Britton Duroc Evans, M.D.

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

Source: History Morris County New Jersey, Volume II, Lewis Publishing Co., 1914

The history of Morris county would be incomplete if it did not bear upon its pages the name of Dr. Britton D. EVANS, whose career has been of signal usefulness and honor, who is in sympathy with all that is beneficial, pure and good in the community. Permanent success, which has been achieved by Dr. EVANS, does not grow out of more activity, perseverance and judicious action, but personal virtue, combined with these.

Dr. EVANS was born in Caroline county, Maryland, October 1, 1858, son of Dr. Louis W. and _____ (BOONE) EVANS, grandson of Colonel Britton EVANS, and a direct descendent of Christmas EVANS, the eminent Welsh divine, and of Daniel BOONE, the celebrated Kentucky pioneer. Colonel Britton EVANS served under General HARRISON in the war of 1812, with rank of lieutenant of artillery, took part in the war with Mexico, the Florida war, and at the time of his death was organizing a company to go to Greece to help her in her struggle for independence against Turkey. His original commission, signed by President MONROE and MADISON, and also the original credentials which enabled him to organize a company in aid of the Greeks, are in possession of Dr. EVANS, of Morristown. Dr. Louis W. EVANS was a graduate of two of the medical schools of Philadelphia, and he practiced for many years in that city. He married (first) a Miss PATTON, and second _____ BOONE.

Dr. EVANS was reared to manhood in his native state, acquiring an academic education which prepared him for the activities of life. Later he became a student in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Baltimore, from which he was graduated in the class of 1885. He located for active practice in Millington, Kent county, Maryland, and continued thus employed for two years, when he was appointed upon the staff of surgeon of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. Without solicitation on his part, he was called to the position of assistant medical superintendent of the Maryland Hospital for the Insane, in which capacity he served for nearly five years, gaining a valuable experience. He then resigned in order to accept the position of medical superintendent of the Maryland Institution for the Feeble Minded, and after a very short time he was offered the position of the medical director of the New Jersey State Hospital, at Morris Plains, this being tendered to him for his efficiency and superior ability in his line of work. On June 1, 1892, Dr. EVANS entered upon his duties, and during his incumbency of office raised the standard of the institution until it ranked with the best in the country. The patients are the insane of the state of New Jersey, and Dr. EVANS gained a renown as a specialist in that line. Many reforms were introduced during his administration, namely: The reduction of the use of mechanical restraints among the patients. The number of patients under such restraints being reduced to less than one per cent; the establishing of out-door amusements on a broader plane; a pathological laboratory, second to none, was organized; a training school for nurses was established; the medical library was greatly improved, and in fact advancement marked every department of the institution.

Dr. EVANS has gained an enviable reputation as an expert on insanity, and his ability on its medico-legal aspect has for years been recognized by the legal fraternity of New Jersey and other states. He has been employed on numerous important trials in New Jersey and New York, in all of which his work gave evidence of a thorough knowledge of the subject and added still further to his reputation as a specialist. His contributions to the medical literature of the world on nervous and mental diseases have been numerous and valuable. He is a member of the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of the State of Maryland, the American Medical Association, the Medical Society of New Jersey, the Medico-Legal Society of New York, the American Medico-Psychological Association, the National Society for the Study and Care of Epileptics or Insane, the National Conference of Charities and Correction, ex-president of the Morris County Medical Society, and an honorary member of the Temperance Reform League of Boston, a society organized for the scientific study and cure of inebriety. He is also a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, Improved Order of Red Men and the Royal Arcanum. He is a member of the Methodist church, as is also his wife.

Dr. EVANS married, in 1889, Addie E. DILL, a native of Maryland, but at that time a resident of Wilmington, Delaware.

Transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003)