John R. Evans, 1852-1905

EVANS

Posted By: Stephen D. Williams (email)
Date: 2/27/2011 at 20:30:12

Williamsburg Journal, Williamsburg, Iowa Co, Iowa, 20 April 1905, p3.

[Transcribed by Stephen D. Williams 26 Feb 2011. Errors may have been introduced by the newspaper or by my transcription.]

Death of John R. Evans.
Mr. John R. Evans who or the past two years had been suffering from heart trouble, died yesterday morning at 7:30. The funeral service will be held at the family home tomorrow, Friday, at 2 p. m. Friends of the family who desire to pay their last respects will call at the home Friday forenoon. The casket will be finally closed at noon.
Mr. Evans was in his 53d year and was one of the community's oldest and most respected citizens. He was one of the first white born in this section and his death is mourned by
many.
Full obituary next week.

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Williamsburgh Journal, Williamsburg, Iowa County, Iowa, Thursday, 27 April 1905, p1.

Mr. John R. Evans.
Mr. John R. Evans was born in Troy township on the farm near Williamsburg, which was settled by his parents who were among the earliest pioneers in this part of the county.
He grew up to manhood on the farm and experienced the pleasures, as well as the hardships and deprivations that belonged to such a life a generation ago.
On the 5th of Nov. 1880 he was married to Miss Mary Evans, and for some years they lived on the home farm just east of Williamsburg. In the year 1887 his two oldest children suddenly died, almost within a day of each other, and, broken in spirit on account of this great bereavement, he removed from the farm to Williamsburg, where he has ever since resided, and where on the morning of April 19th, 1905, after a long and distressing illness, he passed on to his reward, leaving a wife and three
children and many relatives and friends to mourn their loss.
In the 53d year of his age, while still in possession of the strength and energy of manhood, he was summoned to lay down the activities of life and to pass on to the rest that remaineth for the people of God.
Mr. Evans was a quiet, serious earnest man who enjoyed the confidence and esteem of everyone who knew him. Both in the home, and in the place of business, and as neighbor and friend, he was a pattern of what good men ought to be. He never sought and never cared for any conspicuous place among his fellowmen, but quietly and faithfully performed the every day duties of life, and lived in peace and friendship with all who were around him. Very early in life he became a member of
the Congregational Church of this place, and was always faithful in his religious duties and obligations. Later on, he transferred his membership to the Presbyterian church, as long as health and strength permitted, he was always present at its services.
Like the Psalmist of old he could say: "Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, the place where thine honor dwelleth." His illness was of long duration and at times was very painful and distressing but he bore it with wonderful patience and resignation. It is a hard trial, while yet in the full strength of manhood to be compelled to exchange the activities of life for a long and weary
invalidism which can only end in death; and there can be no severer test of the real qualities of the soul than this. And yet few have borne this supreme test better than did he to whom we render the last services today. Always cheerful and helpful and sympathetic, his presence will be greatly missed here in this community where he spent his whole life, and where he has been so long and so affectionately known.
The community, the church and the home are alike bereaved, and the world is distinctly poorer than it was ill some of the noblest qualities of character.
He died, as be lived, in the communion of the Christian Church, and passed out of this world, having as we believe, the testimony of a good conscience, the confidence of a certain faith and the comfort of a reasonable hope, being at peace with God and in charity with all the world.