Alphonso, known as "Pete," Evans did not arrive out west until after his discharge from the Army at the end of the Civil War in 1865. He served in Companies E, F, K and S in the 38th Ohio Regiment, working himself up from a Private to full 1st Lieutenant and Regiment Quartermaster. He enlisted at the age of 26, on September 3, 1861, into the Ohio Infantry. He was the last Evans pioneer to arrive out west.. In 1882, Alvaro and Alphonso purchased a ranch together. Later in 1889, Alphonso went into partnership with his nephew, Dick Arrowsmith, as Evans & Arrowsmith for stockraising and ranching.
His wife, Jennie Kile Evans, died on January 11, 1903, and Pete followed on January 24, 1903.
Alphonso's obituary outlined his life accomplishments. In the Daily Nevada State Journal on January 25, 1903, p. 3:
"DEATH OF A. A. EVANS. An Old Resident of Reno Joined the Silent Majority.
Yesterday afternoon shortly after 1 o'clock the spirit of Alfonso A. Evans took its flight to the God who gave it.
A. A. Evans, "Pete," as he was familiarly knowns, has been sick for many months and his demise has been anticipated, but though long delayed, it will cause none the less sorrow among hundreds of friends here and elsewhere.
About two weeks ago, his life companion solved the dark problem and at that time, Mr. Evans was hovering between life and death. He had been semi-conscious for some time before his demise and little realized that the struggles of life for him were near an end.
A. A. Evans was born in Defiance, Ohio, and was sixty-five years of age. He leaves two brothers, Alvaro Evans, J. N. Evans, and a sister, Mrs. Mary Arrowsmith, to mourn his loss.
Pete Evans was a veteran of the civil war and carried to his grave the marks of a skirmish he was engaged in while upholding the flag that thousands have suffered and died for - the glorious emblem of freedom.
On December 11, 1863, A. A. Evans enlisted as quartermaster-sergeant of the Thirty-Eighth Ohio Veteran Infantry. He was engaged in a number of battles and suffered wounds that crippled him for life. He received an honorable discharge from service, July 12, 1865, as first lieutenant and regimental quartermaster of his old regiment.
After his experience in the service of his country, Mr. Evans came west (and) later was instrumental to a greater or lesser degree in the building of the present water system of the town (Reno).
He became a member of General O. M. Mitchell Post, No. 69, G.A.R., of this city, September 27, 1884, and was one of the most enthusiastic members up to the time of his death. He was twice elected as Post Commander and held other responsible positions that he filled with credit to himself and with honor to the post.
In 1894, Mr. Evans was elected Assessor of the county and was also re-elected for a second term, which expired with the dawning of this year. Prior to this time, he served a term as Deputy Assessor under A. G. Fletcher.
Few people in the county were better known or better liked than "Pete" Evans. Nearly all the time here he held positions that would have a tendency to make enemies rather than friends, but his sunny disposition, his jovial and generous ways endeared him to the public to such an extent that his shortcomings in other respects if any there were, lost their lustre, and he passed away, honored and respected by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance.
The funeral will take place from the residence of J. N. Evans, Monday afternoon and will be under the auspices of O. M. Mitchell Post, No. 69, G.A.R. May his sleep be as peaceful as his esteem of the flag he fought for was genuine. Taps."
Alphonso is buried in the Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery in Reno, Nevada.
John Newton Evans, known as "Newt," came west in 1850, driving 500 head of cattle before him. At that time, three of his brothers were already west. Newt bought land in Long Valley, Lassen County, California, and went into partnership for awhile with Alvaro and Allen to raise cattle and alfalfa. Eventually, they sold their ranch and went to Reno.
Newt became more involved with business, buying land and other holdings in Reno. He purchased land north of Reno and built a beautiful, Italianate mansion for his family of six children. He served as the Director of the Bank of Nevada and the Farmer & Merchants Bank. He was vital in getting the University of Nevada to develop in Reno, selling land to them and serving for awhile as the President of their Board of Regents.
On one of his trips back to Ohio, he married Elizabeth Metcalf. He died in a horrible accident in 1903. His obituary appeared in the Reno Evening Gazette on November 14, 1903, on the front page:
"JOHN NEWTON EVANS KILLED BY A FALL. Accident Yesterday Afternoon and Death This Morning. The Whole City Shocked by the News. Deceased a Leading Citizen, and His Death a Public Calamity.
Yesterday afternoon, Mr. Evans, with his son, Pierce, went up to his ranch near the city reservoir to cover up a pile of baled hay which was threatened by the storm. The wind was blowing very hard when Mr. Evans mounted the hay and whether he slipped or was blown off by the force of the gale is not known. He was seen to slip and fall to the ground, sixteen feet below, striking with fearful force upon his chest. For a long time, he remained unconscious and was tenderly lifted by the stricken son and a farm hand and brought home. The accident happened above three o'clock in the afternoon.
Dr. Pritchard responded to a call for aid and was followed a moment later by Dr. Hershleer, the family physician, and Dr. Thomas, who was sent for for consultation. An examination showed that one of his ribs was fractured and that his lungs were crushed causing internal hemorrhage. The doctors saw after a brief examination that there was no hope. He became conscious after awhile and suffered such terrible agony that opiates were administered.
A short while before he died, he became conscious again and recognized (his) wife and other members of his family. When asked if he were badly hurt, he whispered that he suffered and seemed to feel that he could not live. At 5 o'clock this morning, he expired, surrounded by heartbroken family.
The deceased leaves a wife and five children: Miss Elizabeth Evans, a student at Stanford; John Evans, foreman of the Vale Ranch in Mason Valley; Ben, Allen and Pierce Evans, students at the University of Nevada, and Rose Evans; also a brother, Alvaro Evans of this city and a sister, Mrs. Arrowsmith of Long Valley.
The funeral will be under the auspices of the Elks with the Rev. Samuel Unsworth of the Episcopal Church, of which Mrs. Evans is a communicant, and Mr. Evans was an occasional attendant, officiating. The funeral announcement will be made later.
Mr. Evans was born in Defiance, Ohio, May 13, 1835, and married Miss Elisabeth Metcalf from a fine family in the same neighborhood, by whom six children were born, five of them now living. With his three brothers, he came west in 1850, and settled in Long Valley (CA) becoming a leading rancher and cattle raiser of those early days. With Henry J. Pratt and his brother, Alvaro, he reclaimed a large ranch and range on the Humboldt River, north of Iron Point, making it one of the finest properties in the state. It was sold to Noble & North of Utah who built many more miles of fence and have immense meadows and pastures where thousands of sheep and cattle are now wintered.
During all these years, Mr. Evans was an active defender of the settlers' rights against the savage Piute, as well as outlaws of whiter skin, and many a contest that might well be called battles were fought. The Honey Lake Valley was the scene of some historic events and no one knew better than Mr. Evans the secret history of them. On the Humboldt River, he was known as a fearless, though modest man, who never shrunk from a foe or forsook a friend.
The four brothers, Allen, Alvaro, John N. and A. A., the latter known as Pete, came to Reno over twenty years ago and bought the quarter section north of town on which Mr. Evans lived and died. They soon took hold of the Reno water works and built the Highland ditch, or at least completed it after Lachman and others dropped it. When the partnership dissolved, Newt, as he was called by his associates, retained the property adjoining town, which he farmed so successfully in connection with his cattle business that he became one of the strong men of the town and the state. He understood the stock business as few men do, and was an excellent judge of the conditions regulating the ups and downs of prices.
He was a director in the Bank of Nevada from its inception until last summer when he joined
Kirkman, Muck, Dunaway, Dolly and others to make a National Bank of the Farmers and Merchants.
He was President of the Washoe Power and Development Company and was actively engaged in promoting this great enterprise which was designed to harness the power of the Truckee River near Verdi for electrical purposes.
He has been a president of the board of regents for the state university for six years, and was one of the tried and true friends of the institution, devoting to it an earnest fidelity characteristic of everything he ever undertook. In him, the university will lose a friend second to none that it ever had. In him, the state loses a strong citizen and the commonwealth here a man who loved this place and aided in its growth.
Few men will be missed more on the streets or in business circles as John Newton Evans. Strong in his characteristics, born without any sense of false delicacy, sensitive to no influence that would divert aim from a purpose once formed, confident of his own ability, and secure in his own will, he was a man not easily turned. He was regarded by his neighbors as rather reticent and unapproachable, but beneath an exterior of peculiar dignity of manner lay a warm and tender heart which beat true and strong towards those dependent upon him or anyone entitled to his friendship..."
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