JOHN A. EVANS
Commercial
as well as public interests have long been ably represented by
John A. Evans who in connection with the J. A. Evans wholesale
and retail-commission house occupies an important position in
the mercantile life of Lucas county and as member of the city
council of Lucas, as town recorder of Jackson township, as
justice of the peace and as member of the board of education,
has actively and beneficially participated in the government
of his home locality. John
A. Evans was born in Wales, May 12, 1858, and when only four
years of age was brought by his parents to America, who came
to this country in 1862 and first settled at Youngstown, Ohio,
where they remained until 1866, when they removed to
Galesburg, Illinois, where the father was engaged in mining
coal. From
Galesburg they subsequently made removal to Bryant, Illinois,
and in 1874 they came to this state, settling in Des Moines,
where the father engaged in mining. There they remained until 1879, when
John A. Evans of this review removed to Lucas, of which he has
been a resident since.
His
father, John E. Evans, was a native of Wales, in which country
he was born in 1837, and died in Lucas in 1906, the mother,
Mary Jane (Bevans) Evans, being a native of England, her birth
having occurred December 25, 1837, and her death taking place
in this county on December 25, 1905. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. John E.
Evans was celebrated in Wales in 1857. To this union were
born nine sons and one daughter, the three eldest natives of
Wales and the others of America. The children were as follows: John A., of this
review; Richard, deceased; William, of Summerset, Iowa; C.
Daniel, of St. Joseph, Missouri; Reece, who passed away in
Illinois; Taliesin, residing near Lakonta, Iowa; Thomas,
associated in business with our subject in Lucas; Joseph, who
died in Des Moines, Iowa; James, deceased; and Mrs. Katharine
Turner, of East Pleasant Plain, Iowa.
John A. Evans attended the common schools of Ohio and Illinois in the acquirement of his education and made the several removals from place to place with his parents until he became a resident of Lucas county in 1879. Here he engaged in mining for some time but in 1886 entered the grocery business in Lucas and so continued until 1894. During the ‘90s, however, he had become also associated with a mining company in Cleveland, Ohio, and during the same time was employed in the general merchandise firm of Warner, Byers & Company of Lucas. He subsequently was connected with the Big Hill Coal Company as traveling salesman and afterward managed the Rochdale Cooperative Store of Lucas, so continuing until 1907, since which time he has been connected with the wholesale and retail commission house of J. A. Evans. The business of the firm is of gratifying proportions and Mr. Evans receives a substantial annual income in return for his efforts. The house deals extensively in vegetables of all kinds and also feed. Its present foremost position among the business houses of the city is largely due to the efforts of Mr. Evans, who brings to his tasks and wide experience gained in connection with a number of enterprises with which he was formerly affiliated and an innate ability which seemed to have predestined him for a commercial career.
On
Christmas day of 1881 Mr. Evans was united in marriage to Miss
Mary Jane Griffiths, who was born in Wales in August, 1862. She was brought to
America by her parents when quite young, the family settling
at first in Scranton, Pennsylvania, but in 1879 coming to
Lucas county. Her
father, John T. Griffiths, and her mother, Elizabeth
Griffiths, were natives of Wales, and both passed away in
Lucas county. Of
their family are still living:
Mrs. Maria Miles, of Colfax, Iowa; Thomas, of Lucas;
and William John, also of that city. To Mr. and Mrs. Evans were born six
children: Mary
Jane, deceased; Mrs. Maria Baker, of Hiteman, Iowa; Mrs.
Adaline Gill, of Peoria, Illinois; Mrs. Mary Marshall, of
Hiteman, this state; Mrs. Elizabeth Marshall, of the same
place; and one who died in infancy. Mrs. Evans passed away on February 9,
1894, and on April 23, 1896, Mr. Evans was again married, his
second union being with Mrs. Rose Day (Phillips) Blakemore,
who was born at Beacon, Iowa, October 25, 1866, and was reared
in that vicinity. Her
parents, Isaac and Elizabeth (Davis) Phillips, were natives of
Wales, coming to Lucas county at an early date in the history
of this section. Both
are deceased. Mrs.
Evans, by her first marriage, to Mr. Blakemore, had two
children: Mrs.
Josephine Beitel, of Chariton, Iowa; and Mortimer Blakemore,
residing in Lucas.
Mr. and Mrs. Evans are members of the Reorganized Church of the Latter Day Saints, the former having joined this organization on January 8, 1892. Deeply interested in all social, religious and public affairs of Lucas, Mr. Evans has always actively participated in the public life of the district and at present serves as member of the city council, while he also has been town recorder and justice of the peace and gives evidence of his interest in the cause of education by having efficiently served for eighteen years on the local board. The family home is one of the handsome residences of Lucas and the gathering point of the many friends of Mr. and Mrs. Evans. A successful and substantial man, Mr. Evans has not only encompassed his own prosperity but has been a serviceable factor in the general advancement of Lucas county, and particularly his locality, and the service he has rendered in that respect is worthy of the highest commendation.