Hiram “Ham” King Evans

Photos and information courtesy of Andrew Pestle

Hiram King "Ham" Evans, was born into a rural farming family on December 24th, 1895, in Seymour, Iowa. He was named after his paternal grandfather, Captain Hiram E. Evans, who served with the 23rd Iowa Infantry Regiment during the American Civil War, and experienced considerable combat during that conflict.

Hiram graduated from high school in about 1913, and was working as a printer for the Unionville Republican Print Company in Unionville, Missouri, during the 1917 draft registration. He denied any exemptions from military service and appears to have volunteered with the US Army on March 2nd, 1918.

Hiram was sent to Camp Upton in New York, and this photograph was sent home to his sister from there on August 5th. Hiram is described as "short" on his draft card, so I assume he is standing at left in this image.

PFC Evans sailed overseas aboard the RMS Empress of Russia just three days later with Hospital Train #45. He landed in France a short time later, and was eventually transferred to Hospital Train #64. Hiram's service while overseas is difficult to uncover, but he was probably involved in the care and movement of American battlefield casualties in the final months of WW1.

PFC Evans returned home aboard the USS Antigone on September 15th, 1919, and received an honorable discharge on September 25th. His service number was 937261

Hiram continued his life in Iowa after the war and married just a few years later. He eventually had three children and I was surprised to learn that both of his daughters served with the US Army in WW2. Hiram later became a county auditor and was active in the Masonic Lodge for 50 years and served locally with NARFE (National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association). He relocated the family to Oregon in 1940 and lived until the age of 78 years. PFC Evans is now buried beside his wife in the Gillespie Cemetery of Eugene, Oregon.

Soft and safe be thy resting place, bright and glorious by thy rising from it.

Lest we forget…