Utah Since Statehood
Author is Noble Warrum 1919

CLARENCE CHARLES EARL.

Clarence Charles Earl is now following farming on the old Earl homestead at South Weber. He is a representative of one of the pioneer families of the state and throughout the period of their connection with Utah members of the Earl family have been prominent not only in the material development of the commonwealth but in the moral progress as well and Clarence Charles Earl is now serving as bishop of the South Weber ward. He was born in Salt Lake in 1884, a son of Joseph Wright and Nettie Elizabeth (Poll) Earl. The father was a son of Jonathan Earl and came with his family to Utah at a very early period in the development of the state and settled in Salt Lake City, residing in the old tenth ward until 1886. He then removed to South Weber, where he purchased a farm and there devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred on the 29th of August, 1906. He was president of the Mutual Improvement Association for several years in South Weber and was also superintendent of the Sunday school for a number of years. He likewise served as trustee for a considerable period, was also water master for a number of years and was prominently and helpfully interested in all public enterprises. He followed freighting and engaged in the operation of a sawmill for several years and was thus an active factor in the business development and up building of the district as well as in its intellectual and moral progress. 

Clarence C. Earl acquired his education in the schools of South Weber and was reared to the occupation of farming, early becoming familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. He has always remained upon the old homestead, which he is now successfully cultivating, and he has won a place among the representative agriculturists of the community.

On the 17th of April, 1912, Mr. Earl was married to Miss Alice Myrtle Kendell, a daughter of Bishop George W. Kendell. They became the parents of four children, but lost their firstborn, Kendell. The others are Grant Clarence, Leland Joseph and Harold Leroy.

Like the others of the family, Clarence C. Earl has always been active in the work of the church. He was ordained bishop in July, 1915, in the South Weber ward, having previously served for several years as ward clerk. His brother, Irven Leroy, filled a mission to Canada, beginning in 1913. He has been in the service of the country since November 3, 1917, and sailed for France in December of that year. He was on active duty on the front lines from January, 1918, until the armistice was signed on the 11th of November. He belonged to the First Machine Gun Company of the First Division and was in the first drive that broke the Hindenburg line. This division has but recently returned, bringing with it all the highest honors of war.

The record of the Earl family is indeed a creditable one in the history of Utah and the work instituted by the grandfather and carried on by the father for many years in behalf of material and moral progress has been continued by Bishop Clarence C. Earl of this review, who is ranked with the leading and valued residents of South Weber.

HYRUM EVANS.

The agricultural development of Davis county, now one of the prosperous and attractive districts of Utah, is due to the labors of such men as Hyrum Evans, who is successfully engaged in farming and stock raising. He is a native of Cardiff, South Wales, his birth having occurred in that little rock-ribbed country on the 19th of January, 1851. His parents were Thomas and Ann (Johns) Evans, who were also natives of that country, whence they came to the new world in 1857. In the same year they made the trip across the plains with a handcart company, a company that, proceeding by slow stages, endured untold hardships and privations. At length, however, they reached Salt Lake City and subsequently they established their home at Kaysville, Davis county, where a year later the father passed away. The family numbered three children, of whom two are now living: Emma, the widow of William N. Nalder; and Hyrum. 

Hyrum Evans was a little lad of but six years when the family came to Utah and in Davis county he was reared and educated. After reaching adult age he took up the occupation of farming as a life work and has always continued active in the business.  He started out in life empty-handed but steadily and persistently has worked his way upward and is today the owner of an excellent farm property, upon which he now resides, comprising seventy acres of land, of which fifty acres is under the ditch. His first house was a log cabin and is still standing upon the farm, one of the mute rec minders of pioneer times and conditions. It has long since been replaced, however, by a commodious and attractive residence and he has planted good orchards and has fine trees all around the farm, so that it is one of the pleasing features of the landscape. 

In 1871 Mr. Evans was married to Miss Anna E. King, a native of Swansea, Wales, who was but two years of age when brought to America by her parents. To Mr. and Mrs. Evans were born twelve children: Hyrum T., now deceased; Eliza Ann, the wife of Thomas W. Harris, of Tabor, Canada; James E., who has passed away; Joseph H., also deceased; John W., residing in Raymond. Canada; Emma E., deceased; Frederick R., of Bothwell, Utah; George A., of Davis county; Alvin K., of Bothwell, Utah; Ivy Belle, the wife of Louis A. Watts; Glen, who is upon his father's farm; and Stella, deceased.  The wife and mother passed away February 10, 1910, and was laid to rest in the Kaysville cemetery, leaving a husband and seven children to mourn her loss. 

Mr. Evans votes with the democratic party and is well informed concerning the questions and issues of the day but has never desired to hold office, as his attention has been fully claimed and occupied by his business affairs. He is one of the self-made men of Davis county who by persistent effort and energy has worked his way steadily upward. He earned his success by close application and early realized that industry is the basis of all progress in the business world. Step by step he has advanced and each forward step has brought him a broader outlook and wider opportunities. His position is a creditable one among the substantial farmers and stockmen of Davis county.

JONATHAN BENNER EVANS.

Jonathan Benner Evans, deceased, was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, July 31, 1834. He became a resident of Davis county in pioneer times where he remained until his death, which occurred in February, 1883, when he was about forty-nine years of age. His parents were William and Hannah R. (Benner) Evans, who were also natives of the Keystone state. In 1847 they removed to California, making their way to San Francisco on the ship Brookland, where the father died in 1852. The mother with her family afterward came to Utah, establishing her home at Centerville in 1857, and throughout her remaining days she continued a resident of that place. Their family numbered five children, of whom one daughter, Mrs. Jeannette Decker, is still living.  She is, however, now a widow.

Jonathan Benner Evans was reared and educated largely in California, having been a youth of eight years when the family made their way to the Pacific coast. He was twenty-two years of age when he came to Utah and for many years he was widely known as a horseman of this state, following the races. He also engaged in farming and in freighting and thus remained active in business for an extended period.

In 1861 Mr. Evans was united in marriage to Miss Josephine Harman, who was born in Monroe county, Mississippi, a daughter of James and Mary Ann (Smithson) Harman, the former a native of Kentucky, while the latter was a native of South Carolina. They were married in Mississippi and in 1847 came to Utah. In 1849 they removed to California, settling in Auburn, Placer county, where the father followed mining for three years. There he passed away in 1852 and in 1859 the mother with her family returned to Utah and established her home at Centerville, Davis county. She passed away in 1897. By her marriage she had become the mother of six children, of whom two are yet living. To Mr. and Mrs. Evans were born twelve children: William B.; Samuel N.; Sarah J., the wife of Charles Burton; Eliza J., the wife of Alonzo A. Berry; Monroe S.; John T.; Hannah M.; Fred W.; Seth B.; George E.; Ralph T.; and Jonathan Benner.

All the above named are living. There are eleven grandchildren and one greatgrandson.  Mr. Evans passed away in February, 1883, and is still survived by his widow, who yet occupies the old homestead at Centerville on which they located soon after their marriage Mrs. Evans is a devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and takes an active part in the church work.

THOMAS EVANS.

Thomas Evans, deceased, was numbered among those who contributed to the pioneer development and later progress of Davis county along agricultural lines. He was born in Cardiff, South Wales, February 17, 1846. a son of Thomas and Ann (Johns) Evans, both of whom were natives of that little rock-ribbed country. The mother died in Wales in 1852 and the father afterward came with his family to America in 1856. He first made his way to Iowa City, Iowa, and thence walked to Davis county, Utah, pushing a handcart all the way on the long trip across the plains and over the mountains. It required all summer to make the trip, for with such a load the travelers could proceed only at a very slow pace. Thirteen months later Mr. Evans passed away.  His son, Thomas Evans, was a lad of only about ten years when he reached Utah.  He was reared in this state and pursued his education in the common schools. He afterward served as teacher of the North Davis stake in Layton. He likewise engaged in home missionary work in Utah and in early times he took up the tract of land on which his widow now resides and which he converted into a good farm. He secured this as a homestead claim in 1878 and at once began its development and improvement. The house which he originally built is still standing upon the place, one of the mute reminders of pioneer times and conditions. His widow still owns one hundred and ten acres of the farm, which he developed and which is now under a high state of cultivation, many improvements being added thereto.

On January 23, 1878, Mr. Evans was married to Miss Sarah Campkin, who was born in Salt Lake City, March 6, 1853, a daughter of George and Elizabeth (Bell) Campkin, who were natives of England and came to America in 1844. For six years they resided at St. Louis, Missouri, and in the spring of 1850 Mr. Campkin went to Council Bluffs, Iowa, where he purchased an ox team and two cows. He crossed the plains in a covered wagon, arriving in Salt Lake City in September of that .year. He established his home in that section of the state and there resided until the death of Mrs. Evans' mother in 1887, after which he made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Evans, until his demise in 1892, finding a comfortable home and filial care in the Evans household. To Mr. and Mrs. Campkin were born eleven children but only two are now living. Mr. and Mrs.  Evans became the parents of nine children: Elizabeth Bell, the wife of J. I. Adams, of Layton; Ann, the wife of John L. Allen of West Layton; Martha, the wife of D. 0. Green of Layton; Emma Cecilia, the wife of J. A. Allen of West Layton; Sarah Lavern, the wife of W. W. Forsgren of Tremonton; Ruth C. and George Thomas, deceased; and Walter E. and John C, both of whom are at home with their mother.  The death of Mr. Evans occurred June 5, 1916, and he was laid to rest in the Kaysville cemetery, leaving a widow and seven children to mourn his loss. The family are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Both the Evans and Campkin families have long been connected with the church. Mrs. Evans' father, George Campkin, was the first shoemaker of Salt Lake City. From pioneer times the families have been connected with the development of Utah and have borne active and helpful part in the work of general improvement and progress. Mr. Evans was a man of many substantial traits of character, his integrity, his honor and his enterprise commanding for him the high respect of all who knew him.

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