Stanislaus
County
Biographies
CLAEBORNE WAYNE EVANS
Among the able,
progressive, successful and prosperous practicing physicians of Stanislaus
County, California, none has attained higher rank than the subject of this
sketch, who is a leading citizen at Modesto.
Dr. Evans was born in Cleburne County, Alabama, July 1, 1859, and is
descended from English and Dutch ancestors, who settled early in the
south. William Henry Evans, his
great-grandfather, was a pioneer in Alabama and was the American progenitor of
his family. The Evans’s were prominent in the history of both Alabama and South
Carolina and was active participants on the patriot side in the Revolutionary
War.
Dr. Evans, who was the second child
of his parents, came to California in 1871, when he was about twelve years old,
and here completed his English and classical education. He was graduated in medicine in the medical
department of the University of California, in the class of 1881, and began the
practice of his profession at Modesto.
He at once identified himself with local interests and was accorded the
esteem of the general public to an unusual degree, and, being a talented, well
equipped and enthusiastic physician and surgeon, he soon acquired a large and
remunerative practice in Stanislaus and adjoining counties and took a high
place professionally in his part of the state.
He has served the county eighteen years as county physician and has
charge of the county hospital.
Dr. Evans is an extensive land-owner
and devotes himself in his leisure time to raising trotting horses and
thoroughbred cattle. He keeps ten of his
best horses in his own stable and loses no time when called to attend to a
patient or when he drives into the country for business or pleasure, and it is
not probable that there is another physician in the state who has a stable of
faster horses for his own driving. He is
the owner of a splendid herd of Holstein-Friesian cattle purchased by him from
the Leland Stanford estate, which are considered as fine as any in the state. He is an active member of the Democratic
Party and takes a deep interest in all public questions, whether of national or
local importance, and his public spirit is such that he has proven a helpful
friend to every interest affecting the advancement of the beautiful little city
of Modesto, and his residence is one of the most attractive and hospitable
there.
In 1881, soon after receiving his
medical diploma, Dr. Evans married Miss Bessie McLean, a daughter of Dr. S. M.
McLean, an eminent physician and surgeon of California, and who was at the time
Dr. Evan’s partner. Mrs. Evans bore her
husband children named Herbert M. (now at the California State University), Maron and Samuel N. (students in the high school), and died
when the son last named was an infant.
Dr. Evans’ present wife was Miss Minnie Hurd, a native of California,
who has born him a son names John A. and a daughter
named Martha Jean.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
“A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern
California”, Pages 351-352. Chicago Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. 1901.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.