The Oskaloosa herald., 1904-08-18
a Memorable Occasion.

the SHQ anniversary Ul Liz 8bAlh ~ /
Capt. Joseph H. Evans was celebrat.
ed in a fitting manner at his resi-
dence near the city. There were
gathered there his family. relatives,
friends and neighbors. Among the
invited guests were a number OF his
late comrades in arms of the Civil
War, They were: Comrades A. D.
Coleman, M. ". Vreeland, ]. OIL
Grant, w. w. Brown, J. N. Henry, r.
J. Downs, S. J.. Duttcn, Jno. r. Pill
grim, A. ]. Bass, B. f. Cruzen, w. w.
Eby, F. Fl. Loring, r L. Turner ].
Carver, w. R. Cowan, ], F.. Mcneil,
w. S, Lockwood, G. @. Johnson, John
F. Lacey, c. Woodruff, Jno. R. Baer,
Robert Kissick, II. w. Hyde, Jas. II
win, ]. N. Martin, w. II. Shaw, Joseph
Blakeslee, H. w. Gleason, ]. B. Nc
Curdy and VIM. Kirkpatrick.
The guests were seated on the lawn
under the wide-spreading shade trees
surrounding the house, where boun-
tiful repast was served with marked
old-fashioned hospitality. After the
inner man had been fully served, there
was a camp fire, presided over by
| Comrade Coleman, Commander of
| Phil Kearney Post, who spoke fitting
ly of the occasion. Major Lacey fol-
lowed with an interesting talk in
which he took the liberty of examin-
| ing Capt. Evans as to his war record.
The Captain Is very modest man,
but under rigid cross examination
he was compelled to admit that he
had been in twenty or more battles:
some of them being: Chickasaw Bay
on, Arkansas Post, Jackson, Raymond
| and others around Vicksburg, the
fierce assault on its works May 22d,
siege of Vicksburg Lookout Mountain,
Mission Ridge, Resaca, Dallas, Big
| Shanty, Kenesaw, esboro, Lovejoy
and other engagements resulting in
| the capture of Atlanta. His regiment
was in Sherman7s march to the sea,
and from Savannah up through the
Carolinas, Bentonville, North Carroll
ma, being his last battle. Soon after
Lee surrendered, the war closed, and
he took part with his regiment in the
Grand Review at Washington.
| With this good record in mind, the
Major, in behalf of the comrades
present, presented Capt. Evans with
a fine umbrella, saying that of course
hi always carried one while a soldier
add would especially need a good one
: now to shelter him in his declining
Ntass - y ~ ~ =. - - ~.
ment furnished during the war.
The Captain was evidently sur
prised, but he soon recovered and
warmly thanked his comrades for the
present, saying that it was much bet.
ter than the one he had in the army
perhaps. There were also interesting
talks by Comrades Hyde, Loring, Mar.
! tin, Gleason, Kissick and Mcneil.
The exercises were enlivened with
martial music by those who played in
the army.
i At 9 o'clock the guests departed,
wishing the Captain many more ami
versaries.
Capt. Evans is older than the Mon
roe Doctrine, having been born Aug.
10, 1922, during President Monroe's
second term, at EIIiott's Mills, Mary
land, ten miles from Baltimore, where
he lived until 1888, when the Evans
, family moved to Lafayette, Indiana.
In 1S53,Mr. Evans came to Iowa, where
he has been ever since, useful and
an honored citizen.
!. At the time of his birth there were
only about 100000 people in the
United States; John Adams, Thomas
|, Jefferson and James Madison were
| still living,-Adams and Jefferson dy.
ing July 4, 1926, and Madison June %,
1886. In 1880, there were only %
miles of railroad in the United States,
now over G0,000-none when Captain
Evans was born. Then Iowa. part
of the Louisiana Purchase-was a will,
derness inhabited by Indians. Civ
ilization knew it not. Behold it now
: Capt. Evans has seen, and contribut
ed to, the marvellous profiress not on
ly of the state, but of the nation. He
, has helped make their history not
only in the walks of civil life, but as
| oOlulCly maintaining Inc unity VI
: the republic.
During the Civil War he enlisted al
} the age Of 40 years, as private in
: Co. G, 31st Iowa Inf, and was mus
1 Etered out as captain, June 81, 1865, al
: Louisville, Kentucky. A number Of
years ago he Represented Mahaska
county in the legislature Of the state
! and both as soldier and legislator he
performed his duties with upright
r zeal. Although now up in years, he
is stir young in spirit and looks and
: acts as though he might live to cele
brate his Tooth anniversary.
Mahaska county should feel honor
! ed in having such citizen. May he
$ live long in the land he helped to save
) is the prayer of his comrades.
Q Robert Kissick.
All Were Fed.
~. .