Henry Congreve Evans, generally known as "Harry Evans" or "Harry Congreve Evans", was a journalist, editor and newspaper proprietor of South Australia.
Biography
The Rev. Ephraim Evans, a Baptist minister born in Wales, married Mary Ann Wilton, and emigrated to South Australia around 1854. He was sent to the Reedy Creek copper mine, where he ministered and taught at the local school, then in 1856 to Nuriootpa, where his workload forced him to abandon teaching. They had a son and a daughter before she died, in 1858. On 16 February 1860 he married Matilda Jane Congreve, who wrote under the pseudonym Maud Jean Franc. They had two sons: Henry "Harry" Congreve Evans, born at Nuriootpa, and William James "Will" Evans. He died at South Rhine on Easter Monday 1863 aged 38 years. After leaving school, Harry Evans found employment with Fanning & Co., then at the age of 16 joined the Advertiser, where he was noted for his stenographic skills and the speed and clarity of his longhand writing, while his energy, good humour and organising ability earned for him leadership of the literary staff. In 1888, as a result of a tour made with Frank Johnson, Minister of Education, to the Northern Territory, he produced an interesting series of articles for his paper. But he craved an outlet for his independent thought and writing, and founded the Quiz, a weekly humorous and satirical publication which he founded with A. T. Chandler also ex-Advertiser, James Hutchison, Harry Craker, and A. W. Gresswell Smith. Five years later, when Chandler left the partnership, Evans continued as sole editor. The paper was well received by the public and in 1890, by absorbing a competitor, became Quiz and The Lantern. Harry Evans was the librettist of Immomeena, composed by Moritz Heuzenroeder ; and The Mandarin, composed by John M. Dunn, organist and choirmaster of St. Peter's Cathedral, and both performed at the Theatre Royal, in 1893 and 1896 respectively. He died barely two years later, and was buried at West Terrace Cemetery.
Mary Ann "Pollie" Evans, born at Reedy Creek, Tungkillo near Angaston, later living at Tarcowie. She married farmer Joseph W. Lines in 1882. They had eight children and many present-day descendants.
Ephraim Ebenezer "Ebby" Evans, draper, of Tarcowie, Queenstown, then Fremantle and Mosman, New South Wales. He married Rachel Drake on 1 October 1881. Attempted suicide, divorced, and died intestate.
Henry "Harry" Congreve Evans subject of this article
William James "Will" Evans was born in Angas Park, educated at Angaston and North Adelaide; was theatre and music critic for The Advertiser, and also conducted the "From Day to Day" column in The Express, and the "From Week to Week" column in The Chronicle. He was author of Rhymes without Reason.
Neither of the two younger sons married; they lived with their mother until she died, then boarded on South Terrace, Adelaide with J. Le M. F. Roberts, his daughter Edith, and his wife Lizzie Marian Roberts, née Gleeson, the latter being described as "nurse, mentor, and friend,... truly a second mother". Edith Roberts was an accomplished dancer who took part in Immomeena and other of Harry Evans's stage works.
Children of Henry Congreve (1793–1852)
With his first wife Lucy, née Hoppe :
George Thomas Congreve medical man who grew quite wealthy; never left England. Wrote books New Era in Medical Science on consumption, and The Nursery Gem on early childhood.
With Elizabeth Ann Congreve née Jacob :
Matilda Jane Congreve married Rev. Ephraim Evans on 16 February 1860; their children were:
Henry John "Harry" Congreve arrived South Australia on the Trafalgar17 January 1849, married Jane Marshall Kirkwood on 14 December 1865, lived at "Stretton", Walkerville Road, which became a second home to his siblings.
Emily Congreve arrived 1852; wrote Colonial Pen Scratchings
William Congreve arrived South Australia 17 January 1849 with brother Henry; taught in SA and Victoria, retired to Bridgewater, died at "Stretton", Walkerville Road, St. Peters.
