The Evans Families of Jasper County, Missouri

W. E. EVANS.

W. E. Evans, a prominent retired farmer of Jasper county, who resides in Carl Junction, was born in Butler county, Ohio, on December 7, 1844. His grandfather, William Evans, was born in Wales and came to Ohio as one of the pioneer settlers. Evan Evans, his son and the father of our subject, was born in Butler county Ohio, on May 2, 1816, was married there and followed agricultural pursuits all his life. He married Anna Merring, who was a native of Morgan township, Butler county, Ohio, and still lives on the farm where she was born on August 1 1, 1826. Her father, John Merring, was one of the first settlers of Butler county, having come there from Maryland. He built the first mill in the county, at Paddy's Run, now called Shandon, and for many years was the leading miller in the county. The maternal grandparents were natives of Maryland, but their parents came from Germany. The father and mother of our subject had nine children, eight of whom grew to maturity, and seven of these still survive.

Our subject, W. E. Evans, was the eldest in the family and is the only member of it who made a home in the western part of the country. He was reared in Ohio and received a liberal education, and also had the advantages afforded by the normal school at Lebanon, Warren county, Ohio.

Li October, 1861, when not yet seventeen years old, he enlisted as a private in Company H, Fifth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, and served three years and two months, being promoted to corporal, and took part in some of the most important battles of the war, as Shiloh and Corinth, in October, 1862, luka, Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, and was in many minor engagements, returning home after his honorable discharge on November 2/. 1864. without a wound or any hospital experience.

After the term of his service was over, although he was not yet twenty years old, Mr. Evans returned home, well physically and strong mentally. He resumed farming on the home place, in Butler county, Ohio, where he remained until 1869, in which year he was married to Miss Elizabeth Griffiths, i66 OF JASPER COUNTY.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

Mr. Evans removed to Jasper county the same year as his marriage, locating on a farm in Twin Grove township. Two years later he purchased another farm and improved both of these, engaging in farming until 1896, at which time he retired from activity and removed to Carl Junction. His land comprises one hundred and eighty-seven acres and is regarded as very valuable.

Sir. E\-ans has always been a member of the Republican party and has been very active in political circles. He has filled many of the local political offices and was twice made city collector by a handsome majority. In the G. A. R. post he has been honored and has been the delegate on two occasions to the national encampment and once on the staff of commander in chief. Socially he is connected with the G. A. U.. Modern Woodmen and ihc Horse Thief Protective Association, and is well and favorably known throughout Jasper county.

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William SI. Williams, who was one of the organizers and is now the secretary of the Webb City College, is one of the substantial and representative men of his locality. His career illustrates in no uncertain manner what it is possible to accomplish when perseverance and determination form the keynote to a man's life. Dcjieiiding upon his own resources, looking for no outside aid or su]>port, he has risen from comparative obscurity to a position of prominence, and the town of 'ebb City owes much to him on account of his connection with her business interests.

Mr. Williams is a native of McDonald county. Missouri, his birth having occurred on the 27th of March. 1859. His father, Moses Williams, was born in the state of Alabama, and when a young man. in 1832, removed with his father, Allen Williams, to McDonald county. Missouri, a location being made on Patterson creek, where they engaged in agricultural pursuits. In 1860 Moses Williams made the trip to California, and while in that state lie was called to his final rest, passing away when otir subject was only two years of age. He was of Welsh descent. His widow, who was in her maidenhood Sarah Ann Evans, survived him a number of years, dying when her son William was thirteen years of age. When he was two years of age his mother became blind, and was thus afflicted until her death. Mr. and Mrs. Williams were the parents of six children, but two died in infancy, and those who reached mature years are: Thomas B., the eldest of the family; Anna, deceased; John B., who resides at Lamar, Missouri; and William M., the subject of this review. In 1866 Mrs. Williams, with her four children, removed to Saline county, Missouri.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

DAVID GRIFFITHS EVANS.

Prominent among the successful and enterprising young business men of Carl Junction, Jasper county, is David Griffiths Evans, who was born in Twin Grove township, Jasper county, Missouri, on August 4, 1870. He is the only son of William E. and Elizabeth (Griffiths) Evans, the former of whom is one of the most pi-eminent citizens of Carl Junction. He was born in Butler county, Ohio, of Welsh ancestry, and came to Jasper county in 1869. Here he is a large land holder and is prominent in public, military and religious life.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

GILMAN EVANS. Prominent among the early settlers, and successful and enterprising men of Lincoln township, is the subject of this sketch. He was born in Jeflerson county, N. Y., Aug. 11, 1839, and was reared and educated in Jefferson county. Is the son of Albert and Margaret Evans, his father being a native of New Hampshire and his mother born in New York. Of ten children our subject was the second child. He worked on a farm and attended school until October, 1852, and then taught his first school. He worked on a farm the next summer and again the following winter. May 25, 1861, he enlisted in Company I, Thirty-fifth Illinois Infantry, and was mustered in at Elmira, N. Y., and went to Washington City and joined the Army of the Potomac. The principal battles he engaged in were Fredericksburg and Atlanta, and was mustered out in June, 1863, as sergeant. Nov. 28, 1863, he re-enlisted in Company L, Eighteenth Illinois Cavalry, and was detailed as commissary-sergeant, under General Sheridan Went to New Orleans and operated in Louisiana and Texas, and was mustered out May 31, 1866, in Victoria, Texas, Then returned to New York and engaged in teaching school and farming. Came to Jasper county and bought his present farm May 12, 1867, there being only four families in the township at that time. He was married to Miss

Rebecca John, Feb. 16, 1871, she being born in Woodford county, 111,, Aug. 20, 1852, daughter of George and Elizabeth John, her father a native of Pennsylvaiiia and her mother a native of Ohio. Mrs. Evans was the youngest of ten children. Her father died when she was small, and she moved to Dade county in 1866. Mr. Evans located on his present farm of 886 acres in February, 1871, which is all under cultivation and pasturage, except ten acres of timber-land; it is well watered with four living springs and three wells; has a good frame dwelling, one and a half stories high; has a good barn and granary, and a good orchard. Mr. Evans is one of the substantial farmers, and in politics is a Republican. He has one child, named George A., and himself and family stand high in the community.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JAMES C. EVANS, post-office Dudenville, farmer and stock-raiser. Among the rising young farmers of Lincoln township is the subject of this sketch. He was born in Jefferson county, N. Y., Jan. 26, 1850, and is the son of Albert and Marriett Evans, now of New York. Our subject was the seventh of ten children. In October, 1867, he moved to Jasper county. Mo., and lived with his parents for seven years. On March 15th, 1874, he was married to Miss Emily Hazen, who was born in Clayton county, Iowa, Feb. 6, 1853, and moved to Jasper county, Mo., in 1869. She is a lady of culture and refinement. In the spring of 1876 Mr. Evans located on his present farm of 160 acres, all fenced into separate fields and well watered; has a fine two-story frame residence and fair out-buildings. Mr. Evans raises an average of 26 bushels of wheat and 40 bushels of corn to the acre. Mr. and Mrs., Evans are members of the United Brethren Church.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.