John N. McEvers - Among the brave pioneers who have helped to bring Clayton County to its present prosperous condition, none deserves more honorable mention then he, a brief sketch of whose life we give below. He was born in Athens County, O., Sept. 10, 1815, and in 1827 removed to Illinois with his father settling in Pike County. He lived in that vicinity twenty years, and in 1847 came to Clayton County, and settled in waht is now Elk Towhship, he being one of the organizers of that township. He owns seventy acres of fine land on section 22. Mr. McEvers has been twice married; first in 1840 to Samantha L. Chamberlain, who died in 1859, having been the mother of ten children, four living--John N. Jr.; Eveline, who married Stephen Shaw, and resided in Wisconsin; Rose Ann, now Mrs. William Pratt, of this county, and Isaac. His second marriage occurred on Dec. 20, 1864, to Mrs. Matilda Sprague, nee Aspinwall, who was born in Chautauqua County, N.Y., June 18, 1820. She was married to her first husband, Francis Sprague, Nov. 26, 1837; he died Dec. 9, 1861. By that union there were twelve children, three living - Inette, now Mrs. Aaron Vanbuskirk; Charles F. and F.M. who was born in Stephenson County, Ill, Aug. 13, 1857, and came to Clayton County in 1870. He was married to Josephine E. Hook Sept. 29, 1879. She was born in Colesburg, Ia. June 26, 1860. They have one child -Sheldon B., born June 1, 1880. The subject ofthis memior enlisted in the Third Missouri Regiment, Oct. 24, 1861, and was mustered into the service on Dec. 17, of that year. He participated in the battles of Cotton Hill, Arkansas Post, where he received seven balls in his hat; was present during the siege of Vicksburg, and was wounded on May 22, under General Steele's grand charge on that city. He was discharged at St. Louis, Mo., on Nov. 17, 1864. He was the first Constable elected in Elk Township, and served six years; also the President of the first School Board. He has served one year as Justice of the Peace and ten years as Township Trustee. source: History of Clayton County, Iowa, 1882, p. 762-763 |