Father: Thomas Jefferson
Evans
Mother: Sarah Francis McGuire
Spouse: Margaret (Maggie) Maude Rainey - b:
16/Jun/1885 - Ford City, Jackson Twp., Gentry Co., MO
d: 2/Apr/1960 - St. Joseph, Buchanan
Co., MO - bur: Ford City Cem., Gentry Co.
m: 21/Feb/1906 - Gentry Co., MO
Child-1: Zelma Ruth - b: 20/Dec/1906 - Gentry Co., MO
d: 24/Feb/2000 - Albany, Gentry Co., MO - bur:
Grandview Cem.
m: Glenn H. Allenbrand - 12/Aug/1924 - Gentry Co., MO
2: Maxine
E. - b: 20/Dec/1914 - MO
d: 4/Sep/1988 - Kansas City, Jackson Co., MO - bur: Savannah
Cem., Savannah, Andrew Co.
m: Adelbert (Bert) Graff Phares - 25/Jun/1939
3: Claudie
Margarite - b/d: 1/Feb/1917 - bur: Ford City Cem.,
Gentry Co., MO
4: Marvin
Miller - b: 30/Nov/1918 - King City, Jackson Twp., Gentry Co., MO
d: 20/Jan/1981 - Phoenix, Maricopa Co., AZ - bur: Ford City
Cem., Gentry Co., MO
m: Patrica Lee Larcom - 31/Aug/1940 - First Methodist Ch., Lawrence,
Douglas Co., KS
5: Jean
Claude - b: 8/Aug/1926 - Colorado Springs, El Paso Co., CO
d: 1942 - Topeka, Shawnee Co., KS - bur: Ford City Cem., Gentry
Co., MO
Biographical Details:
Claude Miller Evans was born May 24, 1881, in Gentry County, Missouri, probably in Huggins Township, but perhaps in Miller Township. He was a son of Thomas Jefferson and Sarah McGuire Evans and married Maggie Rainey on February 21, 1906.1 Moreover, according to oral family tradition, Margaret and Claude Evans were married in a double ceremony at the home of Benjamin Porter Rainey (Uncle Doc) together with Osha and Clarence Starks.2 According to Maggie's obituary, they had five children, but only three survived to adulthood.3 Indeed, an infant daughter, Claudie Margarite, is buried in the Ford City Cemetery and was evidently either stillborn or lived for only a very short time after birth. The other child was a son, Jean Claude, born in Colorado Springs in 1926. Claude was a successful farmer in Miller Township, but unfortunately, he died relatively young in 1929. His death certificate indicates that the cause of his death was tuberculosis. Indeed, according to the population schedule of the 1920 US Census, the family was living in Colorado Springs, Colorado, perhaps in an attempt to improve Claude's health since a high altitude arid climate ws thought to be beneficial to sufferers of tuberculosis. In additon, this likely accounts for the birth of their youngest child in this locality. After his death it seems that his widow and children experienced considerable hardship and financial difficulty as the farm was reportedly lost to creditors. Consequently, in 1930 Margaret Evans was identified as a "servant" living with her son, Marvin, in the household of George Thomas in Jefferson Township in Andrew County, Missouri. This corresponds to a location just northeast of the city of St. Joseph. Concomitantly, family tradition asserts that Jean Claude Evans lived from the age of two with the family of a cousin, Robert E. and Audrey M. Scarbrough, in Topeka, Kansas. This is further substantiated by population schedules of US Censuses of 1930 and 1940. Sadly, the boy died in 1942 as a consequence of a self-inflicted gunshot wound when he was a only sophomore in high school. Subsequently, family tradition further affirms that Maggie Maude Evans worked for the family of John Spiking in the years after the death of her husband. She was evidently housekeeper for John, a widower, his son, Gordon, and elderly mother, Sarah. The Spiking family lived in Polk Township, DeKalb County, Missouri, which is located immediately to the south of King City. Accordingly, Marvin Miller Evans also lived with the Spiking family and attended King City High School. Maggie Rainey Evans died in 1960 in St. Joseph at the home of her brother, B. P. Rainey, at 2603 South Thirteenth Street and was buried with her husband in the Ford City Cemetery.Source Notes and Citations:
1. John C. Leopard and Buel Leopard (Daviess Co.), R. M. McCammon and Mary McCammon Hillman (Gentry Co.), History of Daviess and Gentry Counties, Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, KS, 1922: pg. 641. (Reprint available from the Higginson Book Co., 148 Wash. St., P. O. B. 778, Salem, MA, 01970)
"Claude M. Evans, a progressive and enterprising farmer and stockman of Miller Township, Gentry County is a native of this county. He was born in 1881 and is a son of Jefferson and Sarah (McGuire) Evans. Thomas Jefferson Evans was an extensive farmer and stockman and was successful in his undertakings. He was a Democrat and a member of the Presbyterian Church. He was affiliated with the Masonic Lodge and the Knights of Pythias. He is now deceased and his remains are buried at King City and his widow now lives at Ford City.
Claude M. Evans was one of three children born to his parents, the other two being as follows: Earl, a farmer and stockman, living in Gentry County; and Samuel, a bookkeeper in the Citizens National Bank at King City. Claude M. Evans was reared on a farm and educated in the district schools and since early manhood has been engaged in farming. He was associated with his father for a time and for awhile operated rented land. He now owns 120 acres which is well improved with a good residence and barn and he carries on general farming and stock raising and is meeting with success. This is one of the historic old places of Gentry County having been crossed by the old St. Joseph trail in the early days and an old log cabin stood at the present site of Mr. Evans' residence.
Mr. Evans was married to Margaret Rainey, daughter of William and Emeline (Boley) Rainey. William Rainey was a prominent farmer and stockman. He was a member of the Christian Church and was a Republican and a Mason. He died in May, 1920, and is buried at Ford City. His widow resides on the home place.
Mrs. Evans is one of the following children born to her parents: John H., a merchant in St. Joseph; Benjamin P., a Spanish-American War veteran who also served in the Philippine Islands, is now a veterinary surgeon in St. Joseph; David M. and Albert B., twins; David M. resides in St. Joseph and Albert B. is a farmer and stockman in Gentry County; Hiram B., is a Spanish-American war veteran and lives in southern Missouri; Ira, Dix, Ill.; Roy O., in the ice business in St. Joseph; Osha married Clarence Starks, a railroad man of Kansas City; Elmer L., a merchant at Ford City; Tipton, a World War veteran, now engaged in farming and stock raising in Gentry County; and Mrs. Evans of this review.
To Mr. and Mrs. Claude M. Evans have been born three children: Zelma, born Dec. 22, 1906; Maxine, born Dec. 20, 1914; and Marvin Miller, born Nov. 30, 1918.
Mr. Evans is a Democrat and a membeer of the Presbyterian Church and the Evans family is highly respected in Gentry County."
back to bio.2. private conversation between Richard Evans and Mary Donovan, Sep. 15, 2001.
back to bio.3. "Rites Here Tuesday for Mrs. Margaret Evans, 74
The funeral of Mrs. Margaret M. Evans, 74, native of Gentry county and most of her life a resident of the Darlington community was held here Tuesday at the Taggart-Woodrel Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. James W. Meade, and burial was in the Ford City cemetery.
Mrs. Evans died Saturday night at the home of her brother B. P. Rainey in St. Joseph.
Margaret M. Rainey was born June 16, 1885. She and Claude M. Evans were married Feb. 21, 1906, and to them five children were born. The husband and two children preceded her in death. She was a member of Westminster Presbyterian church in St. Joseph and the Order of Eastern Star at Gentryville.
Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Glenn Allenbrand of Darlington, and Mrs. Maxine Phares of Liberty, Mo.; one son, Marvin Evans of Phoenix, Ariz.; six brothers, B. P. Rainey of St. Joseph, Roy Rainey of Springfield, Mo., Ira Rainey of Dix, Ill., Elmer Rainey of Baldwin, Kas., Tipton Rainey of Berlin, and Albert Rainey of Gentryville; one sister, Mrs. Clarence Starks of St. Joseph; nine grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren." (obituary: Newspaper unknown)
back to bio.
Additional Citations:
4. 1910 US Census Population Schedule for Gentry County, Missouri, National Archives, Washington DC: pg. 284B, (microfilm: roll T624_781; img. 568).5. 1920 US Census Population Schedule for El Paso County, Colorado, National Archives, Washington DC: pg. 138A, (microfilm: roll T625_163; img. 278).
6. 1930 US Census Population Schedule for Andrew County, Missouri, National Archives, Washington DC: pg. 273A, (microfilm: roll T626_1174; img. 548).
7. 1940 US Census Population Schedule for DeKalb County, Missouri, National Archives, Washington DC: pg. 102B, (microfilm: roll T627_2102; img. 628).
8. Marriage Records, Gentry County, Albany, MO: Bk. 6, pg. 222, (Missouri State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Jefferson City, MO (microfilm: roll 37664; img. 500)).
9. marriage notice: Albany Ledger; Albany, MO, Fri., Mar. 2, 1906.
10. birth/death notice: Albany Ledger; Albany, MO, Thur., Feb. 8, 1917.
11. birth notice: Albany Ledger; Albany, MO, Thur., Dec. 5, 1918.
12. World War I Draft Registration Cards, National Personnel Records Center, National Archives-Southeast Region, Morrow, GA, (microfilm: roll MO-1683214; img. 4339).
13. Death Certificates, Missouri State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Jefferson City, MO, (Death Certificate No. 24316 - Bureau of Vital Statistics, State of Missouri, Jefferson City, MO & Death Certificate No. 60-009949 - Bureau of Vital Statistics, State of Missouri, Jefferson City, MO).
14. Ben Glick,"Ford City Cemetery", unpublished. (Gentry County MOGenWeb Archives, www.dropbox.com/sh/slhfvw5i4zjmxft/AAAewbxHBhHPcfZ1_nBm5wxOa/FordCity.pdf?dl=0, 2014.)
15. Ford City Cemetery, Gentry County, Missouri (www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=1995084&CScn=Ford+City&CScntry=4&CSst=26&CScnty=1434&, continuously updated).
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16. Marriage Records, Gentry County, Albany, MO: Bk. 9 pg. 363, (Missouri State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Jefferson City, MO (microfilm: roll 53447; img. 370)).
17. Ben Glick ,"Grandview Cemetery", unpublished. (Gentry County MOGenWeb Archives, www.dropbox.com/sh/slhfvw5i4zjmxft/AABbo65XMBcNG_6_81hC3HvBa/Grandview.pdf?dl=0, 2014.)
18. Grandview Cemetery, Gentry County, Missouri (www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=28978&CScn=Grandview&CScntry=4&CSst=26&CScnty=1434&, continuously updated).
19. Savannah Cemetery, Andrew County, Missouri (www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=184811&CScn=Savannah&CScntry=4&CSst=26&CScnty=1398&, continuously updated).
20. Death Master File, Social Security Administration, Washington, DC, continuously updated.
21. Robert L. Evans, "Our Family's History", November 9, 2001.