(This article is from The Idaho Enterprise, Thursday, August 2, 1962, page 2) 

History of Firm, Founders Given As Bank Readies New Building 

In conjunction with the forthcoming opening of the new building of J. N. Ireland and Company, Bankers, this is one of the series of articles which will be published concerning the bank’s history and its founders. 

D. L. Evans 

The story of David Lloyd Evans is a story of Idaho industry and agriculture. His birth in Brigham City, Utah, on May 20, 1854, marked the beginning of the illustrious career of one of Idaho’s great leaders – a pioneer in banking, farming, politics and education. 

When the J. N. Ireland Bank was established in 1892, David Lloyd Evans served as the first president of the corporation. This bank was the first bank organized of the Standrod Group, one of the earliest groups of banks in the State of Idaho. 

D. L. Evans was the son of Captain David Rees Evans and Gwen Lloyd Evans. When the boy, D. L. was just seven years old, his father died, leaving the mother with three children by a former marriage and 5 children of Captain Evans’. It was at this early age that young David Lloyd had his first opportunity to show his business ingenuity, and launched his career by herding sheep for the fee of one cent per head per day for five years. By the time he was ten years of age he was managing the complete town herd of sheep for Lewis White in Brigham City, thus showing industry and ambition of an unusual calibre for one so young. 

The family pulled up stakes in 1871 and moved to Malad where they homesteaded the ranch located four miles north of the City on the route to Pocatello. This ranch is today owned and operated by D. L. Evans’ only surviving son, D. L. Evans. 

From the age of 17 to 22, the young man D. L. worked with his mother and brothers to improve and develop the ranch. 

In the fall of 1876, Mr. Evans took his initial step into higher education by attending a 10-week course at the University of Utah, known then as the University of Deseret. The University, at that time, was located where West High School stands today in Salt Lake City, Utah. 

Always desirous of sharing his knowledge and progress with others, he returned to Malad where he taught school that fall and summer of 1875-76. Again in 1876-77 he returned to the University of Deseret to further his education, and he was granted a Normal Diploma from John R. Park who was president of the University at that time.  

In 1878 he proceeded to Franklin, Idaho, where he once again took the helm as a teacher of young people. It was in Franklin that he met and married Miss Emily Mecham in 1879. He then returned to Malad where for the next four years he instructed in the old county school. 

A man of profound honesty and integrity, David Lloyd Evans was intensely interested in the political future of the Territory and expended every effort possible in the campaign to include Idaho as a state in this progressive nation. He was elected as a Territorial Representative from Oneida County to serve in the Legislature in 1883. It was on his return from the Legislature that year that his wife died following the birth of a daughter, Emily. 

The Malad Co-operative Company, at the present time known as the Evans’ Co-op Company, and the company considered by many today to be the oldest continuous business in Idaho, was organized on January 29, 1877. It was in 1884 that this company sought the services of the enterprising D. L. Evans. 

Mr. Evans was elected secretary of the company in 1884 and manager of the company one year later. This position, along with continued service in the Legislature, occupied the young man’s time for the next few years. 

Miss Mary Ellen Williams, who had been one of D. L. Evans’ students’ during his teaching career, was the second lady clerk to be hired in the firm of the Malad Co-operative Company. And she became Mrs. D. L. Evans in 1885. 

As Speaker of the House in 1889, D. L. Evans led the state representatives, and it was in 1890 that he was elected to his first term as State Senator. Adding color to his political career was his uninterrupted attendance as an elected delegate for the Democratic Party to every convention held in the County and in the Territory or State from 1882 to 1920. And of significance was his attendance at the National Democratic conventions in 1900 at Denver, Colorado, where Wm. J. Bryan was nominated for President; 1912, Baltimore, Maryland, where Woodrow Wilson was nominated; 1916, St. Louis, Mo., Woodrow Wilson; and in 1920, San Francisco, California, where he saw James M. Cox nominated. In 1896 Mr. Evans was a presidential elector, and in that same year he found it necessary to turn down his party’s nomination for Governor of Idaho. 

As early as 1880 the need for banking facilities in the Territory was prevalent in order to safeguard miners’ and trappers’ treasures. From the merchants’ willingness to perform the safekeeping services, banking was introduced in Idaho. The J. N. Ireland Company, Bankers, in Malad, the D. L. Evans Company at Albion, on whose boards of directors D. L. Evans served, are two of only four of the state banks that started from pioneer trading posts and general stores and today retain their individuality. His son, D. L. Evans, along with three grandsons, Roland T., John V. and Donald S. Evans, serve on these Boards at the present time. 

Mr. Evans, together with D. W. Standrod, L. L. Evans (brother), W. G. Jenkins, and J. N. Ireland, as stockholders and directors, organized the Standrod Group of Banks in 1910. The J. N. Ireland Bank, which had been organized in 1892; and the Blackfoot Bank, 1899; were absorbed by the Group, as were the D. L. Evans Bank, Albion, 1900; the Evans State Bank, American Falls, 1908; Standrod and Company, Pocatello; W. G. Jenkins and Company, Mackay. These banks operated independently and had their own officers, boards of directors and, although interlocking, their own corporate existence. 

With his brother, L. L. Evans, D. L. Evans engaged in business from boyhood as a partnership under the firm name of Evans Brothers – owning property in common. On Sept. 17,. 1911, the two brothers and their wives amicably dissolved the business union. Worthy of quoting is the last paragraph of the dissolution agreement, which reads: “It is with a feeling of sadness and regret that we thus dissolve the business association of a lifetime, but the passing of time admonishes us that would we avoid greater regrets and trouble, we must act now, and in doing so, we pledge to each other our continued love, confidence, and assistance in our declining years.” 

In these early days electrical power was making its impact on the American scene. In 1913, Mr. Evans purchased the upper power plant in Power House Canyon from Hodson & Little with the intent to develop it and thus provide the people of the valley with better electrical services. His son, David Lloyd Evans, then a senior student in electrical engineering at Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, designed a new plant, the construction of which he supervised the following year. This design comprised the young man’s thesis for graduation honors from Stanford University. Ground was broken for the new plant on Labor Day in 1914, and power was turned on in the lower plant on December 19, 1914. This plant serves Malad Valley today. On June 10, 1925, the Evans family sold the company to David O. True and Associates who in turn sold to California-Pacific Utilities Co. 

During his career of public service, Mr. Evans served as a member of the Malad School Board and the State Board of Education. A man who devoted a great deal of his time to the advancement of education, he was instrumental in the early organization and progress of the state system of education. His civic career also included service on the City Council. 

In addition to his banking and mercantile interests, Mr. Evans held extensive agricultural and livestock holdings, many of which are still owned and operated by his heirs. He was one of the organizers of the Idaho State Life Insurance Company. His fraternal affiliation was with the Masonic Lodge. 

David Lloyd Evans died at Malad City, July 12, 1929. A man of great physical stature, his six feet, two inches of height – held always erect with head high and shoulders back – was matched only by his strength of character and the magnitude of a life lived with a purpose – a man who believed in a devout dedication to give the best he had to the world. 

(The following two articles are inserted behind the previous newspaper article from the Native Daughters of Idaho & Utah Pioneers.) 

(Enterprise files, July 18, 1929) 

Mr. Evans was born at Brigham City, Utah in 1954, and with his widowed mother and two younger brothers, came to Malad in 1869. He taught school for a number of years and in 1884 he took the management of the Malad Cooperative store, which was the start of an exceptionally successful business career. 

In 1891, he helped organize the J. N. Ireland bank and served as president of that institution for many years. He also assisted in the organization of 10 other banks in Idaho and was one of the organizers of the Idaho State LIfe Insurance Co. In addition to his banking and business interests, Mr. Evans had extensive agricultural and livestock holdings. 

Mr. Evans was a member of the Malad school board for many years and also served as a member of the state educational commission, devoting a large portion of his time to the advancement of education. 

Mr. Evans was elected to the Idaho legislature five times, serving three terms in the house of representatives and two in the senate. His first term was in the session of 1882 when he was 28 years old. In order to reach Idaho’s capital at that time it was necessary to go from Malad to Ogden by stage, from Ogden to Kelton by train and from Kelton to Boise by stage. He was speaker of the house during one term. Since 1894, Mr. Evans had attended every Democratic convention held in Oneida county and every state Democratic convention held in Idaho and also attended four national Democratic conventions. He was a presidential elector in 1896 and declined his party’s nomination for governor. 

Active in civic affairs of Malad. Mr. Evans was a charter member of the Lions and helped organize and served as chairman of the Oneida Red Cross chapter. He was a member of the Malad Masonic lodge. 

In 1881, Mr. Evans was married to Miss Emily Mechom of Riverdale, Idaho, who died in 1883. In 1885 he was married to Miss Mary Williams of Malad. His surviving daughter and son are Emily Evans Foss and David L. Evans. 

Mr. Evans died suddenly July 12, 1929 at the family home in Malad and burial was in the Malad cemetery. 

Erect Library, Lodge Building in Memory D.L. Evans Sr. 

Memory Honored (headshot picture of a gentleman. Caption says D. L. Evans Sr.) 

The Malad city council this week accepted a proposal by D. L. Evans, Malad businessman to construct a memorial building honoring his father, D. L. Evans Sr. Incorporated in the structure will be a library, a home for the Masonic and Eastern Star lodges and a basement room for banquets and small parties. 

Estimated cost of the building is $25,000 and architects will be asked to submit plans in the very near future. Due to the material shortage. It is doubtful if work on the project can be started before a year’s time at least, Mr. Evans stated. 

Site of the building is near the Malad stake tabernacle on the west side of the city.