Posted on: Jefferson County Obituaries Reply Here: http://genconnect.rootsweb.com/gc/USA/Mo/JeffersonObits/199 Surname: Evens, Day, Gamel ------------------------- CIVIL WAR VETERAN BURIED AT HOPEWELL Military service and burial was accorded Captain William H. Evens who died Tuesday, December 18 [1934] at the home of his son, Claude, in Festus [Jefferson County], of the infirmities of old age. Funeral services were held at Hopewell, Washington County, Mo., Sunday, December 23, at 12 o'clock and conducted by Rev. Hays of St. Louis, pastor of the Methodist Church and life-long friend of the deceased. Captain William H. Evens, second son of the late John and Charlotte Evens who came to America from England in 1821, was born near Potosi, Washington County, Missouri, on December 11, 1839, where he spent practically his entire life. He was the founder of the first scotch hearth smelter lead furnace in America. On September 25, 1861, Hamilton R. Gamel, then governor of the state, reposing the utmost confidence in the fidelity, patriotism, ability and valor of Mr. Evens, commissioned him Second Lieutenant of the Hopewell Rifle Company, Fourth Regiment of the Seventh Division of the Missouri Militia. He was commissioned Captain of Company C, 31st Regiment of Missouri Infantry Volunteers, by Gov. Gamel on August 5, 1862, and mustered into service on the 25th day of September of the same year. Authorized by the secretary of war and signed by C. McClure, Adjutant General, he was honorably discharged on August 8, 1864. He was appointed and commissioned Colonel of the 32nd Regiment in the Enrolled Militia of the State of Missouri by Governor Willard P. Hall, to rank from Oct. 7, 1864, and empowered to discharge the duties of said office according to law. He participated in the battles of Chickasaw, Baou, Jackson, the Siege of Vicksburg, Lookout Mountain, Ringgold, and the Atlanta Campaign. He served Washington County as their representative in the 46th, 48th, 49th and 50th general assembly, and was a charter member of the Henry C. Beckell Post No. 348, Mineral Point, Missouri, and the Officers of Tennessee, which he attended as long as there was a quorum. After his return home he engaged in the lumber business, then in flour milling in 1876, which he continued until retiring in 1923, when he moved to Herculaneum with his son, Claude, with whom he made his home, and moving to Festus in 1930. On September 21, 1871, he was united in marriage to Eliza J. Day, daughter of George and Rosina Day who came from Lincolnshire England, and settled in Potosi in 1841. To this union were born seven children, two of whom, Israel and Walter, with his wife preceded him in death. He is survived by five children, Harry E., J. Sherman, G. Claude, Mrs. Mary Gamel and Robert W., sixteen grandchildren. Captain Evens often visited his son Harry and his family who lived in Flat River until they moved to St. Louis about a year ago and had many friends in the Lead Belt who with the News extend sympathy to the bereaved family. [The Lead Belt News, Friday, December 28, 1934]