Obituary

Kansan, Monday, March 23, 1925

Newton sustained the loss of one of her oldest pioneers and one of her most highly esteemed citizens lst evening in the death of B. F. Evans, veteran contractor. Mr. Evans passed away at 9:30 at his home, 1325 Main, of diabetes of long standing, from which he had suffered more or less for fifteen years.

Funeral services will be conducted by Newton lodge No. 142, A. F. & A. M. at the Masonic Temple, at 2:30 Wednesday afternoon, assisted by Dr. A. H. Morrison, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, and Mr. Evans will be laid to rest by the side of his wife who preceded him on June, 18, 1924. He leaves two sons, E. F. Evans of Los Angeles and W. H. Evans of this city. He also leaves a sister Mrs. Lottie Norris of this city and a brother, Dennis Evans of McPherson, who is also ill. There is also a half-sister, Mrs. Nettie Miller of Kansas City.

Friends may see Mr. Evans at the Sprinker Mortuary any time until 1:0 o'clock Wednesday when it will be taken to the Masonic Temple. The funeral plans will be the same as those for Mrs. Evans, by his request, even the pallbearers being the same.

B. F. Evans was born in Kalamo, Eaton county, Michigan, April 24, 1847, to Captain Benjamin and Arilla Evans, and hence was almost 78 years old. He came to Newton, May 20, 1871, and accepted a position with the Lehman company as tinner. After a few years he took up contract work, and made a success of it. He built the first Newton city water plant at Mission and laid the 12-inch water line into the city from the deep wells which is still in use. He and his sons built many water plants and other city equipment such as gas plants throughout the southwest. He was always a trustworthy, reliable contractor and citizen and held the respect of every one who knew him.

Mr. Evans was particularly honored by the Masonic fraternity. He was a charter member of the Newton lodge, instituted in 1872, and the oldest surviving past master in point of service, having served in 1876, through he was acting master the year previous, and he was some time ago placed on the retired list of members for meritorious service. He had been a Mason in Michigan, and was one of the leading movers in the organization of the lodge here, which was made an instrument for cleaning up of the lawless element which infested this locality in the early days. In his younger days he was very active in Masonic work, helping scores of new lodges to get started and he personal conferred more than 500 degrees, working in practically every city and town of any importance in Kansas. He also was largely instrumental in instituting the Newton chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star, and he was a member of all masonic bodies.

In the passing of B. F. Evans, Newton people have lost a loyal town builder and a big-hearted friend an neighbor.