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HARRISON DEXTER EVANS Harrison Dexter
Evans was born May 2, 1836, at Peterborough, New Hampshire. His preparatory course was taken at Appleton Academy, New
Ipswich, New Hampshire, and he entered our class in the Spring of 1862, during our Sophomore year. He remained with us
only two terms, or until the completion of Sophomore year.
He then enlisted in the service of his country on August 18, 1862, as a private in Company G, Thirteenth Regiment, New
Hampshire Volunteers, but was immediately detailed on special duty in the Quartermaster's Department, and served there
for eighteen months. He was then detached from his regiment, and placed in charge of confiscated farms, to cultivate
them with colored help that came into our lines. He was on special duty during his whole term of service, part of the
time being employed in carrying rations to the soldiers at the front under cover of night. The last year of the war,
he was sick all the time with ague and rheumatism, contracted while in the discharge of his duties, and he has never
since regained his health. He was never off duty while in the Service, and he has never had a pension. He was mustered
out of the
Service on June 26, 1865.
He then went to Mossville, Peoria County, Illinois, where he taught school, but remained there only a short time, as
his wife contracted the ague, and he returned to New England, teaching schools in Massachusetts and New Hampshire
until 1868. During this year, he bought a farm at Sharon, New Hampshire, which he cultivated for four years. In 1872
he accepted a position as traveling salesman for nursery stock, and at the same time canvassing for "Johnson's Natural
History of the Animal Kingdom,'' in which business he is still engaged.
He has filled the offices of Selectman, Town Clerk, member of the School Committee and Justice of the Peace. He is at
present a deacon in the Congregational Church at Ayer Junction, Massachusetts. He is a Republican in politics.
He was married August 9, 1862, to Miss Hattie L. Bucknam, of New Ipswich, New Hampshire. They have three children:
Minnie H., born December 11, 1866; Jennie May, born September 9, 1869, and Harrison E., born August 18, 1881.
Source: "Memorialia of the Class of '64 in Dartmouth College" complied by John C.
Webster, Shepard & Johnston, Printers, 1884, Chicago
Submitted by Deborah Crowell |