MRS. MARTHA J. EVANS; NO 14 “RALLS CO TIMES” APRIL 26, 1901 At Scottsville, Allen County, Kentucky, in June 1820, Mrs. Martha J. Evans, widow of William Evans, decreased was born. Her maiden name was Clayton, and her father was a native of Virginia. Her childhood was spent in Bullet and Barren counties, Kentucky, and while living in the latter county on the old state road leading from Tennessee to Louisville she well remembers seeing Andrew Jackson. As “Old Hickory” was on his way to Washington to be inaugurated in the spring of 1829 he stopped at her father’s house got out of his great tall carriage drawn by four large white horses and for an hour shock hands with and talked to the neighbors who had gathered there to see him. She recalls his warm hand shake; the step ladder handled by his colored coachman to let him down and out of the carriage; the fine white horses by which it was drawn and the very pleasant manner in which Mr. Jackson appeared to the people. His great long head and tall form was especially attractive. The meeting was entirely informal and after all -- even the boys and girls had shaken his hand and exchanged the plain old-fashioned greetings that belonged to those days, and meant much more than now, the General resumed his lonely journey to begin that public career that ranks him among the greatest men of this great country. Her parents emigrated to Missouri in 1832, and hence this worthy mother in Israel is among the oldest of our old settlers. The trip was made by stage to the Ohio River, then by boat to St. Louis and landing in Hannibal. Her brother, Granville Clayton, had come here several years before and was engaged in the saddle business in New London with Jeptha Crosswait (Crosthwaite) as a partner and hither the family came and settled, living near the public spring. Later the family moved south of town and entered the farm known as the George McGrew place. From here a move was made to the farm now owned by James Turner?, south of Center, which her father also entered. Soon after finding this new home a worthy young Virginian won the heart of the fair young Kentucky girl. Martha and the twain went out into the wide world, with but little means, to make an honest living and at its close to leave a blameless record. The marriage ceremony was preformed by Elder George Waters and among the witnesses was James B. Beshears of Center. In 1841 she joined the Baptist church at Salem this county and all these sixty years has lived the life of a faithful follower of the Lowly Nazarene. “My early recollection of Salem” said Mrs. Evans to the writer “recalls the congregation meeting in an old log church. The was afterward replaced by a large brick one which in turn was replaced by a frame structure larger and better suited to the growing congregation. Uncle Wash Ledford made the brick near by and in the schoolhouse there are some of them. The fine church building there now may be more in style but I doubt if it will ever hold a better or more devout body of people than met there every third Sunday and the Saturday before, when I was a girl. Old Mr. Vardeman had the care of the church for many years in that day and preached in his last years seating in a chair. Brother Hurley was doing the preaching when I joined”. After her marriage the two moved to the residence of Trammel McGrew south of Salem, where Mr. Evans engaged in wagon making in connection with “Uncle Bob” Whittaker and fitted up the spring wagon that carried the family back to Kentucky a little later. Among the good neighbors living at that time in the neighborhood, she kindly names Mr. Joe McGrew and Coon, David Clark, Washington Epperson, Mrs. Hicklin, mother of Dr. Otho H. Hicklin of this city, John D. Biggs and others. She especially remembers Mrs. Hicklin, who would always “come by” for her on “meeting days”. Everybody rode horseback to church, the ladies wearing long black skirts which nearly touched the ground and on reaching the stile blocks these perhaps half a hundred of them and as much alike as peas in a pod were thrown in a pile at the step or door and never a mistake made in garment when wanted for return. Of late years her membership has been with the Spencer Creek church and her attendance remarkably regular for one of her years. She loves her church, her bible and every good cause and scarcely a day passes that she does not read some portion of the Holy Scriptures. In 1845 Mr. Evans, wife and their two children went back to Kentucky making the trip in a covered spring wagon and reaching Bullet County in two weeks. In 1859 they returned to Missouri this time setting in Cass County, where they engaged in farming. By the untied effort of husband wife and little family they soon became comfortable there. A fine farm was in prospect, the lumber and timber in preparation at a near by mill for more commodious dwelling when the awful shadow of the Civil War darkened and finally blasted their every hope and with departed hope went nearly all the frugal gatherings and savings of years. “Order no. 11,” issued by General Ewing of the Federal forces, swept the counties of Cass, Clay and part of Jackson like a veritable simoon of destruction. The inhabitants possessed fertile and valuable lands many of them had become wealthy. All at once the scene was changed. Young men were given the choice of bearing arms in a cause they opposed or flee the county. The darkness of night was dispelled by the burning of farm buildings and dwellings and the occupants driven out of the county. No pleading could soften the cruel severity of this relentless “order” and within its boundary seems not unlike that of the pious “Acadians”, so graphically told in “Evangeline” took place. Mr. Evans was among the exiled, and loaded his family and household effects in a couple of wagons they left all else to the devouring rage of war and came to Pike County where a brother of Mrs. Evans lived, the trip being made with ox teams. Later the fugitives moved to the neighborhood of Madisonville, in whose peaceful and genial surroundings they began life’s battle anew, and from its lowest round. Soon with the industry of husband and sons without good wife and daughters within, their shattered fortunes were partly restored. All the daughters could weave and spin and from the loom flowed a constant stream of carpets, jeans, blankets and linseys, “all wool and a yard wide,” and the boys became the best of farm hands in the locality. In 1877 Mr. Evans suddenly died, and a long honorable life had its scroll unfolded in eternity. There were few better men in all that section than “Uncle Billy” Evans and the record of his life is as noble as that of many far more pretentious and assuming. To this marriage there were born seven children, all of whom are living and honored members of society: Mary, the wife of Henry Liter, Samuel C., ex-county Judge of this county. Thomas M., and William G., known everywhere as “Dick” reside in Jasper township, Julia K., widow of John L. Howser, Mattie J., wife of David Wallace, and James B., resides in New London. Twenty-nine grand and six great=grandchildren lovingly call her “Grandma”. Of a large family, she is the only one left the others having joined the great majority on the other side. Though in her eighty-first year she is quite active, goes among her children as she desires and then keeps house for her son, Dick, who remains a bachelor in order she may have a home of her own with him and keep it as she chooses.
Posted on: Thu, 25 Jul 2013 11:32:21 +0000