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William Evans was born January 1, 1870 in Liverpool, England, to George Evans. He died in 1950, in California.

On June 20, 1889, when he was 19, he immigrated to the United States, from Liverpool.

In 1892, he married Laura E. Torgerson. He was 22, and she was 24 years old. She had been born in Norway in June 1867. Her family had immigrated to the United States a year after William’s family.

In July, 1894, they had a daughter, Laura D. They were living in Illinois.

On May 31, 1897, they had a son, Louis H. Evans. They were living in Goshen, Indiana.

In November 1899, they had a son, Orrin W. They were living in Illinois.

William Evans was a New York journalist with a very comfortable salary. He heard D.L. Moody preach in New York City on Luke 5. Moody challenged young people to give themselves to Christian service, and suddenly looked down at William Evans and pointedly said, “Young man, I mean you.” Afterwards Moody found Evans and told him that somehow God had told him that He was calling Evans to service. Evans mentioned his good salary, and Moody told him to pack up his trunk and go to Chicago, not worrying about the money.

On October 16, 1900, he was naturalized in Chicago, Illinois.

Evans came to Chicago in 1900. On June 1, his family lived at 87 Hill Street, Chicago. He was 30 years old and had been married 8 years. Their daughter, Laura was now five, son Louis was 3, and Orrin was six months old. Two of his wife’s sisters lived with them: Kate Torgerson, age 29, and Belle Torgerson, age 21. Kate worked as a stamper at a stationary store. Belle was going to college. They also had a male roomer, 35 year old Sibert Hookland, who worked as a rate clerk for the rail road. William was employed as a pastor.

William Evans became the first graduate of Moody Bible Institute in 1892, two years after it was dedicated.

On April 15, 1910, William Evans and his family were living at 435 Franklin St. in Wheaton, Illinois. William was 40 and Laura was 41. They had been married for 18 years. They had given birth to 4 children, but only three were living. Their daughter had passed away. William was working as a Congregational minister. Louis was 12, Orrin was 10, and Paul was 8.

William Evans pastored in several churches, and then was appointed director of the Department of Bible at Moody Bible Institute.

On April 7, 1914, Rev. William Evans applied for a passport. He was working as a clergyman and was 44 years old, five feet, 10 ¾ inches. He had auburn hair and blue eyes.

In 1924, Dr. William Evans, D.D. applied for a passport to go to Japan, Korea, China, India, Hong Kong, Syria, Palestine, Greece, British Isles, and France to do teaching and Near East relief work. He was 54 years old, five feet, 11 inches high, with blue eyes and brown hair. He was living and working in Los Angeles, but was having his passport delivered to the Men’s Quarters of Moody Bible Institute. He was to leave from San Francisco, aboard the Pres. Wilson ship on April 28, 1924.

In 1930, he was 60 years old and owned a house and property worth $8,000 at 118 Lincoln Ave, in Pomona, California. His wife Laura E. was 62 years old. He was employed as a Bible teacher.

He wrote over 40 books on the Bible, and devoted his life to directing Bible Conferences in the United States and Canada.

He was a Bible Teacher, author and lecturer who lived in Pomona, California. He had a D.D. and a Ph.D.

Sources

Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2002. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900; Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910; as well as the Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930.

Ancestry.com. U.S. Passport Applications, 1795-1925 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2007. Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925 (M1490)

Geoffrey W. Bromiley, The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1988; 2002), Vol. 3, p. vi . “List of Contributors”

Moody Publishers, (Chicago: Moody Publishers), www.moodypublishers.com.

Robert J. Morgan, Nelson's Annual Preacher's Sourcebook : 2003 Edition, electronic ed. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2002) p. xxvi. “Contributors”

Robert J. Morgan, On This Day: 265 Amazing and Inspiring Stories About Saints, Martyrs & Heroes, electronic ed., (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2000, c1997) January 16