History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century/4/Samuel B. Evans
SAMUEL B. EVANS was born in Jefferson County, Tennessee, July 31, 1837. In boyhood he attended the public schools of that section and later entered the State University. His parents removed to Davis County, Iowa, in 1841, which was then a part of Van Buren. He learned the printer's trade and when a young man founded the Sigourney Democrat, in Keokuk County. Some years later he established the Ottumwa Democrat which he published for many years. He was also the founder of the Ottumwa Mercury and later the publisher of the Ottumwa Independent. In August, 1802, he enlisted in the Union army and was in the battles of Helena, Little Rock and Jenkin's Ferry. He was promoted to first lieutenant for gallantry in service. He has long been one of the prominent leaders of the Democratic party. He was a delegate to the National Democratic Convention at Baltimore in 1872, at St. Louis in 1876, at Cincinnati in 1880 and chairman of the Iowa delegation at Chicago in 1890. As an editor and writer he has few equals in Iowa journalism, it having been his life work. He was postmaster of Ottumwa from 1885 to 1890. He was an enthusiastic advocate of fish culture for many years and when the act passed providing for the promotion of this industry in Iowa, Governor Carpenter in recognition of his valuable services in this line appointed Mr. Evans Fish Commissioner. He has long been a contributor to the publications of the Department of American Archæology.