Evans Business College
Lenawee County Michigan

This page grew out of a query from Judy Palmaffy regarding the Evans Business College in Adrian Michigan. Judy Palmaffy has copies of her ancestor's diploma, sign up sheet and receipt for fees paid to the Evans Business College of Adrian Michigan. Carol Stevens did some research on the school and here is what she found.

September 24, 1997
Ms. Judy Palmaffy

Dear Judy,

I have done some follow up research on your interesting genealogy question concerning a Evans Business College in Lenawee County, Michigan in the 1870's. For the benefit of those receiving a copy of this letter I will review what has gone before.

In May of this year you posted a querie on the Lenawee County GENWEB page on the internet that read, "I have a diploma issued to my uncle, George Shattuck," from the Evans Business College, Adrian, Michigan in 1872. "The diploma stated that George "completed a fullcourse in my College" and, having done so, "I consider him throughly qualified to open and keep books by double or single entry in any business house in the state." George went on to teach college courses in Penmanship and Accounting in Dallas, Texas in 1877. I'm curious as to the history and nature of this college. I also thought that any descendants of W. R. Evans, aparently the owner of this college, might like a copy of this handwritten diploma."

As you remember, my first attempts to help you were fruitless. I even inquired at the Historical Society, they had never heard of Evans Business College.

My second attempt, however, proved much more satisfactory. I discovered that W. R. Evans was in fact U. Evans, or Uri or Uriah R. Evans. I found the following entries inthe Adrian City directories:

• 1865-66: U R Evans, sewing machine agent, bds 22 N. Main
• 1870 Uri R. Evans, Evans Commercial College, writing school over 101 S. Main (Old No. 103).
• 1874 Uri R. Evans, proprietor, Evans Business College, Underwood block ne cor Maumee & Main.
• 1876-77 Uriah R. Evans, of Evans & Grosscup Business College, stone block, Maumee.
• 1882-83 Uri R. Evans Business College, over 21 West Maumee.
• 1885-86 Under a listing headed Misc. Schools Evan's Business College, over 21 West Maumee. There was also a personal listing for our Mr. Evans.
• 1890-91 Mrs. U. R. Evans, res. 11 Jordan. No further listings for Evans Business College were found, by now Brown's Business College, L.S. Brown, proprietor, was in business in Adrian.

As it appeared that Uri had passed to his greater rewards I quickly checked the obit file at the Lenawee County Historical Society and found an obit for Uri. It appeared September 2, 1887 in the Hudson (Lenawee County, Michigan) newspaper. It read, in part, "Prof. U.R. Evans, proprietor and principal of Evans Business College of Adrian died last Saturday. He was well known in Lenawee County where he had conducted writing schools and a business college for many years."

As you had expressed an interest in donating a copy of the diploma to the family, I also asked you if you would be interested in donating one to the Lenawee County Historical Society, which I am pleased to note, you have already done.

It was this interest in finding any heirs that sent me back to Adrian for some further research.

I checked the probate files and found one, File # 5234 I-467 in 1887. In checking the documents I am sad to report there was little, but still of some interest. There was a probate notice published on October 14, 1887. These notices are supposed to be published once a week for 3 weeks. I found one such notice. There was also a request signed by Mrs. Evans on November 7, 1887 requesting the case be closed. The request was granted. The probate file revealed the names of Mrs. Evans and her children, two daughters. Mrs. Evans given name was Hester A. and her daughters were Allie L and Lotta M.

Next I checked to see if the daughters married in Lenawee County, or if Hester remarried. I found no evidence that Hester remarried, however, both her daughters did in fact marry here in the county.

Allie L. Evans, aged 22, born in Adrian, father U.R. Evans, mother Hattie Paulding, married Edward J. Bosworth, aged 24, born in Rochester, New York, father Wm . H. Bosworth, mother Susan Jennings. They were married in Adrian on October 12, 1887, just a little over one month after her father had died. By the way, on checking the city directories, I found no Bosworth listed in the 1886-87 or the 1890-91 directories.

Lottie Mabel Evans, aged 21, born in Adrian (parents verified) married George A. Masters, aged 25, whose residence is in Toledo, Ohio, and was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana. George was an engineer, his father was Frank P. Masters and mother was Susan W. Stewart. They were married in Adrian on February 6, 1889. A check of the city directories for 1885-86 and 1890-91 found no entry for Masters.

The indexes to the vital records of Lenawee County were checked and a death for a George Masters was found in July of 1948. I have not pulled the actual death record and no obituary was located due to missing issues of the Adrian newspaper for that date. There was also a birth for a Minnie Bell Masters found in 1894, the actual birth record has not been checked.

I was very curious as to whether Hester/Hattie had sold the college, perhaps even to Brown. This does not appear to have happened, I could not locate any deed that mentioned the school specifically. However, in 1889, just one month before the marriage of the second daughter Lottie land on Jordan Lane was sold. The legal description was: a strip of land 20' wide off the West side and the entire length of lot #13, Plat of Jordan's Addition to the City of Adrian. There are 3 deeds with the same legal description. The particulars are:

• Lottie M. Evans signs deed to Samuel Potts on January 5, 1889, deed recorded January 9, 1889 in Book 151, Page 457.
• Allie L. Bosworth signs deed to Samuel Potts on January 2, 1889, the deed is recorded January 9, 1889 in Book 151, Page 463. Allie is living in Rochester, Monroe County, New York.
• Hester A. Evans, signs deed to Samuel Potts on January 7, 1889, said deed is recorded January 9, 1889 in Book 150-274. The deed states that she is the widdow [sic] of the late U.R. Evans, deceased.

Lottie, Allie and Hester each received $125.00.

It would appear that they sold the property and moved on. Perhaps Hester moved in with one of her daughters. One might continue this search in Toledo, Ohio or Rochester, New York.

I hope that you find these latest findings interesting. As is the norm with family history research, every answer brings additional questions. I wish you the best in your continued research. If you ever discover more about the Evans family and their descendants I would like to hear about them, as I am sure the Lenawee County Historical Society would, and the Lenawee County GENWEB page on the internet.

Sincerely yours,
Carol A. Stevens

Hi Diane!

We haven't "talked" for a long time now. I got Carol's letter a while back and just about fell out of my chair! She really researched! I was amazed. I owe her a letter or at least a big "Thank You" but I am sooo far behind in absolutely everything!

My last name is Palmaffy, but I've grown accustomed to just about anything. Don't worry about it. Gee, I feel almost famous now. ;)

Thanks for everything, Diane. I appreciate all your efforts. I'll check out the page as soon as it gets posted. Keep in touch.

Have a great day.
Judy