A. S. EVANS
For
many years A. S. Evans was classed with the honored and
representative citizens of Lucas county and was closely
associated with its agricultural development, transforming two
hundred and forty acres of land which belonged to his wife,
into one of the finest farms in this section of the state. He took an active
and helpful interest in many measures that were factors in
promoting public progress and he was also known as one of the
exemplary representatives of the Masonic fraternity. In fact his life
was one of useful and honorable activity. He was born in Knox
county, Illinois, June 13, 1847, his parents being Joshua
Brown and Georgiana (Crawford) Evans, the former a native of
Hartford, Connecticut, born in 1824, while the latter’s birth
occurred in Scotland. The
parents were among the early pioneers of Knox county,
Illinois, and there the father passed away at Knoxville in
1871, his wife surviving him and residing on the old home farm
in Knox county. The
grandfather of our subject accompanied by Thomas and Joshua
Evans came to America from England at the beginning of the
Revolutionary war and all three enlisted in the American army. In Joshua B. Evans’
family were eleven children, all born in Illinois: A. S., of this
review; George W., a resident of Lucas, who was born November
14, 1848, and who for the past twenty years has been assessor
of Jackson township, Lucas county; Mary, who makes her home
with her mother in Knoxville and who for thirty years has
taught school in Illinois; Ernest, of Woodburn, Iowa; Eliza,
deceased; William C., who is mentioned elsewhere in this
volume; Margaret, of Hartford, Connecticut; J. D., deceased;
Anna, of Galesburg, Illinois; Ellen, of Knoxville, Illinois;
and a daughter who died in infancy.
A. S. Evans was reared under the parental roof in Knox county and in the acquirement of his education attended the schools in the neighborhood of his father’s farm. Early he became acquainted with the methods of agriculture and in 1873 came to Iowa, seeking the advantages of a naturally rich but as yet sparsely settled country. Jackson township, Lucas county, witnessed his life’s labors until his death and there he attained prosperity, becoming the owner of a valuable farm of five hundred and thirty-four acres, which he gradually brought to a high sate of cultivation. Following up-to-date methods he made high-class improvements and installed such equipment as is considered indispensable to modern agriculture, leaving to his family a property which yields a gratifying annual income.
On
November 9, 1868, while yet in Illinois, A. S. Evans was
united in marriage to Miss Sarah E. Woods, who was born in
Highland county, Ohio, February 7, 1849. She was taken to
Knoxville, Illinois, when a small child by her parents and was
there reared to womanhood.
Accompanying her husband to his Iowa farm in 1873 she
has since made this state her home. Her parents were John and Susan
(Wilkins) Woods, natives of Ohio, the former of whom passed
away in Illinois and the latter in her native state. In their family
were two sons and a daughter, as follows: Henry, who died in
Clarke county, Iowa; Mrs. A. S. Evans; and Jesse, a resident
of Adair county, this state.
Mr. and Mrs. Evans became the parents of eight
children: Mrs.
Anna Ellen Marquis, a native of Henry county, Iowa, who
resides in Clarke county, this state; Mrs. Margaret Carson, of
Clarke county; Mrs. Emma Spencer, of Jackson township, this
county; Bert, a resident of Jackson township; Floyd, of Clarke
county; George, of Jackson township; Olive, who makes her home
with her mother; and Earl, who ably assists his mother in the
management of the home farm.
All of the children were reared in this township.
For a number of years A. S. Evans acted as trustee of the township board, giving by his efficient service evidence of his public-spirited citizenship. Always taking a deep interest in the cause of education, he also filled the position of local school director for some time. Fraternally he was a member of Good Shepherd Lodge, No. 414, A. F. & A. M., of Lucas, and exemplified in his life the beneficent spirit of the order. Mrs. Evans still owns the highly cultivated home farm. The years have proved the worth of the labors of Mr. Evans who, making wise use of time and opportunities, became one of the substantial members of his community, yet more than that was a serviceable factor in the general advancement and development of Lucas county, especially along agricultural lines. His memory still remains enshrined in the hearts of many as that of a good and kindly man who endeavored to fulfill life’s obligations to his best ability. All who knew him bear testimony of his high character and of the principles of uprightness and honor which governed his life. The circle of friends which he left behind him is almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintance, for he possessed qualities which endeared him to all who knew him.