About L.B. Evans
In 1804, T. & A. Evans (Thomas and Amos) were running a small shoe business connected with a general store in the town of South Reading. There was no shoe factory as we know it today, just a small shop where Thomas and Amos cut the leather for their shoes. The actual shoe making was farmed out among the people of the town, Thomas and Amos supplying them with uppers, soles, counters and heels to be assembled into shoes. All shoes were sewed by hand whenever the shoemaker-farmers could spare the time.
The shoemaker-farmers traded at the Evans' store, and according to the account books, very little cash ever changed hands. In fact, a cash settlement with each individual shoe worker was made but once every six months. Customers settled their accounts every six months, too, and even here not much cash was involved.
James Madison Evans entered into the business in 1832 and carried on the enterprise through 1857. Lucius Bolles Evans, the younger brother of James Madison, started in the shoe business on his own in 1841, at that time founding the present company L.B. Evans which bears his name.
Lucias Bolles worked in the business until 1880 with his son Harvey B. Evans as his partner in the later years. It was during his time that shoe machinery was first introduced. After L.B. Evans passed away, Harvey B. continued the business building the strong foundation and commitment still present today.
Harvey passed away in 1905, and the business was then incorporated as the L.B. Evans' Son Company. The next generation of Evans stepped into leadership and continued with the values and commitment to quality of the generations passed. Through many wars and depressions, L.B. Evans survived.
Today L.B. Evans is owned and operated as a division of Daniel Green Enterprises. Many of the traditional gentleman's slipper styles are still part of the line, but the business has grown to include new updated classics, premium products including elk and deer, and an array or rugged, warm outdoor styles. Daniel Green Enterprises remains committed to the quality and comfort guarantee that the Evans brothers established over 200 years ago.
