James Thomas Evans

November 14, 1944

BUNK EVANS 75, CLAIMED THIS WEEK

PIONEER CITIZEN DIES AT HOME ON NORTH FORK OF TRIPLETT

'James Thomas 'Bunk' Evans, the man who made a fortune many times over in the timber business in Rowan County, and one of the real trail-blazers of this section of Kentucky, died at his home on North Fork of Triplett Tuesday.

Mr. Evans had been in ill health for several weeks, but had shown considerable improvement Sunday. His condition became worse Monday and members of his family were summoned to the bedside before the end. Death was from heart trouble and other complications. He was 75 years of age.

Mr. Evans was born in Nicholas County and came to Rowan 55 years ago (1889). He pioneered timber cutting here and for many years he operated one of the largest timber businesses in the state, employing scores of workers. At that time, the timber was hauled over dirt roads, generally by oxen, to Rodburn, where it was loaded for shipment on the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway. In 1890 he married Francis Sloan. They had 11 children, all of whom survive.

Funeral rites will be conducted from the home on North Fork, Friday afternoon at 2:30. The funeral will be conducted by Rev B. H. Kazee, pastor of the Morehead Baptist Church. Mr. Evans was a member of the Missionary Baptist Church.

Besides his wife, he is survived by the following children; Milton Evans, James Evans, Mrs. Hubert McDonald, Mrs. Emmitt Blanton and Mrs. Mitchell Estep, all of Morehead; Mayme Evans,at home; Arthur Evans of Indiana; John Evans, now in the United States Army and stationed in New Jersey; Sam Evans, in the Navy, now at sea; George Evans, of the U. S. Army, now in France; and Warren Evans of the U. S. Marines, in the South Pacific. All except Sam, George and Warren are expected here for the funeral.

Also surviving are two brothers, G. C. Evans, Portsmouth, Ohio and Rufus Evans, Carter County, and one sister Mrs. Alvin Sloan, Fitch, Ky. He also leaves 22 grandchildren. Mr. Evans was a veteran of the Spanish-American War, serving with the Fourth Kentucky Infantry. The Lane Funeral Home handled the funeral and burial arrangements.'

The same issue of that paper contains an editorial praising Bunk as a friend and Democratic politician. The editor spoke kindly about Bunk and hunting trips, which he had made on Bunk's land.