Orin Evans was born in Jefferson county, New York, on October 20, 1844, being the son of Albert and Maryette (Carnegie) Evans, natives of New Hampshire. Our subject grew up on a farm and was educated in public and private schools and in the beginning of the Civil war he enlisted in Company F, Ninety-fourth New York Volunteers, Second Corps, under Pope. The date of this was January, 1862. On August 29 he was wounded at the second Bull Run, by a gunshot in the thigh. Forty-eight hours he lay on the field, and seven days on the road before he got to the hospital in Washington. One year was spent in languishing in this hospital and then he returned home. He had previously been in the battle of Cedar Mountain and in the Shenandoah valley conflict. His brother Gilman enlisted in the same corps, Thirty-fifth New York, Company I, and two vears later he enlisted in Company L, Eighteenth Cavalry. Mr. Evans has three brothers, Gilman, James and Warren, all in Jasper county, Missouri. He also has one sister, who lives Iowa.

In Jefferson county, New York, Mr. Evans married Miss Fanny, daughter of Lewis and Delia (Lyman) Barrett, and one child was born to them, Fred B., now a practicing physician in Pineville. Missouri. Mr. Evans farmed in New York until 1882 and then came to Missouri on account of failing health of his wife. But March 17, 1886, she was called away, in Jasper county, Missouri. In December, 1887, Mr. Evans married a second time, the nuptials occurred at Golden City, Missouri, and Miss Cardie Cleveland, became his wife. Her father, Larkin, is mentioned fully in this work. To this marriage three children have been born, Bessie, Alma Bell, deceased, and Orin, the latter being aged six. In 1892 Mr. Evans came to Kendrick and there started a small orchard adjoining Kendrick. He still owns the same and when the reservation opened he came, in 1896, and filed a contest on the place he now occupies. It being decided in his favor, gave him a fine farm and he devotes his attention to its improvement and culture. Mr. Evans is a Republican and went one thousand miles to vote for Abraham Lincoln in time of war. He is not especially active but takes an intelligent part in political matters. Mr. Evans is one of the men whose influence and life have been for progress and upbuilding and he is the recipient of great respect and full confidence from his fellows.