HUGH M. EVANS. GRANVILLE, WASHINGTON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

No groceryman in Granville is as well known or is as familiar a figure in Granville homes, as is Hugh Morgan Evans. Summer or Winter, rain or shine, Hugh has been in a business which dates back to the horse and cart delivery. When the trucks were introduced he continued delivery as if nothing had happened in the world to revolutionize transportation.

His association with the grocery business goed back to the turn of the century when he was employed by William T. Williams who continued his business in the Michael Hope block where Matie Minogue now runs the liquor store. When the store was purchased by Robert O. Jones who styled himself as "The Grow Store", Hugh M. Evans stayed on in the job.

He left the grocery business for a very brief period to assist his brother Richard E. (Dick) Evans in the drug store, but returned to his old business with E. Clifford Hewitt with whom he is still associated.

Sleeves rolled up, wearing a white apron with a full or empty basket, as the case may be, Hugh M. Evans will appear and disappear from doorways, front yards, back yards and in a jiffy his truck is on the move to one other part of the village. And he's been a hard worker for many years.

In his steady contact with the people of Granville, through his business connections, Hugh M. Evans has become a symbol of a man about town, making lifelong friends whose troubles he has often listened to sometimes giving out an encouraging word. He is not a talker but a good listener and his general personality and courtesy both in business and socially make him a welcome visitor to many homes in the community.

Hugh M. Evans comes from a well known Granville family. His parents were Hugh and Rebecca (Richards) Evans, respected Welsh residents of another generation who lived in what has been known for many years as the "Eavns Homestead" at 3 Washington Street. The house was originally built by Slegmund Weinberg when he converted the farm land west of Quaker street into a residential section and in which house Rev. John Williams lived at one time.

The elder Hugh Evans raised his family in this house, in which Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Morgan Evans now reside. They were E.R. (Dick), David, Mary, Anna (Nan Manchester) and Hugh M. When the parents became ill Hugh M. Evans came to live with them and after they died he continued his residence in the Evans homestead, raisinf his daughter Jeanette there, who has graduated this year from the New York State College for teachers in Albany.

Hugh M. Evans, known to nearly everyone in Granville as 'Hugh Morgan' was born April 22nd, 1886 in Corris, North Wales, and he was about one and a half years old when his parents immigrated into the United States. There were seven children in the family when they reached the United States. Mary, now deceased , was only seven months old.

The elder Mr. Evans was a slate-maker, but first went to Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, to find work in the coal mines of Pennsylvania. He only stayed there a few years and came to Granville with his family, finding work in the local slate quarries.

At first the Evans family lived on the corner of Church street and Water street which, some years back was considered one of the finest residential sections in the village. Hugh M. Evans, after the family moved to the present Evans homestead, attended school in the Columbus street annex. He recalled that Mrs. George H. Bascom was one of his first teachers and also Alice Savage and Miss Leffingwell.

Mrs. Rivenburgh taught him in the Church street school and those of his schoolmates included Glen Beecher, Oscar P. Munson, John Williams, Lena Cathcart and Hugh Williams (the blacksmith). Before entering the grocery business Hugh M. Evans obtained a job in the slate quarries, at the age of 14 years, with the Hughes Slate company at Warren Switch. He also worked for the Edwards Slate company, the Vermont Slate company and for F. C. Sheldon.

"When I quit the quarries," said Hugh M. Evans, "I found a job with William T. Williams who had a grocery store in the Hayes block. I became the delivery boy and took orders. I confined my work to the village. I worked for him until he sold out to R. O. Jones and I was with R. O. for about eight years.

"R. O. closed his business about 1920, and I joined my brother Dick in the drug store in N. Goldberg block. After about three years, I went back in the grocery business with Cliff Hewitt, " said Mr. Evans, "and I am still with him."

Hugh M. Evans married Helen Roberts of West Pawlet, Vermont, October 12th, 1919. She is the daughter of John J and Elizabeth Rowland Roberts. Her father was killed in an explosion in West Pawlet in 1903, while unloading powder from the wagons at the quarry. He was 45 years of age at the time of his death. The explosion was so terrific that it shoock some of the houses in West Pawlet.

Mrs. Evans was asked to tell more about her family and she said : "This is an interview with Hugh and I wouldn't like to say anything about me, but since you are interested I can tell you that my mother was left a widow with five children. It was then I went to live with Robert O. Owens. Mrs. Owens was my mother's sister. I was with them until I reached 20 years of age. I took care of Gordon and Bob Owens."

Mrs. Evans then left for Albany to take up nurses training course and she was employed in Albany from 1911 until she married. While in Albany she was placed in charge of the Albany Guarding society, a home for older women, and she did welfare work with the Albany Guild form 1906 to 1911, her work consisting of slum work, which was sponsored by the city of Albany. She was also employed by the Metropolitan Insurance company, in charge of investigation of tubercular cases.

Mrs. Evans has done considerable nursing in Granville since her marriage and those who will recall the influenza epidemic in this village during the Worls war remember Mrs. Evans for the fine work she did in the emergency hospital. She was probably the only person connected with the hospital during that period who did not contract the disease. The emergency hospital was located in the present Granville Telephone company building on North street.

John L. Roberts brother of Mrs. Evans was present when his father was killed by the explosion and he vowed never to work in the slate quarries again. He quit the job and is now with the Standard Old company of Albany. Her sister Ann (Mrs. Richard H. Hughes) resides on Columbus street and her brother William (Bill J) Roberts also resides in Granville.

Mr. and Mrs. Hugh M. Evans have always had a great interest in the Welsh Presbyterian church of Granville. Mrs. Evans is a member of the Bethany class of the Welsh Presbyterian church, a society she organized in 1923. There are 38 active members in the class at the present time, who meet monthly at the homes of the members.

Hugh M. Evans is also a member of the Welsh Presbyterian church being a trustee of the church and a member of the Westminster club, the men's church society. "I never miss church" he said.

Granville Sentinel ~ August 28th, 1941.