Arizona republican., 1902-05-29
MAJOR J. W. EVANS DEAD
Apoplexy Ends the Career of a Dis
tinguished Citizen.

Major Joseph W. Evans died last
evening at 1:45 o'clock at his residence
on East Monroe street. of apopleXy.
The news Of his death will be a shock
to the community as it was to his fam
lily and immediate friends who had TO
suspicion till yesterday Of such i sud
den termination of life that for many
years has been of such usefulness to
this community.
Though in apparent good health, he
. had not been feeling we'll for TWO CT
three weeks. but was able to be al mis-
office every day until yesterday. His
family physician, Dr.. SWctnan, saw
him at his office Tuesday afternoon
and in reply to Il question he said h
was feeling better than for several
days. lie retired early Tuesday night
having experienced slight change
fer the worse and nothing further was
known till five o'clock yesterday morn
ing, when ne was found in his bed. I'M
conscious. DR.. Swetnam was summon
, ed Immediately, and arriving at the
house he at once sent for DR.. D0ds
worth. From then on till the hour
Of death one CT the other CT the ply
! sicians was at his bedside constantly.
| During the day he seemed once cr
twice to regain consciousness sufficient
! to recognize those about him but not
/ to speak.
| Major Evans was 81 years old and
native Of North Carolina. He came to
Arizona over quarter Of u century ago
and during his life here has ever been
! Il well known citizen. He first came
: into prominence with the public gen
orally as superintendent OF the stage
I p
pany's express business at Prescott.
! long before either that city or Phoe-
nix had railroad.
/ Though his business had already
made him familiar with the various
parts Of the territory and a frequent
visitor to Phoenix, it was not til the
early SOS that ne made this his home.
! In 1888. when Phoenix first experienced
what was then called a boom, MIR.
! Evans embarked in the real estate
business. He was among the most sue
! cessfuI operators in realty and contin-
ued i'll the same business till the day of
his DEATH In latter Years he added
Leans and investments 10 his business
and through him have been consun-
mated some of the largest investments
. in the valley. During the early grow
ling days OF Phoenix and at the time
when most real estate transactions
were largely related in some manner
to the operation of the various canals
Mr. Evans became largely interested n
the Salt River Valley. Grand ard Mari
! oGpa canals ard was al one time pras;-
dent OF the Arizona Improvement COM
rany. After all these interests were
consolidated under the mana cement 81
the Arizona Water company Mr. Evans
>; severed his connection in an official
> capacity, save that he remained a di-
rector.
;! He was one Of the most progressive
i. business men of the territory. always
ready TO help any enterprise that
seemed for the up5iulding Of Arizona
. and this valley particularly. In all thu
great questions with which the public
. has had to Geal. such as railroad build
ing. water storage, statehood, the ad-
VertisinG of the valley, municipal I'M
, provement, and the entertainment o.
: distinguished guests who visited the
: city on either business CT pleasure. Mr.
Evans was 2 central figure. And fur
. ther. when the agitation OF such queS-
tons demanded the expenditure O
money raised by public subscription
he was usually among the first 10 sub
: scribe literally. He was ever willing
TO do his part knowing that bread cas-
. en- the water will return someday ant
in that day his interests would prosper
proDortionately with his efforts
: In recognition of these things he wa!
made president of the Phoenix boar
. o. trade during 1900 and gave that or