West Liberty History 1838-1938

Source: One Hundred Years of History
* Commemorating a Century of Progress in the West Liberty Community * WEST LIBERTY, IOWA
WILLIAM C. EVANS

Hon. W. C. Evans was born in Delaware county, N. Y., June 24, 1822, a son of Simon and Polly ( Kelly ) Evans and cameto Port Byron, Illinois, in the fall of 1851. In the spring of 1856, he located in the Wapsinonoc Twp. where he purchased a fourth interest in the 300 acre tract of land on which the town of West Liberty was laid out, and for some time actd as the agent for the town site company, and in later years added two additions to the town.

Mr. Evans was probably the first lumberman in the new town but in 1866 sold out to Lew Bowlsby and moved to a farm to engage in stock raising, specializing in Shorthand cattle.

Sept. 15, 1852 he married Mary A. Winslow, a descendant of Revolutionary fame. To them were born Lucy, Wilma A., Charles C., Warren A., Hugh S., Ella M., Sarah R., and Ray W. In 1869 Mr. Evans was elected a member of the House of Representatives and re-elected in 1871. He was a charter member of Mt. Calvary Lodge No. 95 and served as its first Master. He died in West Liberty April 11, 1905.

For one year less than half a century he had been a resident of this community and in all that time there had been no caucus, no public meeting in the interest of the public weal, no enterprise of any character considered or put in operation, without his active participation or interest.

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