Evan Leo Williams (1880)

Evan Leo Williams (b. 18 Sep 1880, d. 16 Dec 1954) was born to David Williams and Mary Jenkins in Dowlais, Glamorganshire, Wales. As a boy he moved with his family to Pittsburgh, PA.

Evan married Catherine L. Coyne, daughter of Irish immigrants, in about 1907 in Pittsburgh.

Evan and Catherine had the following children:

Gilbert L. b. 1911
Mary Williams b. 1 Jan 1915, d. 4 Jan 1915, (died of convulsions buried at Calvary Cemetery)

Catherine b. 21 Nov 1918, d. 11 Jan 1978

In 1910, Evan and Catherine lived at 94 S. Fifteenth St (property highlighted below) along with his father David and brother William. He was working as a truck driver for an undertaking firm. He likely worked for neighbor Louis Kimmell, who was a funeral director at 51 S. Fourteenth St, which is located right behind where Evan and family was living. 

Evan remained employed as a driver and lived at this home at the S. Fifteenth home at least through 1915. In 1912, his brother Thomas, who was working as a plumber, was living with Evan and his family. His father, David had moved to live with his daughter, Evan's sister, Margaret Gerwig. By 1914, his father David returned to live with them. His brother William was listed as living there in 1914 as well, but it is unclear whether he had been living there the whole time.

From 1917 to 1918, Evan and his family were living at 303 Greenfield Ave. 


Evan apparently was illiterate as he just marked "X" for his name on his World War I draft registration card. According to the same draft card, Evan was of short, stout build and had blue eyes and black hair. As of September 1918, he was working as a machinist helper at the National Tube Company Continental Works on Second Ave in Pittsburgh. E An HJ Williams was listed as a student living at the same address in 1818.

By 1919, he and his family were likely living at 337 Greenfield Ave. Sometime between 1919 and 1920, Evan moved to a home that he purchased at 4209 Winterburn Ave. In 1930 the home was valued at $3800, about $53,000 in 2014 dollars. At the time, Evan was working as a crane operator at a steel works.

According to Evan's World War II draft registration, Evan was 5'8" and only 165 lbs, then with gray hair. He must have had an issue with his left thumb, as it is listed as a distinguishing characteristic on the draft card. He was still working on Second Ave at Jones & Laughlin Company steel mill. As of 1940, Evan, then a widower, lived with his son-in-law and daughter at 4210 Haldane St. According to the 1940 census, Evan was educated up to the 6th grade, worked 30 weeks in 1939 and worked an average of 32 hours per week. His salary for 1939 was about $900, meaning he made about $0.94/hr, or about $15.64/hr in 2014 dollars. By April 1942, Evan was still living with his son-in-law and daughter at 3506 Frazier St.

Evan died at the age of 74 from a superior mesenteric thrombosis with gangrene of the small intestines. There are three veins that carry blood from the intestines to the liver via the hepatic portal vein the blood clot caused death of tissue which led to the gangrene.  This could have occurred from an abdominal injury, genetic clotting disorder, infection , appendicitis, diverticulitis, ulcerated colitis, pacreatitis, chron disease, cancer somewhere in the digestive system, scarring of the liver from some sort of toxin or drinking of alcohol. He spent 16 hours at Mercy Hospital before he died. He was laid to rest at Calvary Catholic Cemetery on 20 Dec 1954. His wife was likely an Irish Catholic, but it is unknown what faith Evan was.

Evan's Obituary:

On Thursday, Dec. 16, 1954 of 873 Whiteside Rd.,  Evan L. husband of the late Catherine Coyne Williams; beloved father of Gilbert L. Williams and Mrs. Francis R. Butler; also survived by six grandchildren. Friends received at the Jay A. McCaffery Memorial Home, 200 S. Craig St . (opposite St. Paul's Cathedral). Notice of time later.