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JOHN L. EVANS
Vol. 3, p. 1300, 1301

The thriving little community of Addington, in Jefferson County,
Oklahoma, is indebted to John L. Evans for much of its growth,
development and prosperity. Coming here in April, 1901, this "father
of the town" was instrumental in the founding of what is now the First
National Bank, of which he is president and from that time to the
present has devoted his high abilities, progressive spirit and
energetic nature to the community's interests, personally assisting
incipient industries through their early and doubtful years, and
lending practical encouragement to enterprises which, with his
support, have realized a full fruition of success.
John L. Evans was born in Baltimore County, Maryland, December 5,
1866, and is a son of John and Louisa (HARTMAN) Evans. John Evans was
born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, October 22, 1833, and as a young
man removed to Baltimore County, Maryland, from whence he went, in
1868, to Bureau County, Illinois. In 1879 he changed his residence to
Beaver Crossing, Seward County, Nebraska, where he was engaged in
farming operations until 1910, and since that time has carried on an
implement and automobile business at the same place, being associated
in partnership with his son, James C. He is a democrat politically,
and a member of the United Evangelical Church. Mr. Evans married Miss
Louisa HARTMAN, who was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, in 1838,
and died at Beaver Crossing, Nebraska, in 1901. Seven children were
born to this union, as follows: Charles C., a machinist and deep well
drilling operator, of Geneva, Nebraska: Anna E., who married Ernest
VAN SKIKE, a merchant of Long Beach, California; Emma, who died in
July, 1913, was the wife of M. D. JOHNSON, a farmer of Olustee,
Oklahoma; John L. of this review; George A., manager of the Nye,
Schneider & Fowler Grain Company, of Beaver Crossing, Nebraska; James
C. in business with his father at Beaver Crossing; and Mamie, who died
in 1908, was the wife of James CALDER, county treasurer of Seward
County, Nebraska, now residing at Seward. Of the foregoing family,
Mrs. Anna F. Van Skike is a graduate of the musical department of
Wesleyan University, and has a widespread reputation as a teacher of
both vocal and instrumental music. From 1909 until 1913 she was a
resident and teacher of Bartlesville, Oklahoma.

The Evans family originated in Wales and during colonial days settled
in Pennsylvania, from which state the great-grandfather of John L.
Evans enlisted for service in the patriot army during the War of the
Revolution. The grandfather, Charles EVANS, was born in Pennsylvania,
in 1799, subsequently went to Maryland, and finally removed to Bureau
County, Illinois, in 1868, there continuing to be engaged in farming
and stock raising until his death, in 1880.

The little log schoolhouse at Beaver Crossing, Nebraska, furnished
John L. Evans with his education, and he was reared on his father's
farm, where he remained until attaining his majority. His first
employment in the business world was in a grain elevator and lumber
yard at Beaver Crossing, where for two years he worked as assistant.
His faithful performance of duty and display of energy and ability won
him promotion to the position of manager, which he retained until
1894, and at that time he received the appointment to the
postmastership of Beaver Crossing, during the administration of
President Cleveland. At the expiration of his four year term, Mr.
Evans returned to his old position in Searle & Chapin's lumber yard,
but after two years resigned and in April, 1901, came to Addington,
Oklahoma, as a pioneer. Here Mr. Evans, with his wife and J. W.
WAMBOLD, owned the townsite. Their first move in the development of
this locality was the establishing of the First National Bank, of
which Mr. Wambold became president, Mrs. Evans, cashier, and Mr. Evans
assistant cashier. Only two weeks after the founding of this
institution, Mr. Wambold was shot and killed in front of the bank, and
his murderer is now serving a life sentence.

In May, 1902, Mr. and Mrs. Evans sold the bank to A. B. DUNLAP, but in
May, 1904, bought it back and since that time have continued its
management. The bank building, a handsome and substantial structure,
was erected in 1901, and stands on the corner of Main Street and
Parker Avenue. The present officers are John L. Evans, president, a
position which he has held since October 1914; M. W. DIMERY, vice
president, who is also secretary of the First Trust Company, of Omaha,
Nebraska, and a brother of Mrs. Evans; Mrs. Jennie E. Evans, cashier,
who has had active charge of the bank since its inception, and to whom
the greater part of the credit for its growth and development is due;
and M. W. FRANKLIN, assistant cashier. The First National Bank of
Addington has a capital of $25,000 and surplus and undivided profits
of $5,000, and has never failed to declare a dividend every six
months, and has never failed to earn at least 25 per cent, while it
has at times touched 35 per cent. Its stock, at $1 par, is now listed
at from $1.50 to $2.00. The institution was nationalized in April
1911, and is one of the sound and substantial banking concerns of this
part of the state, having the unqualified confidence of its depositors
and of other monetary institutions of Jefferson and the surrounding
counties.

In addition to his financial interests as represented in the bank, Mr.
Evans is engaged also in the real estate, loans and cattle business.
He owns 1,800 acres of Jefferson County land, upon which he has forty
tenants established, with good buildings and modern improvements of
all kinds, and also has his own residence, a residence for his hired
man and various vacant lots at Addington. He is a democrat in
politics. At various times his fellow-citizens, appreciative of his
ability, have called upon him to fill public offices, and he is a
member of the village board, a position which he has held since its
inception, and has also served in the capacity of school director. In
fraternal circles he is identified with Prudent Lodge No. 179, Ancient
Free and Accepted Masons, of Beaver Crossing, Nebraska, of which he
was master for five consecutive years; Addington Lodge No. 122,
Independent Order of odd Fellows, and the Rebekahs of the same;
Addington Lodge, No. 10001, of the Modern Woodmen of America; and
Beaver Crossing, Nebraska, Lodge No. 145, Ancient Order of United
Workmen. He is also an active member of the Addington Commercial Club,
and joins other capable and public-spirited citizens in boosting the
best interests of his adopted place.

In December, 1901, at Beaver Crossing, Nebraska, Mr. Evans was married
to Miss Jennie E. DIMERY, who was born at Beaver Dam, Wisconsin,
October 10, 1866, daughter of 'F. M. and Ordelia ( MARTIN) Dimery.
Joseph Dimery, the grandfather of Mrs. Evans, was born in England,
where he passed his entire life and became a capitalist, and died
there, in Hereford. Her father was born in Hereford, England, May 18,
1835, and was a young man of twenty-five years when he came to the
United States, settling at Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. There he made his
home until 1874, when he removed to Beaver Crossing, Nebraska, and
became the most prominent citizen of that place, being the owner of
the townsite, vice president of the bank, owner of a flourmill and
farm, and a large land holder and capitalist. He was a prominent
republican, politically, and a member of the Episcopal Church of
England, in the faith of which he died April 18, 1903. Mr. Dimery
married Ordelia Martin, who was born in New York, and survives him,
residing at Beaver Crossing. There were six children in the family, as
follows: Carrie, who is the wife of George H. BORDEN, who is connected
with a department store at Beaver Crossing, Nebraska; Jennie E., now
Mrs. EVANS; Fred, who is a farm owner and resides at Beaver Crossing;
Thomas, cashier in a bank at that place; Martin W., who is secretary
of the First Trust Company, of Omaha, Nebraska, and vice president and
a director of the First National Bank of Addington; and Delia, a
teacher in the public schools of Addington, and a director in the
First National Bank, with a home at Beaver Crossing.

Mrs. Jennie E. Dimery received her early education in the public
schools, following which she attended Doane College, at Crete,
Nebraska, and finally graduated from the Lincoln (Nebraska) Business
College. For five years thereafter she was engaged in teaching school,
was assistant postmaster for two years and postmaster for four years
at Beaver Crossing, and entered business life as assistant cashier of
a bank at that place. After six years she became cashier, which office
she held for two years, and was then employed in the courthouse until
coming to Addington in 1901. Since that time she has been cashier of
the First National Bank here. Mrs. Evans is a lady of many
accomplishments, as well as of unusual business ability, and is widely
and popularly known in social, educational and religious circles of
Addington.

Typed for OKGenWeb by Lee Ann Collins, March 21, 2000.

SOURCE: Thoburn, Joseph B., A Standard History of Oklahoma, An
Authentic Narrative of its Development, 5 v. (Chicago, New York: The
American Historical Society, 1916).