Fresno County, California Biographies Source: History of Fresno County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present (1919) History By Paul E. Vandor Illustrated, Complete In Two Volumes Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1919 Notes: Missing+page1185-1186 Transcribed by Peggy Hooper This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm OLEN LEE EVERTS.� The Everts family, represented in Fresno by Olen Lee Everts, a prominent attorney, was a distinguished one of New England. The first of the name to seek a new location was Gustavus Everts, St., who came as far west as Indiana, settling at La Porte, where he followed farming. He was also a resident of Ohio for a time, and in that state his son, Gustavus A., the father of Olen Lee, was born. Gustavus A. settled in Putnam County, Ill., in young manhood, and was engaged in farming until his removal to La Porte, Ind., where he continued the same calling. In 1884 he removed to California, and at Fresno engaged in the real estate business until a year before he died, in 1897. at the age of sixty-three years. He was a Mason and politically adhered to the policies of the Democratic party, in whose interests he served one term as public administrator of Fresno County. His wife, formerly Rena Newport, was born in Bureau County, Ill., the daughter of P. N. Newport, an extensive farmer and large landowner of that county. Mrs. Everts died in Illinois early in life. The only child of his parents, Olen Lee Everts was born in Putnam County, Ill., February 11. 1870, and, after the death of his mother, went to Kewanee, Ill., where he made his home with an aunt, Mrs. H. E. Woodruff. He attended the public schools and in time was graduated from the Kewanee high school. In 1887 he came to Fresno County, Cal., and was engaged in the real estate business with his father. Before he came west, Mr. Everts had read law during his vacations and the desire to make that profession his life-work was so strong that in 1889 he returned east, and became a student in the law department of the University of Michigan, two years later graduating with the degree of LL.D. The year previous he had been ad- mitted to the bar of Michigan. During his college life he was a member of the Phi Delta Phi fraternity. Upon his return to California, Mr. Everts was admitted to the bar of the Golden State and at once opened offices in the First National Bank Building at Fresno and ever since then has practiced law in this city. In 1893 he formed a partnership with David S. Ewing, the firm being known then as Everts & Ewing, the same as it is today, and as such has won distinction at the bar of the state, and a place among the prom- inent attorneys of Fresno ; it is one of the earliest established law firms in the San Joaquin Valley. A Democrat in his political convictions, Mr. Everts was elected to the office of District Attorney of Fresno County in 1898, he took the oath of office the following January and served until January. 1903. During his term in this important position more than 500 criminal cases in the superior court of the county, many of them bitterly contested, were handled by his office, and the court records, showing the percentage of convictions in the number of cases tried, bespeak the ability and energy displayed by Mr. Everts in the interests of the people. The discharge of his duties was so efficient that he won the commendation of the citizens of Fresno County, regard- less of party affiliations. Mr. Everts thereupon resumed his practice with his partner. Mr. Ewing. For three successive terms, he has, with his partner, represented the public administrator of Fresno County. This enterprising firm is attorney for various banking institutions in the San Joaquin Valley, and for other corporations of like character. A great deal of oil litigation also has been handled by this firm. The law firm of Everts & Ewing easily ranks as one of the foremost in the San Joaquin Valley. In the case of Zibbell vs. the Southern Pacific Railway Company, they secured a verdict for $100,000 damages, the largest amount ever recovered for personal injuries anywhere. This verdict was settled for $92,745.65 on the 24th of July, 1911. 'Mr. Everts has conducted defenses in many noted murder cases, among these the case of People vs. Orlean Howe, which attracted nation-wide attention. While this firm numbers among its clients many banking, oil, and other large corporations, it does a general law-business, and the individual client obtains the ad- vantage of its long and successful experience in legal matters, as well as the careful personal attention of the members of the firm. In Kewanee, Ill., Mr. Everts was united in marriage, on November 1, 1892, with Flora Maul,' a daughter of Frank Maul, a merchant of that city. One child has blessed this union, Frank Gustavus Everts, now a young man twenty-two years of age. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan. He had taken one year of law in the University when, in April, 1917, he volun- teered for the United States Army, and received a commission as First Lieutenant in Company C. 145th Machine Gun Battalion of the Fortieth Division, and while in France received his Captaincy of that Company, and at this time is still serving in France. Fraternally O. L. Everts is a Mason, having been made a Mason in Kewanee Lodge, No. 159, A. F. & A. M. ; he belongs to Trigo Chapter, No. 69, R. A. M., having served as High Priest, and also belongs to Fresno Commandery, No. 29, K. T. ; Islam Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S; and is also a member of Fresno Lodge, No. 186, I. O. O. F., the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Independent Order of Foresters. As an enterprising and liberal citizen, Mr. Everts takes a most active interest in all that tends to promote the general welfare of the people and county. He is a member of the Commercial, Sequoia, University, and Country Clubs, also of the Chamber of Commerce, and of the County and State Bar Associations.