James Evans (1854 - 1924)

James was born at Egremont, Cumberland, England, on the 12th October, 1854. On the death of his father he arrived in South Australia as a babe in arms with his mother in 1855.

James married Elizabeth Sophia Stacy on 12th March, 1879. The wedding was in the home of Mr. Stacy, in Pulteney Street, Adelaide, and was celebrated by James' grandfather, Rev. Henry Cheetham.  Elizabeth was the daughter of Mr. J. M. Stacy, formerly a boot importer, of Rundle Street, Adelaide.

James and Elizabeth lived in Baliol Street, College Park, South Australia.

James Evans

James entered the service of the South Australian Gas Company in June, 1868, at which time it only had works in the metropolis and at Port Adelaide. James was appointed Secretary to the Company in August, 1877, when he was only twenty-three years of age.   He followed his uncle, John Paxton, in this position which he held until 1910.  James took great interest in the penny-in-the-slot meters, and, having learned of the success of the system elsewhere, it was introduced in Adelaide in March, 1903, with most gratifying results, the Company then having over 3,000 accounts under this head, and adding to them every week. His Death Certificate states that James' occupation was Accountant.

Music, tennis, and Freemasonry were James's principal pastimes. He was organist of the Congregational Church, College Park, and of the St. Peters Lodge.  James, with Mr. W. H. Henderson as a partner, won the Veterans' Handicap Double at the tennis tournament.  He was Past Senior Warden in the Grand Lodge of South Australia, a member of the Board of General Purposes, passed all the chairs in the Royal Arch Chapter, and in the Knights Templar; and also held office in the Rose Croix Supreme Grand Chapter, and Provincial Priory of South and Western Australia.

James & Elizabeth had three children:

• Agnes Marion, born 1880, died 1940 - never married.
• Mary Emily,  born 1881 - died 1961 - never married.
• Alfred George, born 1887 - died 1887 at 3 months of age.

James committed suicide on 13th September, 1924, after his Doctor had diagnosed an inoperable brain tumour.

Elizabeth had died many years beforehand, 10th June, 1908. James, Elizabeth and Agnes are buried at West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide. Emily was cremated at Centennial Park Crematorium and Alfred is buried in the High Street Pioneer Cemetery at Kensington.

Parents

References:
The Unquenchable Flame -- The SA Gas Company 1861-1986, Peter Donovan and Noreen Kirkman,  Wakefield Press, 1986
Newspaper artilce --  Adelaide Advertiser