STANDARD ATLAS
OF
SCOTT COUNTY, ILLINOIS
1903
Geo. A. Ogle & Co.Publishers & Engravers
134 Van Buren St.
Chicago
Transcribed by Larry Fearneyhough
Page 91
The subject of this sketch was born one and one-half miles west of Glasgow, Scott county, Illinois, January 14, 1845, his father and mother having moved here in 1830, from Marietta, Ohio. His grandfather, James McEvers, was of Scotch birth and served in the Revolutionary War, under Col. Ethan Allen.
Byron McEvers was the fifth and youngest son of Seneca McEvers, who had a family of six children, only two of whom are now living. Up to the age of sixteen years, Byron attended the district school, when during the heat of the war of the rebellion, in 1862, he enlisted in company A, 68th Illinois infantry, under Capt. John King of Jacksonville, for 100 days' service. At the expiration of the 100 days he re-enlisted the same year in company E. 137th Illinois infantry, under Capt. Higgins, and was appointed third sergeant. From 1863 to 1865 he worked at house painting with James Shamp.
In the spring of 1865 he was married to Mary M. York, who died December 29, 1866. To this union was born one daughter, Florence. On November 27, 1867, he was married to Lucy Keller, daughter of James Keller, and to this union was born six daughters and three sons - two sons dying in infancy. His wife died February 17, 1903.
In December, 1867, he embarked in the mercantile business at Glasgow, and has followed that vocation ever since. In 1884 he was elected a member of the house of representatives, thirty-fourth general assemble of the state of Illinois. by the democrates of the thirty-seventh senatorial district, comprising the counties of Scott, Greene and Jersey. At this session of the legislature the democrates had a majority of three in the lower house, and one majority on joint ballot, this being the first time since the was of 1861 that the democrates had organized the house of representatives in this state and electing the speaker. Mr. McEvers was made chairman of the committee on libraries, and served as a member of six other committees, and, like David B. Hill of New York, "is still a democrat," and all through life has been an active worker for the democratic party and its principles.
In 1897 he induced the Smith-Hippen Company to join with him in building a new grain elevator at Glasgow Landing, on the east side of the Illinois river. This building cost over $5,000, and has proven to be a great convenience to shippers, by reducing the price of shipping and making it convenient and handy for the farmers to dispose of their grain.