Obituaries from Orange County
Charles Albert Evans
C. A. EVANS DIES IN HIS 87th YEAR
Had Eventful Career As Soldier, Statesman, Farmer, Rancher and Editor
ENLISTED IN ARMY AT AGE OF SIXTEEN
Farming and Newspaper Urges Struggled for Supremacy in His Life Work Charles Albert Evans, soldier, statesman, rancher, farmer and newspaper man of note died suddenly while seated in a chair in the living room in the house of his daughter, Mrs. Fred Andrews, at sixty-four Wickham Avenue Monday evening. He was in his eighty-seventh year.
Although in failing health for a year, Mr. Evans had been able to be about the house and occasionally walked out. He retained all his faculties until the last moment, evincing a keen interest in all that occurred about him and in the affairs of the world.
From his earliest youth, the career of Charles A Evans was one of adventure and vigorous activity. Born in London, Eng., September 11th, 1845, he was imbued with the spirit of adventure which caused him to lend a willing ear to the tales coming over the sea from America-stories of romance and great wealth, of daring that so intrigued his youthful mind that at the early age of sixteen he set forth for the land that promised so much, and in which he was to carve a career that brought him fame and fortune.
On disembarking from the vessel that conveyed him across the ocean, the youth found New York a maelstrom of excitement, at the outbreak of the civil war. His adventurous spirit reveled, and almost immediately, fired with enthusiasm for the country he had decided to adopt, he sought a recruiting station and enlisted in the Union army.
Twice Wounded in Action
Young Evans became a Private in Company C, First Battalion, Twelfth United States Infantry. After six short weeks of training at Fort Hamilton he was sent to the front. His military career was as full of adventure as a soldier of fortune could desire, for in the Battle of Cedar Mountain he was wounded and taken prisoner by the Confederates. For some time he was in a Confederate hospi-tal, but partially recovering from his wounds he was transferred to Belle Isle prison in Richmond. He was one of the first prisoners to be exchanged and immediately returned to his regiment. He fought valiantly in many engagements with the southerners and at Gettysburg was again severely wounded. This brought an end to his military career after three years in the army.
Having been mustered out of the Union army he looked about for a new occupation. Newspaper work appealed to him, and he went to Chicago determined to make it his life work. He was only twenty years old but succeeded in obtaining a position with the Chicago Times with which he was to be identified for many years winning a reputation for originality that was to gain him high hon-ors in later years.
However, as was the case with many in Reconstruction days, Mr. Evans felt the western urge in 1872 and giving up his newspaper career for the time he went to Kansas where he bought a quarter section of virgin soil. Building himself a small house he sent for his family and for five years con-ducted a ranch.
Won Assembly Seat
But newspaper work had become a part of his being and he was called back to the Chicago Times and sent to New York as its Eastern correspondent. While on the farm he yearned for newspaper and when engaged in newspaper work he yearned for the farm, with the result that in 1888 while on a visit to Orange County he saw a farm near Howells now occupied by John Bronner that had an irresistible appeal for him. He bought it and with his family lived there until 1910.
Mr. Evans took a lively interest in political matters and it was not long after taking up his resi-dence at Howells friends urged him to go to Albany as a representative of Orange county farmers in the Assembly. He made a successful race in the fall of 1907 on the Democratic ticket and was elected Assemblyman from the Second Orange district, serving one term.
Once again newspaper work called and in 1910 he responded, removing to Middletown and pur-chasing a part interest in the Middletown Daily Argus. He was a vigorous writer and in a short time had placed the Argus in the lead of Orange County newspapers. He ended a brilliant career as editor and publisher in 1918, when he retired from active business.
On November third, 1869, Charles A. Evans and Jennie E. Morrill of Brandon, Vermont, were married. Five children were born to them, one of whom died in infancy. Mrs. Evans died in 1922. The four surviving children are Albert W. Evans of Chicago, Mrs. Fred L. Andrews, with whom he made his home; Mrs. Harry W. Martin of Yonkers, and Austin P. Evans of Montrose, N.Y. There are also eight grandchildren.
Mr. Evans was one of the last surviving members of the Grand Army of the Republic in Middle-town. He was a member of Captain William A. Jackson Post.
The funeral will be held at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Fred L. Andrews, 64 Wickham Ave-nue, Thursday afternoon at 1:30. Burial will be in the Howells cemetery where military services will be conducted, with a firing squad from the American Legion officiating.
Originally Published in the Middletown Times Herald, Middletown New York, Tuesday January 12, 1932