1851. She stopped for a short time at Portage, but soon went to La Crosse, being a passenger on the first trip made over a stage route opened between those places. The journey consumed three days, and the fare was five dollars.
She found employment at La Crosse, and Mr. Evans went thither from Caledonia on foot to visit her during their courtship. The date of their marriage was September 2nd, 1854.
Mrs. Evans, who still resides upon the homestead farm, relates a number of interesting anecdotes of pioneer days. She became housekeeping in a small log cabin, but her present- home is a commodious dwelling with all modern conveniences and luxurious furnishings.
Of her seven children, but three survive, though eight children call her grandmother. The record of her children follows: Anne (Mrs. Griffith E. Davis) was born September 29th, 1855, and died at the age of twenty-three years; John, born April 16th, 1857, died at six years of age; Elizabeth and Griffith both died in infancy; Margaret (Mrs. John Davis) lives at Manchester, Green Lake county, Wisconsin; Laura June is the widow of John Rowlands and lives on the homestead in Caledonia; and Clara is the wife of Dr. Charles Smith, of Boody, Illinois. She is a graduate of the Woman's Medical College, Chicago, and practiced the healing art for some time.