(from Biographical Memoirs of Wells County, IN)

Evan L. Chalfant

This prominent and widely known young agriculturist, journalist, and teacher,
is now considered one of the most prosperous and successful farmers in
Jefferson Township. He was born in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, March 22,
1859, and the first eight years of his life were spent amongst the hills and
streams of that state. In 1867 he came with his parents, James and Amanda H.
(Barber) Chalfant, to Wells county, Indiana. After completing the common
school studies, and some of the higher branches in the Ossian graded schools,
he began to teach, which occupation he followed in Wells county for nineteen
years, meantime being engaged in his father's saw-mill and being familiar
with all departments, especially that of head sawyer. He then settled down
to what he considers his life occupation, farming. He takes great interest
in this, his chosen calling, reads many farm journals and books on
agricultural subjects and is also a contributor to several farm papers. At
the present time he is chairman of the Wells county Farmers' Institute
Association. He is also a justice of the peace, having been elected the
second time to that position as the nominee of the Republican party.

In the month of May, 1886, Evan L. Chalfant was united in marriage to Miss
Flora E. Benedict, daughter of Luther and Julia Benedict, and who also for
eleven years had been a teacher in the public schools. They have one child,
Beth E. Mr. Chalfant and wife are members of the Kingsland Presbyterian
Church, of which he is an elder and trustee, clerk of the session and
secretary of the congregation. They are both likewise teachers in the Sunday
School, of which he was superintendent for some years, Mrs. Chalfant of the
primary class and he of the young ladies' Bible class. Of fraternal orders,
Mr. Chalfant is a member of the Uniondale Lodge, K.P. and of the Ossian
Lodge, K.O.T,M.

Mr. and Mrs. Chalfant mingle with the best people of Jefferson township and
Wells county, by whom they are greatly esteemed and with whom his graphic and
trenchant pen wields a potent inlfuence. His habits of close observation and
his retentive memory are valuable aids in the preparation of his numerous
contributions to the press. These articles are read with interest by all on
account of lucidity of expression and valuable information which they impart
to the reader and seeker after agricultural knowledge, and are also widely
quoted.