Arthur Ernest Herbert Evans

Arthur was born on the 12th July, 1871 in Henry Street, Stepney, South Australia.

He was educated at St. Peter's College (Palm House, where his grandmother lived, is now part of that school).

Arthur was an accountant, auditor and secretary, carrying on business at 10 Victoria Buildings, Grenfell Street, Adelaide.
 

He received his commercial education first in the office of Messrs. A. W. Sandford & Company, the well-known Adelaide produce merchants, and this intitial tuition was sufficient to secure him the office of accountant to the South Australian Fruit and Produce Company, which position he occupied for about two years. Just at that period quite a boom sprang up in South Australia in connection with the development of viticulture, and Arthur, together with a friend, started vine-growing at Lyndoch, near Gawler (in South Australia). But grubs and other pests, for which in those days no systematic or effective means of combating had been discovered, were too much for the young pioneers, so they were obliged to relinquish the venture. Arthur next spent five years in the office of Mr. W. A. Kingsborough, a widely-known sharebroker in Adelaide. This afforded rare opportunity for him to complete his business education, so that he felt capable of starting on his own. His first important commission was the Secretaryship of St. Peter's College, a post he did full justice to, and retained with credit. He undertook auditing and private accountancy work and held many positions, including the Secretaryship of the River Murray League, and of various mining companies, the Home for Incurables (now Julia Farr Centre), and was organising Secretary of the King Edward VII and the Boer War Memorial Committees. He was Secretary of St. Peter's College for 47 years, and was succeeded in that position by his son, Leonard.  Arthur was a member of the Institute of Accountants of South Australia, and was generally held in esteeem by his brethren. Summarised from entry in Cyclopedia of South Australia.

A prominent Freemason, Arthur was past President of the Board of General Purposes.

He was also interested in cricket. He played for East Torrens and on several occasions was selected for Interstate matches representing South Australia. On three occasions he played in Melbourne and Sydney. He was a member of the Grounds and Finance Committee, and the Cricket Committee of the South Australian Cricketing Association (SACA).

On the 20th December, 1899, in St. Peter's College Chapel, Hackney, Arthur married Lillian Florence Caitloch Kelsey. Lillian was a daughter of Benjamin and Eliza Oliver nee Harcus.    Arthur and Lillian had 3 children:

• Phyllis Caitloch 1900 - 1997
• John Kelsey 1900 - 1950
• Leonard Arthur Ranson 1907 - 1989

Arthur died from injuries sustained from a car accident near Bordertown, South Australia on the 26th March, 1950.

Lilian lived for another 12 years after Arthur died.

Parents