A tribute by Emory A. Evans to his parents (1928)
Our mother, Sarah Frances Evans, whose maiden name was Sarah Frances Gray, was the youngest daughter of William Gray of Hillsboro, Fleming County. Her mother was a Seamonds, a very wealthy family, and was born in Baltimore, Maryland. They later moved to Kentucky, near Paris; they then moved to Rowan County, east of Morehead. My grandmother Seamonds married William Gray of Fleming County. Grandfather Gray died when he was about thirty-five years of age and left his widow to make the living which she did well, but as in the Evans family the schools were scarce and their children did not get much education, but were all honest men and women. Two of our Uncles, Mat and Preston went to Kansas in young manhood and never came back. Wm. Gray Jr. lived near Tolesboro, Lewis County, until his death. My mother had two sisters, Amanda and Jane. They married men by the name of Shields, their husbands being brothers.
Our mother was born January 17, 1832, in Fleming County, Kentucky She was young when her father died and after her mother married again, she went and lived with an uncle, John Gray. She and Edward Evans were married March 18, 1851. Barnibus Kindred said the ceremony. He was a Christian preacher.
It is natural for any American to honor his mother and say nice things about her, but it can truthfully be said there were few women like our mother. She was in a class by herself. She was as pure as an Angel and dignified as a Princess, and in her daily tasks she walked as gracefully as if she were on parade. I have often thought since I became a man how she did all the work she did, and went about it so gracefully. There were thirteen children in the family. She had time to make clothing for all; of course, the older children helped as all this number was not small at the same time. But the cloth had to be woven from the wool and made into garments, and she must oversee all this besides all her other work. She somehow found time to help all her needy neighbors in time of sickness and cook for meetings. The care of thirteen children, taking care of them when sick and looking after their welfare along every line was no small task, yet she never complained. She never liked the hills of Carter County and always wanted to go to the level part of the state but could not get this done.
She was never strong, but always delicate. Had several sick spells and was under the care of doctors quite a bit in life. She lived a pure life and always tried to teach her children to live in her footsteps and to always shun evil. No one liked more than she to have good company and especially to have her own children visit her and have family reunions. Most all of her neighbors called her Aunt Fannie, and our father was to them Uncle Ed.
Our father died August 2, 1905, and mother on October 12 the same year. She had worried with him until her health had failed completely and was taken sick a short time after his death and never recovered.
After our parents had passed away, our old home did not seem like home any more, and the reunions that we all liked to have, could not be anymore. And now when going back to the old home again, I want to be alone for it is a time for meditation and not talking, and I feel that I am walking on Holy ground. Everything about the sacred shrine has a message, every path and tree and building brings back memories of long ago, when I was in childhood and knew but little of the world, and when I remember my father, how hard he worked to have plenty to live on and give us children a start in life, and the good advice he gave, the moral life he lived, I fear we did not appreciate him as we should have while he was living, and now if I should live to be three score and ten, or by reason of strength I reach four score, I shall never forget his wise counsel, and sterling character that in a measure helped me to be of some help to my fellow men, and not an entire failure as it might have been, but for his great help.
And when I think of my mother, how she toiled and endured hardships, and sacrificed for our comfort, O how I miss her now, and it seems to me but yesterday since we were all at home around the festive board enjoying luxuries of life to the full, or sitting on the broad porch listening to her timely advice; and when I think of how she looked after our best interests, and helped us in every way to be the kind of children we should be, and how she would deny herself of the pleasures of life that we might have, and how she would suffer with us when we were sick, sitting up all through the long nights that she might alleviate our suffering, I feel like the only way to express my appreciation of her kindness is quoting the immortal words of the following poem, by Elizabeth Akers Allen." [That lengthy, poignant poem is named "Rock Me To Sleep" and can be found online.]
Contributor: Teddy (46612186)
Our mother, Sarah Frances Evans, whose maiden name was Sarah Frances Gray, was the youngest daughter of William Gray of Hillsboro, Fleming County. Her mother was a Seamonds, a very wealthy family, and was born in Baltimore, Maryland. They later moved to Kentucky, near Paris; they then moved to Rowan County, east of Morehead. My grandmother Seamonds married William Gray of Fleming County. Grandfather Gray died when he was about thirty-five years of age and left his widow to make the living which she did well, but as in the Evans family the schools were scarce and their children did not get much education, but were all honest men and women. Two of our Uncles, Mat and Preston went to Kansas in young manhood and never came back. Wm. Gray Jr. lived near Tolesboro, Lewis County, until his death. My mother had two sisters, Amanda and Jane. They married men by the name of Shields, their husbands being brothers.
Our mother was born January 17, 1832, in Fleming County, Kentucky She was young when her father died and after her mother married again, she went and lived with an uncle, John Gray. She and Edward Evans were married March 18, 1851. Barnibus Kindred said the ceremony. He was a Christian preacher.
It is natural for any American to honor his mother and say nice things about her, but it can truthfully be said there were few women like our mother. She was in a class by herself. She was as pure as an Angel and dignified as a Princess, and in her daily tasks she walked as gracefully as if she were on parade. I have often thought since I became a man how she did all the work she did, and went about it so gracefully. There were thirteen children in the family. She had time to make clothing for all; of course, the older children helped as all this number was not small at the same time. But the cloth had to be woven from the wool and made into garments, and she must oversee all this besides all her other work. She somehow found time to help all her needy neighbors in time of sickness and cook for meetings. The care of thirteen children, taking care of them when sick and looking after their welfare along every line was no small task, yet she never complained. She never liked the hills of Carter County and always wanted to go to the level part of the state but could not get this done.
She was never strong, but always delicate. Had several sick spells and was under the care of doctors quite a bit in life. She lived a pure life and always tried to teach her children to live in her footsteps and to always shun evil. No one liked more than she to have good company and especially to have her own children visit her and have family reunions. Most all of her neighbors called her Aunt Fannie, and our father was to them Uncle Ed.
Our father died August 2, 1905, and mother on October 12 the same year. She had worried with him until her health had failed completely and was taken sick a short time after his death and never recovered.
After our parents had passed away, our old home did not seem like home any more, and the reunions that we all liked to have, could not be anymore. And now when going back to the old home again, I want to be alone for it is a time for meditation and not talking, and I feel that I am walking on Holy ground. Everything about the sacred shrine has a message, every path and tree and building brings back memories of long ago, when I was in childhood and knew but little of the world, and when I remember my father, how hard he worked to have plenty to live on and give us children a start in life, and the good advice he gave, the moral life he lived, I fear we did not appreciate him as we should have while he was living, and now if I should live to be three score and ten, or by reason of strength I reach four score, I shall never forget his wise counsel, and sterling character that in a measure helped me to be of some help to my fellow men, and not an entire failure as it might have been, but for his great help.
And when I think of my mother, how she toiled and endured hardships, and sacrificed for our comfort, O how I miss her now, and it seems to me but yesterday since we were all at home around the festive board enjoying luxuries of life to the full, or sitting on the broad porch listening to her timely advice; and when I think of how she looked after our best interests, and helped us in every way to be the kind of children we should be, and how she would deny herself of the pleasures of life that we might have, and how she would suffer with us when we were sick, sitting up all through the long nights that she might alleviate our suffering, I feel like the only way to express my appreciation of her kindness is quoting the immortal words of the following poem, by Elizabeth Akers Allen." [That lengthy, poignant poem is named "Rock Me To Sleep" and can be found online.]
Contributor: Teddy (46612186)
A tribute by Emory A. Evans to his parents (1928)
Our mother, Sarah Frances Evans, whose maiden name was Sarah Frances Gray, was the youngest daughter of William Gray of Hillsboro, Fleming County. Her mother was a Seamonds, a very wealthy family, and was born in Baltimore, Maryland. They later moved to Kentucky, near Paris; they then moved to Rowan County, east of Morehead. My grandmother Seamonds married William Gray of Fleming County. Grandfather Gray died when he was about thirty-five years of age and left his widow to make the living which she did well, but as in the Evans family the schools were scarce and their children did not get much education, but were all honest men and women. Two of our Uncles, Mat and Preston went to Kansas in young manhood and never came back. Wm. Gray Jr. lived near Tolesboro, Lewis County, until his death. My mother had two sisters, Amanda and Jane. They married men by the name of Shields, their husbands being brothers.
Our mother was born January 17, 1832, in Fleming County, Kentucky She was young when her father died and after her mother married again, she went and lived with an uncle, John Gray. She and Edward Evans were married March 18, 1851. Barnibus Kindred said the ceremony. He was a Christian preacher.
It is natural for any American to honor his mother and say nice things about her, but it can truthfully be said there were few women like our mother. She was in a class by herself. She was as pure as an Angel and dignified as a Princess, and in her daily tasks she walked as gracefully as if she were on parade. I have often thought since I became a man how she did all the work she did, and went about it so gracefully. There were thirteen children in the family. She had time to make clothing for all; of course, the older children helped as all this number was not small at the same time. But the cloth had to be woven from the wool and made into garments, and she must oversee all this besides all her other work. She somehow found time to help all her needy neighbors in time of sickness and cook for meetings. The care of thirteen children, taking care of them when sick and looking after their welfare along every line was no small task, yet she never complained. She never liked the hills of Carter County and always wanted to go to the level part of the state but could not get this done.
She was never strong, but always delicate. Had several sick spells and was under the care of doctors quite a bit in life. She lived a pure life and always tried to teach her children to live in her footsteps and to always shun evil. No one liked more than she to have good company and especially to have her own children visit her and have family reunions. Most all of her neighbors called her Aunt Fannie, and our father was to them Uncle Ed.
Our father died August 2, 1905, and mother on October 12 the same year. She had worried with him until her health had failed completely and was taken sick a short time after his death and never recovered.
After our parents had passed away, our old home did not seem like home any more, and the reunions that we all liked to have, could not be anymore. And now when going back to the old home again, I want to be alone for it is a time for meditation and not talking, and I feel that I am walking on Holy ground. Everything about the sacred shrine has a message, every path and tree and building brings back memories of long ago, when I was in childhood and knew but little of the world, and when I remember my father, how hard he worked to have plenty to live on and give us children a start in life, and the good advice he gave, the moral life he lived, I fear we did not appreciate him as we should have while he was living, and now if I should live to be three score and ten, or by reason of strength I reach four score, I shall never forget his wise counsel, and sterling character that in a measure helped me to be of some help to my fellow men, and not an entire failure as it might have been, but for his great help.
And when I think of my mother, how she toiled and endured hardships, and sacrificed for our comfort, O how I miss her now, and it seems to me but yesterday since we were all at home around the festive board enjoying luxuries of life to the full, or sitting on the broad porch listening to her timely advice; and when I think of how she looked after our best interests, and helped us in every way to be the kind of children we should be, and how she would deny herself of the pleasures of life that we might have, and how she would suffer with us when we were sick, sitting up all through the long nights that she might alleviate our suffering, I feel like the only way to express my appreciation of her kindness is quoting the immortal words of the following poem, by Elizabeth Akers Allen." [That lengthy, poignant poem is named "Rock Me To Sleep" and can be found online.]
Contributor: Teddy (46612186)
Our mother, Sarah Frances Evans, whose maiden name was Sarah Frances Gray, was the youngest daughter of William Gray of Hillsboro, Fleming County. Her mother was a Seamonds, a very wealthy family, and was born in Baltimore, Maryland. They later moved to Kentucky, near Paris; they then moved to Rowan County, east of Morehead. My grandmother Seamonds married William Gray of Fleming County. Grandfather Gray died when he was about thirty-five years of age and left his widow to make the living which she did well, but as in the Evans family the schools were scarce and their children did not get much education, but were all honest men and women. Two of our Uncles, Mat and Preston went to Kansas in young manhood and never came back. Wm. Gray Jr. lived near Tolesboro, Lewis County, until his death. My mother had two sisters, Amanda and Jane. They married men by the name of Shields, their husbands being brothers.
Our mother was born January 17, 1832, in Fleming County, Kentucky She was young when her father died and after her mother married again, she went and lived with an uncle, John Gray. She and Edward Evans were married March 18, 1851. Barnibus Kindred said the ceremony. He was a Christian preacher.
It is natural for any American to honor his mother and say nice things about her, but it can truthfully be said there were few women like our mother. She was in a class by herself. She was as pure as an Angel and dignified as a Princess, and in her daily tasks she walked as gracefully as if she were on parade. I have often thought since I became a man how she did all the work she did, and went about it so gracefully. There were thirteen children in the family. She had time to make clothing for all; of course, the older children helped as all this number was not small at the same time. But the cloth had to be woven from the wool and made into garments, and she must oversee all this besides all her other work. She somehow found time to help all her needy neighbors in time of sickness and cook for meetings. The care of thirteen children, taking care of them when sick and looking after their welfare along every line was no small task, yet she never complained. She never liked the hills of Carter County and always wanted to go to the level part of the state but could not get this done.
She was never strong, but always delicate. Had several sick spells and was under the care of doctors quite a bit in life. She lived a pure life and always tried to teach her children to live in her footsteps and to always shun evil. No one liked more than she to have good company and especially to have her own children visit her and have family reunions. Most all of her neighbors called her Aunt Fannie, and our father was to them Uncle Ed.
Our father died August 2, 1905, and mother on October 12 the same year. She had worried with him until her health had failed completely and was taken sick a short time after his death and never recovered.
After our parents had passed away, our old home did not seem like home any more, and the reunions that we all liked to have, could not be anymore. And now when going back to the old home again, I want to be alone for it is a time for meditation and not talking, and I feel that I am walking on Holy ground. Everything about the sacred shrine has a message, every path and tree and building brings back memories of long ago, when I was in childhood and knew but little of the world, and when I remember my father, how hard he worked to have plenty to live on and give us children a start in life, and the good advice he gave, the moral life he lived, I fear we did not appreciate him as we should have while he was living, and now if I should live to be three score and ten, or by reason of strength I reach four score, I shall never forget his wise counsel, and sterling character that in a measure helped me to be of some help to my fellow men, and not an entire failure as it might have been, but for his great help.
And when I think of my mother, how she toiled and endured hardships, and sacrificed for our comfort, O how I miss her now, and it seems to me but yesterday since we were all at home around the festive board enjoying luxuries of life to the full, or sitting on the broad porch listening to her timely advice; and when I think of how she looked after our best interests, and helped us in every way to be the kind of children we should be, and how she would deny herself of the pleasures of life that we might have, and how she would suffer with us when we were sick, sitting up all through the long nights that she might alleviate our suffering, I feel like the only way to express my appreciation of her kindness is quoting the immortal words of the following poem, by Elizabeth Akers Allen." [That lengthy, poignant poem is named "Rock Me To Sleep" and can be found online.]
Contributor: Teddy (46612186)
Family Members
Siblings
Children
-
![]()
Amanda Jane Evans Adams
1854–1936
-
![]()
William Barnett Evans
1855–1889
-
![]()
Lieu Evans Brickles
1858–1904
-
![]()
John G Evans
1860–1950
-
![]()
Nelson Evans
1862–1957
-
![]()
Madison J "Matt" Evans
1864–1935
-
![]()
Grant Evans
1866–1968
-
![]()
Sherman Evans
1866–1971
-
![]()
Emory Allen Evans
1869–1951
-
Ida Evans
1871–1907
-
Emma "Bertie" Evans
1874–1905
-
![]()
Conie Alice Evans Logan
1878–1974
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
