EVANS, MARY JANE, January 17, 1853 – December 10, 1934

Mary Jane Jones Evans was born at Salt Lake City, January 17, 1853, the daughter of Richard and Mary Hughes-Efans Jones. While very young she came with her parents and settled in Malad in the year 1865, there being only five families here when the Jones family arrived.

At the age of 19 she was chosen from her class to teach in the public school. This experience ended in the fall of 1872 when she was married to Ben D. Evans at the Old Endowment House in Salt Lake City.

The first year of their married life was spent in a cellar or dugout on his father’s land. This she said was very comfortable, but the next year they built a house on their own homestead. Mr. Evans hired someone to stay with Mrs. Evans while he went to Montana to work on the telegraph lines. There were many hardships and disadvantages during this time, even though Mrs. Evans was a good manager. Their homestead was five miles from Malad and travel had to be made either by ox team and wagon, or later by mule team.

For about five years Mrs. Evans cared for the farm, but Mr. Evans disliked being separated from his family so he gave up his work on the telegraph line and took up work on the farm.

Ten children were born to this couple, five boys and five girls. Five are still living. Mrs. Hannah Deschamps, Thomas D., Richard J., Heber J. Evans and Mrs. Blodwin Thorpe.

Not only this family did Mrs. Evans rear and care for, but while her family was still young, a little negro boy nine years of age came across the fields from Samaria, asking for protection. He told them he had been stolen from his home in the South and these people were very cruel to him. Mrs. Evans’ mother heart held pity for him and she took him in as one of the family and reared him until he was twenty-one years of age, when one day he secretly took his leave.

Another child, a girl, was given a home there until she was married. Many old men have been given a home at the Evans home and there have spent the last years of their lives.

Mrs. Evans was an active church worker, having filled many positions of trust. She was the first president of the Primary in the Malad wards; president of the ULMIA; first counselor in the stake YLMIA, President of the ward Relief Society and counselor in the stake Relief Society. During all these years of service she also cared for an invalid boy who contracted brain fever when only three years of age, which left him an invalid until he was thirty-six years of age, when he was relieved by death. Owing to the helpless condition of her son, she was honorably released from these positions of trust and her church duties became that of visiting Relief Society teacher which position she held up to her eightieth year.

She was also a prominent factor in civic work, having served on many committees for fairs. She was chairman of the Ladies Oneida County Republican Society and an important member of the Liberty Bell League which fought so nobly for prohibition.

She was very hospitable to friend and stranger alike; the doors of her home were always open and she was always mindful of the sick in the community.

A great sadness came into her life when her loving companion was taken from this life on May 15, 1928.

Mrs. Evans spent her declining years surrounded by her five living children and her grandchildren. She passed away without any serious illness, December 10, 1934