W. E. Evans

As printed in 1901

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.

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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.

william:\i m. Amllia:\is.

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.

William ]\1. Williams began the little of life for himself when only thirteen years of age, and for three years thereafter was employed as a farm hand, during which time he enjoyed but few educational privileges. At the age of sixteen years he entered a select schon>l. known as the Professor Newton Academv, at Marshall, Saline county, which he attended for a part of two years. After leaving that institution be removed to Malta Bend, where he sei-ved a short apprenticeship as a carriage manufacturer, also working as a farm hand, and was thus engaged for about one year. Next he was engaged in buying timber for H. Herman, who had a branch office at Boonville, Missouri, and was thus employed for about two years, on the expiration of which period he removed to Kansas City and began work at his trade. On the lath of Septemlier, 1882, in company with J. B. Williams and A. Christopher, he went to Lamar, Barton county, Missouri, and engaged in the manufacture of buggies, but on the ist of July, 1890, Mr. Williams sold his interest to his partners and came to Webb City, where he was engaged in mining for the following three years. Li 1893 be originated the plan for establishing the Webb City College. The erection of the building was begun in that year and was completed in 1896. It was first known as Nelson Collegiate Institute, Vnit the name has since been changed to the Webb Cit_v College. The institution \as a success from the beginning and the average attendance now numbers about one hundred and fifty pupils. Mr. Williams still remains its popular and efficient secretary, and Webb City College owes much of its success to his untiring and well directed efforts. On the ist of February, 1900. he took up his residence where he now resides, on section 25, Mineral township]i.

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The Democratic party receives Mr. Williams" hearty support and socially he is a member of the A. O. U. W.. Xo. 270, of Ayebb City, while of the Baptist church of this city he is a worthy and consistent member. Personally our subject is genial and social, enjoying good fellowship and is a most companionable friend. His life furnishes an example of energy, perseverance and loyalty to jjrinciplc well worthy of emulation.

As printed in The biographical record of Jasper County, Missouri (1901). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.