Joseph Otto Evans (1874-1950)

EVANS, HARPIN, MADDEN, MCCOLL

Posted By: Carl Malone (email)
Date: 5/20/2017 at 14:54:12

The Creston News Advertiser
Creston, Iowa
January 11, 1950

Joseph O. Evans, Former Sheriff, Is Dead at 75

Had Been Shot Twice by Bandit In Creston Store

Joseph O. Evans, 75, a former sheriff of Union county and an employee of the Iowa Southern Utilities company here for more than 15 years, died at his home here at 1:15 a. m. today. Mr. Evans had suffered from a heart ailment for the last three years.

Funeral arrangements have not been made. His body will be at McGregor Brothers and Coens funeral home until arrangements are completed.

Joseph O. Evans was born at Corning, April 30, 1874. He was the son of Morgan G. and Lucinda E. Evans. He was married at Corning, May 19, 1901, to Frances Madden, who survives. Also surviving him is a brother, Charlie M. Evans of Monrovia, Calif.

Mr. Evans came to Creston in 1901, after his marriage, and had made his home here since that time. He was a member of the Christian church and the I. O. O. F. lodge.

He served as deputy sheriff for six years and was elected sheriff in 1912. He served two terms as sheriff, leaving the office in 1916. Mr. Evans also worked in Creston grocery stores for 20 to 25 years.

Om 1919, Mr. Evans subdued a burglar who had shot him twice in the abdomen. Mr. Evans, employed at that time by R. T. McColl in a grocery store here, was guarding the store after it had been burglarized several times. The store was entered again on February 11, 1919, and Mr. Evans surprised Harold Harpin at the cash register. Harpin shot twice, the bullets wounding Mr. Evans in the abdomen but in spite of his wound, Mr. Evans took the gun away from Harpin and choked the youth until he was unconscious.

Harpin was tried in district court here and was sentenced to a term of not more than 30 years in the Iowa state penitentiary. He was freed in 1929 by governor John Hammill.