John Evans
Evans was born in Waynesville, Ohio to David Evans and Rachel Burnett. After starting his studies in medicine in Philadelphia at Clermont Academy, he graduated with a degree in medicine from Cincinnati College in 1838. Soon after, Evans moved to Attica, Indiana, where helped found the Indiana Central State Hospital in Indianapolis. He was later appointed as its first superintendent.
After Indiana, Evans moved to Chicago, where he helped found Lakeside Hospital, later named Mercy Hospital, and was responsible for bringing on the Sisters of Mercy as staff. While in Chicago, John also founded the Illinois Medical Society and taught at Rush Medical College. In 1851, he was one of the members of Methodists who founded Northwestern University, and was elected the first president of the Board of Trustees.
Evans' success garnered him political power, and after founding the Illinois Republican Party, Evans became a personal friend of Abraham Lincoln. President Lincoln would eventually appoint John Evans as the second Governor of the Territory of Colorado in 1862. Governor Evans and his good friend Reverend John Chivington founded the Territory's first college, the Colorado Seminary, later becoming the University of Denver, and continued to serve as the Board of Trustees Chairman until his death on July 2, 1897.
After Indiana, Evans moved to Chicago, where he helped found Lakeside Hospital, later named Mercy Hospital, and was responsible for bringing on the Sisters of Mercy as staff. While in Chicago, John also founded the Illinois Medical Society and taught at Rush Medical College. In 1851, he was one of the members of Methodists who founded Northwestern University, and was elected the first president of the Board of Trustees.
Evans' success garnered him political power, and after founding the Illinois Republican Party, Evans became a personal friend of Abraham Lincoln. President Lincoln would eventually appoint John Evans as the second Governor of the Territory of Colorado in 1862. Governor Evans and his good friend Reverend John Chivington founded the Territory's first college, the Colorado Seminary, later becoming the University of Denver, and continued to serve as the Board of Trustees Chairman until his death on July 2, 1897.
