WILLIAM L. EVANS
The
name of Evans needs no introduction to the readers of a
history of Wayne county, for it has been an honored one in
this part of Iowa for over fifty years and has been borne by
some of the most worthy and respected citizens in America
since prerevolutionary times.
One of the most progressive and successful
representatives of this family at the present time is William
L. Evans, one of the extensive landowners and practical
agriculturists of Wayne county, his native section. He was born on the
28th of March, 1859, and is a son of Aaron and
Matilda (Baker) Evans. The
father was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, a son of
James and Rachel Evans.
The family line can be traced back through successive
generations from father to son until it reaches Evan Evans, a
native of Wales, who founded the family in America, settling
in what is now Geigertown, Pennsylvania, before the year 1753. He served in some
of the Indian and Colonial wars and was a soldier in the
Continental army during the American Revolution, serving in
Captain John Robeson’s Company of the Pennsylvania State
Militia. His
grandson, James Evans, married Rachel Blankley, a daughter of
George Blankley, who served as sergeant in Captain Jacob
Huffman’s Company of the First Regiment of Pennsylvania
Riflemen in the War of 1812.
His son, Hiram Evans, enlisted for the Mexican war but
did not see active service.
However, at the outbreak of the war of the Rebellion he
was enlisted in Company D, Twenty-third Iowa Volunteer
Infantry, and was promoted from the rank of lieutenant to that
of captain, resigning after two years of able service on
account of disability. Previous
to this time and afterward he farmed in Iowa, taking up
government land in Davis county and then in Wayne county,
where he resided until his death.
Aaron
Evans, the father of the subject of this review, came to
Bentonsport, Iowa, about the year 1856 and in the following
year settled in Wayne county, where he acquired eighty acres
of government land which by judicious investments he increased
until he owned six hundred and forty acres. For many years he
was successfully engaged in general agricultural pursuits but
the last eighteen years of his life were spent in Seymour,
where he had important business connections, being identified
with the management of several of the city banks and holding
title to valuable tracts of town property. He was a republican
in his political beliefs and was a devout member of the
Methodist church. In
Masonry he had attained a distinguished place, holding
membership in the lodge, chapter and commandery. He was in all the
relations of his life an upright, straightforward and
honorable gentleman and his death, which was widely and deeply
regretted, was felt as a distinct loss to the community in
which he had so long resided.
His wife was a daughter of Moses Baker, of Ohio, who
came to Van Buren county, Iowa, about the year 1856 and
removed to Wayne county in 1858. He followed farming during the remainder
of his life. The
mother of our subject was a devout member of the Methodist
church. Her
death occurred on the 25th of August, 1908. Mr. and Mrs. Aaron
Evans became the parents of twelve children: William L., of this
review; George I., a farmer near Seymour, who is married and
has six children; Mary F., who passed away in 1886; Sarah May,
who married F. A. Eastman, a retired farmer of Wichita,
Kansas, by whom she has twelve children; James A., a farmer
near Seymour, who is married and has six children; Charles
Russell, a painter and paperhanger, who resides near Seymour;
John C., who is engaged in agricultural pursuits in Wayne
county and who is married and the father of three children;
Laura, who became the wife
of George Tomlinson, a resident of Seymour, by whom she has
two children; Lottie M., who married H. M. Lord, of Seymour,
by whom she has three children; and Lucy, Rachel and Janie,
all of whom have passed away.
William
L. Evans acquired a public-school education in the Iowa
schools and spent his childhood upon his father’s farm. In September, 1880,
he began his independent agricultural career, moving upon a
tract of land which was presented to him by his father. To this he added
property which he acquired by purchase and in all had eighty
acres. With
characteristic energy he applied himself to the improvement
and development of this farm, at intervals adding to his
holdings until today he owns three hundred and twenty acres,
one of the most valuable agricultural properties in this part
of the state. He
does not reside upon his farm but has a beautiful home in
Seymour, where his attention is given to his extensive
business interests. He
owns a great deal of city real estate and is otherwise
influentially connected with important local enterprises.
On
the 12th of February, 1880, Mr. Evans was united in
marriage to Miss Mary Gump, of Wayne county, a daughter of
Isaac and Diana (Parks) Gump, natives of Pennsylvania. Their marriage
occurred in West Virginia and about the year 1853 they came to
Iowa and the father followed farming in Wayne county for more
than twenty-five years.
Mr. and Mrs. Evans have become the parents of five
children: Martin
Luther, who is engaged in teaching school in Spokane,
Washington; James Clyde; Montella, who married Miss Bertha
Walker and with his wife and three children resides upon the
home farm; Ida May, who married Otto Naylor, a farmer in Polk
county, by whom she has two children; and William Hiram, a
bookkeeper in Des Moines.
Mr. and Mrs. Evans are members of the Methodist church.
Since 1881 Mr. Evans has been connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and has been through all the chairs in that organization. He gives a loyal support to the men and measures of the republican party and for over seventeen years has been prominent in township affairs, holding many township offices. For well over a quarter of a century he has been influentially associated with the agricultural and business interests of his community and his high standards of integrity. His conscientiousness and uprightness have earned him the respect and confidence of his fellow citizens. He always gives his influence and aid to progressive public measures and stands uniformly on the side of justice, truth and right in public as well as private relations.