Father: John Thomas Evans
Mother: Elizabeth Miller

Spouse: James A. Marsh - b: 3/Apr/1851 - IL
   d: 5/Mar/1930 - Albany, MO - bur: Grandview Cem. (East)
  m: 3/Dec/1873 - Gentry Co., MO

Child-1: Lou Ella Jane - b: 28/Sep/1874 - Albany, Gentry Co., MO
                                     d: 30/Aug/1923 - bur: Grandview Cem., Gentry Co., MO
                                    m: Jesse Blair Newman - 28/Jun/1896 - Athens Twp., Gentry Co., MO
          2: Charles Willard - b: 10/Aug/1876 - Albany, Gentry Co., MO
                                         d: 13/Jul/1941 - Kansas City, Jackson Co., MO - bur: Memorial Park Cem.
                                        m: Myrtle Wolven - 1/Sep/1902 - Gentry Co., MO
          3: (unnamed son)
          4: (unnamed daughter) - b: 1/Oct/1884 - Albany, Gentry Co., MO
          5: Strausie Maud - b: Aug/1889 - Albany, Gentry Co., MO

Biographical Details:

Sarah Emmaline Evans was born October 6, 1853, in Gentry County, Missouri, probably in Howard Township.  She was the fourth known child of John T. and Elizabeth Miller Evans and seems to have been known throughout her life as "Emma" or, perhaps, "Emily".  After the death of her parents, she apparently boarded with relatives or neighbors and probably "worked for her keep" from a young age.  This supposition is further supported by the population schedule of the 1870 US Census for Gentry County, which indicates that "Emma Evans" age sixteen, occupation domestic servant, was living in Huggins Township in the household of an elderly couple, James M. and Rebecca R. Howell.  She became a member of the United Brethren Church in 1872.¹

Sarah E. Evans married James A. Marsh on December 8, 1873.  He was the son of Sylvester Marsh, whose household, according to the 1870 US Census, can be placed as neighboring that of the Howells in Huggins Township.  (Concomitantly, James' younger brother, Willard, married Sarah's first cousin, Hester Austin, apparently a few years later.)  It is evident that after their marriage, James A. and Sarah E. Evans Marsh moved into the town of Albany, where they can be found in the population schedule of the 1880 US Census.  They had five children, two of which died infancy and three who survived to adulthood.  (One unnamed infant girl can be independently substantiated in archived Missouri birth records.)  According to the population schedule of the 1900 US Census, James A. and Sarah E. Marsh were living in the eastern part of Cooper Township with two of their children, but they had evidently moved back to Albany by the time that Sarah Evans Marsh died on July 29, 1916.²  Their son, Charles W. Marsh, had moved to the town of Chetopa in Labette County, Kansas, sometime before his mother died.³  James A. Marsh apparently lived the rest of his life in Albany.  He was boarding with Thomas B. and Nettie Lykins at the time of the 1920 US Census.  An additional interesting detail is that his occupation was given in the population schedule as "city marshall".  James A. Marsh died March 5, 1930, and was buried with his wife in the Grandview Cemetery immediately north of Albany.

1. "DEATH OF MRS. JAS. A. MARSH   Mrs. Jas. A. Marsh passed away at her home on east Wood street, in Albany last Saturday afternoon at 4:30 o'clock, aged 62 years, 9 months and 28 days.
     Sarah Emmaline Evans, daughter of John Evans, was born near Albany, in Gentry county, Missouri, Oct. 6, 1853.  She was married to Jas. A. Marsh on Dec. 8, 1873.  Five children were born to them, one son and a daughter dying in infancy.  One son and two daughters---Chas. W. Marsh, of Chetopa, Kan.; Mrs. Jess Newman and Miss Strausie Maud Marsh, with their father, are left to mourn the loss of a true wife and companion and a devoted mother.  She is also survived by one brother and three sisters---J. J. Evans of Island City, Mo., Mrs. T. A. Ireland of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Mrs. Levi Spainhower and Mrs. J. T. Hunter of Albany.
     In 1872 Mrs. Marsh had united with the United Brethren Church, and had held faithful in that membership since that time, living a true Christian life.  She spent her years in loving service of her family; was a kindly neighbor, ever ready to assist in sickness, and was loved as a neighbor and friend.  She had been a sufferer for nearly two years with enlargement of the spleen, which become complicated with dropsy, causing her much suffering during the last year of her life, but she accepted her sickness with resignation and was uncomplaining to the end.
     A large crowd of neighbors, relatives and friends gathered at the Marsh home on west Wood street Monday afternoon to listen to a funeral tribute paid by Rev. G. C. Beery, after which interment was made in the Grand View Cemetery." (obituary: Albany Capital; Albany, MO, Thur., Aug. 3, 1916.)
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2. "MRS. J. A. MARSH DEAD  After an illness extending over a year and a half, Mrs. J. A. Marsh died at the family home on West Wood street, last Saturday, July 29th, at half past four o'clock at the age of 62 years, 9 months, and 28 days.  Short funeral services were held at the residence Monday afternoon at 2:00 o'clock, conducted by Rev. G. C. Beery, pastor of the M. E. church, South, and the burial was at Grandview cemetery.
     Mrs. Marsh's maiden name was Sarah Emeline Evans, and she was born near Albany, October 6, 1853, practically all of her life being spent in this vicinity.  She was a daughter of John E. and Elizabeth Evans, both well known among the pioneers of the county.  She was married to James A. Marsh, December 3, 1873, and five children were born to them, three of whom are living and are: Chas. of Chatopa, Kansas; Mrs. Ella Newman and Miss Strausie Marsh, both of Albany.  Besides these children and her husband, she is also survived by three sisters and one brother: Mrs. Martha Ireland, of Colorado Springs; Mrs. L. B. Spainhower and Mrs. J. T. Hunter, of Albany, and J. J. Evans of Island City.
     She was converted while young and united with the United Brethren church, and lived a consistent Christian all of her life.  She was a great lover of her home and on very few occasions did she mingle in public gathering.  The bereaved family have the sympathy of all in the loss of this devoted wife and mother."  (obituary: Albany Ledger; Albany, MO, Thur., Aug. 3, 1916.)
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3. As indicated by Kansas State Census records of 1915 and the population schedule of 1920 US Census for Labette County, Kansas, Charles W. Marsh was living with his wife, Myrtle, and a daughter, Gwendolyn, in the town of Chetopa, which is located in the extreme southeastern corner of Kansas about thirty-five miles west of Joplin, Missouri.  Evidently, Gwendolyn was born in Kansas about 1909, which suggests that they had settled in Labette County before 1910.  Charles' occupation was  listed as "plasterer".  Even so, in 1930 he can be found living in a boarding house in Kansas City, Missouri.  Concomitantly, his wife and a daughter were also living in a boarding house on 115th Street in Queens, New York.  It is not known why the family separated or why Myrtle and Gwendolyn went to New York City.  It may have been due to family disharmony, but considering that 1930 was during the Great Depression, it seems more likely that the separation was motivated by economic conditions.  This is further supported by census records of 1940 which indicate that the family had reunited and was was living on West Fourteenth Street in Kansas City.  Charles Marsh died on July 13, 1941.  (unpublished notes)

a. The family of Charles and Myrtle Marsh can be confirmed by Kansas State Census records.  (1915 Kansas State Census Population Schedule for Labette County, Kansas State Historical Soc., 6425 SW Sixth Ave., Topeka, KS, 66615: pg. 7, (microfilm: roll 1915_K118; imgs. 158-9).)

b. Movements of the family of Charles and Myrtle Marsh can be confirmed by population schedules of 1920, 1930, and 1940 US Censuses.  (1920 US Census Population Schedule for Labette County, Kansas, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 225B, (microfilm: roll T625_536; img. 456); 1930 US Census Population Schedule for Jackson County, Missouri, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 133B, (microfilm: roll T626_1193; img. 847); 1930 US Census Population Schedule for Queens County, New York, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 154A, (microfilm: roll T626_1609; img. 308); & 1940 US Census Population Schedule for Jackson County, Missouri, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 184A, (microfilm: roll T627_2165; img. 372).)

c. World War I Draft Registration Cards, National Personnel Records Center, National Archives-Southeast Region, Morrow, GA, (microfilm: roll KS-1643586; img. 4598).

d.  Death Certificates, Missouri State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Jefferson City, MO, (Death Certificate No. 24105 - Bureau of Vital Statistics, State of Missouri, Jefferson City, MO).
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Additional Citations:

4. 1870 US Census Population Schedule for Gentry County, Missouri, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 603A, (microfilm: roll M593_776; img. 425).

5. 1880 US Census Population Schedule for Gentry County, Missouri, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 483A, (microfilm: roll T9_687; img. 297).

6. 1900 US Census Population Schedule for Gentry County, Missouri, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 204A, (microfilm: roll T623_855; img. 413).

7. 1910 US Census Population Schedule for Gentry County, Missouri, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 150B, (microfilm: roll T624_781; img. 299).

8. 1920 US Census Population Schedule for Gentry County, Missouri, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 27B, (microfilm: roll T625_919; img. 622).

9. Register of Births and Stillbirths, Gentry County, Albany, MO:  Bk. 1, pg. 33; No. 417, (Missouri State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Jefferson City, MO (microfilm: roll 8987; img. 48)) & Permanent Record of Births, Gentry County, Albany, MO: pg. unk., (Missouri State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Jefferson City, MO (microfilm: roll 8987; img. 228)).

10. Death Certificates, Missouri State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Jefferson City, MO, (Death Certificate No. 27634 - Bureau of Vital Statistics, State of Missouri, Jefferson City, MO).

11. Ben Glick ,"Grandview Cemetery", unpublished. (Gentry County MOGenWeb Archives, www.dropbox.com/sh/slhfvw5i4zjmxft/AABbo65XMBcNG_6_81hC3HvBa/Grandview.pdf?dl=0, 2014.)

12. 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).

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13. Marriage Records, Gentry County, Albany, MO:  Bk. 3, pg. 72, (Missouri State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Jefferson City, MO (microfilm: roll 37664; img. 43)).

14. marriage notice: Darlington Record; Darlington, MO, Thur., Sep. 18, 1902.

15. Death Certificates, Missouri State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Jefferson City, MO, (Death Certificate No. 23898 - Bureau of Vital Statistics, State of Missouri, Jefferson City, MO & Death Certificate No. 24105 - Bureau of Vital Statistics, State of Missouri, Jefferson City, MO).

16. obituary: Albany, MO, Thur., Aug. 30 & Sep. 6, 1923.

17. Robert L. Evans, "Our Family's History", November 9, 2001.

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