1925 Biography - Edwin E. Evans

Edwin Elgin Evans, M. D. During a long, active and useful career, Dr. Edwin Elgin Evans has gained knowledge and experience that have been of incalculable value to him in his present position, that of superintendent of the East Louisiana State Hospital, an institution caring for approximately 2,200 patients at all times. The importance of a post of this nature and size can readily be understood, and that Doctor Evans was chosen for his high responsibility proves conclusively that he is possessed of more than the ordinary equipment of his profession.

Doctor Evans was born at Meadville, Missouri, April 22, 1869, and is a son of Thomas D. and Nancy A. (Botts) Evans. The Evans family, as the name might indicate, originated in Wales, whence five brothers made their way to America at an early date in the history of the country, one locating in Pennsylvania and the others going into Virginia and Maryland. William S. Evans, the grandfather of Doctor Evans, was born in 1815, in Madison County, Kentucky, and in 1853 moved to Cooper County, Missouri. Ten years later he took up his residence at Meadville, Missouri, where his death occurred September 1, 1888. Originally Mr. Evans owned and operated a line of stages across the Cumberland Gap, into Tennessee, but while a resident of Missouri devoted his activities to the buying and shipping of live stock. He married for his first wife a Miss Cornellson, who became the grandmother of Doctor Evans, and who died in 1855, and his second wife was a widow. Mrs. Sarah Warren, who passed away at Meadville. He then married another widow, Mrs. Murry, who also passed away at Meadville.

Thomas D. Evans was born in 1844, in Madison County, Kentucky, and when eleven years of age was taken by his parents to Cooper County, Missouri, subsequently removing, in 1863, to Meadville, Linn County, that state. In the meantime he had served under the hag of the Confederacy during the war between the states, in 1864 and 1865. As a young man he displayed marked talents for a commercial life, and, entering upon a business career, became one of the leading merchants of Meadville, where he made his home until his death, July 23, 1918. He was also au extensive farmer and took a prominent part in public life, serving as county judge for several years and as a member of the House of Representatives from Linn County for one term. He was a stanch democrat in his political allegiance, a sincere churchman of the Christian faith, and an interested member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias orders. Mr. Evans married Nancy A. Botts, who was born June 30, l849, at Meadville, and who still survives him as a resident of that place, and they became the parents of the following children: Edwin Elgin Seth Delany, who is engaged in farming at Meadville; William B., formerly a merchant, banker and substantial business man of Meadville, who died August 30, 1922; Walter E., of Meadville, who has charge of the farms of his father's estate; Adella, who married Dr. E. F. Weir, a physician of Meadville; and Cornelison, who died in childhood.

Edwin Elgin Evans attended the public schools of Meadville, and after his graduation from the Meadville High School as a member of the class of 1888 entered the Missouri University, at Columbia, and graduated from the Medical department of that institution in 1898, receiving the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He is a member of the Kappa Alpha and Theta Nu Epsilon Greek letter fraternities. In the same year that he received his diploma he began practice at Stephens, Missouri, but after one year went to Hallsville, in the same state, where he remained six years. In 1905 he became first assistant in the State Hospital for the Insane, at Fulton, Missouri, and December 1, 1920, was called to his present post as superintendent of the East Louisiana State Hospital at Jackson. This is an exceedingly important post, entailing the responsibility for the care of more than 2,200 inmates and the superintendent of the administration and other buildings, which are situated adjoining Jackson on the southeast, with 4,000 acres of land belonging to the institution. Doctor Evans has not only discharged his duties in an entirely capable manner, but has inaugurated and introduced a number of greatly needed reforms. He stands high in the ranks of his profession, the advancements of which he watches closely, and is a valued member of the East Feliciana Parish Medical Society, the Sixth Congressional District Medical Society, the Louisiana State Medical Society, the American Medical Association and the American Psychological Association. In politics he is a democrat and his religious connection is with the Christian Church, while he also holds membership in St. Alban's Lodge No. 28, Free and Accepted Masons, Jackson. During the World war Doctor Evans was medical examiner for the Callaway County, Missouri, Draft Board, and a member of the advisory board of the same county.

On June 2, 1898, at Columbia, Missouri, Doctor Evans was united in marriage with Miss Zerelda Bright, a graduate of Christian Female College of that city, and a daughter of William A. and Sallie (Carter) Bright, residents of Columbia, where Mr. Bright is president of the Boone County Banking and Trust Company and an extensive agriculturist. Doctor and Mrs. Evans have no children.

Contributed 2021 Nov 04 by Mike Miller, from A History of Louisiana, by Henry E. Chambers, published in 1925, volume 2, pages 224-225.