Butte County
Biographies
JOSEPH M. EVANS
JOSEPH M. EVANS.--Joseph M. Evens
possesses a thorough knowledge of building and construction, in which he enjoys
a thoroughly established reputation for industry and integrity. He was born
near Pittsfield, Pike County,
Ill. The father, William Evens, was born in
Scott County, Ill., and moved to Pike
County where he was engaged in
farming. In 1852 he crossed the plains by ox teams. Their train was attacked by
Indians, who were driven off by the immigrants, and the father finally arrived
in California, where he engaged
in mining for eight years. He then returned to Illinois,
where he was married and lived until he moved to Colorado.
In 1903 he came to Chico and it was
there that he died at the age of eighty-three years old. The mother was Mary
Strubenger, a native of Illinois, who died in California.
Of their five children, three are living: Marsha, Mrs. W.W. Wood of Marble, Colo.;
Frank who lives in Chico; and
Joseph the second oldest.
Joseph
Evens was brought up in Illinois, where he attended the public schools, and the
Gem City Business College in Quincy. Following the completion of his schooling,
he engaged in farming and, in 1897, he located in Marble, Colo.,
where he followed the carpenter trade for two years. Mr. Evens then moved to Carbondale
Colorado, where he continued in this trade.
In 1903 he came to California, locating in Chico
and engaged in contracting and building, in which he continued ever since. Ten
years ago Mr. Evens built his residence 230 Humboldt
Avenue. He also built the Zwizler, Richardson,
and Cliff Crowder residences. Mr. Evens built additions to several schoolhouses
in Chico and has built many of the residences on the
Stanford ranch at Durham, as well
as several on the Stanford ranch at Vina.
Joseph
M. Evens was married in Pittsfield, Ill.,
on October 21, 1886, to Miss Cora Farmer, who was born in Plainville,
Adams County, Ill.
He father was Jacob Castle Farmer, who was born in Ohio, and came with his
parents to Pike County, Ill., when he was two and one half years old. He became
a blacksmith in Adams County,
and served in an Illinois
regiment in the Civil War. The mother was Mary Maclaskey, born in Barry
Illinois., the daughter of George Maclaskey, who crossed the plains in the fifties.
Later returning to Illinois,
where they settled on a farm near Barry. He died while on a visit to Nebraska.
Mr. Farmer died in Illinois,
after which Mrs. Farmer made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Evens, until her
death.
Mr.
and Mrs. Evens have two children: Ina Lillian and Merrick Wayne, The latter is
assisting his father in his building operations. Mr. Evens was made a Mason in
the Carbondale Lodge, A. F. & A. M., in Colorado, but is now a member of
Chico Lodge, No. 111, F. & A. M., and with his wife and daughter, belongs
to Josephine Chapter, No. 104, O. E. S. He is also a member of the Modern
Woodmen of America and of the Woodmen of the World. The family is members of
the Christian Church of Chico.
Transcribed
by Kim Buck.
Source: "History of
Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Page 1103, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.
© 2009 Kim
Buck.
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