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WILLIAM H. EVANS is master of the king of trades, blacksmithing, and has so conducted his labors that he has wrought out a first class success. He has shown himself a natural mechanic and in addition has so closely followed the art, that he has gained a skill which places him in the lead in all kinds of work turned out of a blacksmith shop. At present he owns a large shop, twenty-five by seventy feet, on Second street in Sprague, and it is well equipped with a full supply of all kinds of tools and appliances for modern blacksmithing. He has secured and holds a large patronage and has the reputation of being as fine a workman as there is in the country.
William H. Evans was born in Dodge county, Wisconsin, on September, 7, 1866, the son
of Robert T. and Annie (Prichard) Evans, natives of Wales and immigrants to the United
States when young. The father is now living
retired in Columbus, Wisconsin. The mother
died in 1889. William was sent to the common
schools until he had acquired a good education
and then gave his time to the assistance of his
father on the farm until twenty. At that age
he came to Sprague and for a time wrought
in a dairy here, after which he worked in the
railroad shops. Six months later, he returned
east to attend the funeral of his mother. He
remained there for some time and then returned to Sprague and entered the blacksmith
shop of Snider Brothers, and after learning the
trade worked at it until four years had
passed by. The next year was spent in the railroad shops, after which he bought a half interest in the shop of Gill, Jack & Company,
where he wrought until the fire swept this unfortunate town. Following that he wrought in
the shop of Van Allen until 1898, when he
started a shop of his own. Here he has continued steadily until the present, increasing his
equipment and patronage all the time. Mr.
Evans is one of the good citizens of the town
and has the confidence of the people.
At Spokane, on July 19, 1892, Mr. Evans
married Miss Gina, daughter of James A. and
Christina (Peterson) Sievertsen, natives of
Norway. The father was a sea captain and
died thirty-one years since. The mother is
now dwelling in Minneapolis, Minnesota. To
our subject and his wife, four children have
been born, Annie, Ethel. Nellie, and Raymond. Mr. Evans has a pleasant and comfortable
home on Second street and other property besides what has been mentioned. He came here
without capital of any kind and has made every
dollar he now possesses, besides winning his
success by dint of hard and honest labor, and
his anvil sings out each day the merry chimes
of honest industry. Mr. Evans is a member
of the K. P. and' the M. W. A. He is also
chief of the fire department and was first sergeant of the National Guards, Troop A., during
the Northern Pacific strike in 1886.
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