The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-07-10

Milton Evans, for A years a resident
of Walla Walla and probably one of
the best known men in Eastern Wash
ington, died at o'clock this morning.
| 1t was known last evening that he
could not survive the operation, al
| though yesterday afternoon he rallied
we'll and mis- physicians hoped for the
best
About midnight he commenced to
gradually weaken, relapsing into
comatose state soon afterward, remain
ing in that condition until o'clock this
morning. About two months ago Mr..
Evans condition became alarming and
in hopes of regaining his health he
| went to the Sound. The change did not
result in any appreciate benefit and
accompanied by Mrs. Evans returned
to Walla Walla about ten days ago.
His ailment was diagnosed as cancer
of the stomach and mis- physicians de-
cided upon an operation. This was per-
! formed at st. Mary's hospital yester-
day morning by DR.. N. G. Blalock and
| DR.. G.. P. Thomas of Spokane. u
The funeral will take place from the
| family residence at the corner of Birch
and First streets tomorrow morning
at 10 o'clock. The services will be
conducted by Rev. John LeCornu,
chaplain at the state penitentiary. The
ceased was a member, will perform
the ritualistic services at the grave.
Biographical Sketch.
Mr.. Evans was born in Pike county,
Ohio, November 9, 1888. He was rear
ed on farm in Sciotto county, where
ne received his education. At the age
of 26 he went to Fremont county,
Iowa, where he engaged in farming
until 1861 when he came west, cross
/ ing the plains with a mixed team,
consisting of cows and oxen. He ar
rived in Walla Walla county August
81, 1861 and renting several hundred
acres of land began farming. After
accommodating sufficient money he then
| purchased 400 acres of land east of the
| city and engaged in raising wheat
| and stock on a large scale. In 1888
| he removed to the city and had since
made this city his home
During the past Is years Mr.. Evans
has devoted the greater portion of his
time to introducing and experimenting
with different varieties of ornamental
| and forage grasses, his purpose being
to encourage the identifying Of farms
and to render diversified farming
! pleasant and profitable, by finding a
| specie of grass which would do we'll
| on lands of which little use can be
made at present except wheat raising.
Mr.. Evans has been a valuable man
| to this community in many ways, but
i his greatest service consisted in what
he accomplished in securing a reduc-
|
| equitable reduction in rates of grain
| to the coast points Mr.. Evans brought
| a case before the interstate commerce
commission which matter was consid-
cred in Walla Walla in 1898. AS a re-
! suit of Mr. Evans hard work the o.
r. & N. company made big reduc-
| ton in it's rates to Portland, which
brought about the same result over
the Northern Pacific to Tacoma. In
1896 and 1897 Mr.. Evans went to
| Olympia and during the legislative
session personally interviewed many
| of the legislators and enlisted their
support of a bill that secured for the
farmers of the Inland Empire a reduc-
ton of freight rates on their products.
Mr.. Evans always took a prominent
part in politics having been a Lincoln
republican for many years. In 1896
he became a populist and was elected
county commissioner which position
he held for four years. He repre-
scented the First Ward in the city
council two terms under the admins
tration of ex-Mayor Betz. He mad
also served as justice of the peace and
school clerk.
Mr.. Evans took an active interest in
all affairs affecting the welfare of the
county and city. He was decided in his
opinions on all subjects and contrib
uted May valuable and interesting
articles to the press. For several
wears he had been the local represen-
tative of the United States agricultural
department. compiling each month a
, summary of the conditions and pros
poets of crops in Walla Walla county.
He owned a valuable farm near the
city, considerable property in the city,
Seattle and Ballard, and was also a
stakeholder in the Farmers Savings
bank.
] In June, 1871, he welded Miss Alice