To Covington County people, the Evers name brings to mind a history of furniture stores, doctor and hospital and real estate.

Even though members of this family did not arrive in the area until somewhat late in the development of the county, they still made a significant mark on the business and civic communities.

Before reviewing these experiences, a look at the family’s ancestry will be presented.

The earliest Evers ancestor found on Ancestry.com is William Evers who was married to an Elizabeth.

They had a son who was named John Evers Sr. and who was married to Mary ?.

This couple had John Evers Jr. who was born in 1760 in Edgecombe County, N.C. He was married to Sarena Lorena Mills who was born in 1771.

They both died in Appling, Ga., in 1827 and 1830 respectively. They had a son, Gibson Evers, who was born in 1795 in North Carolina and who was married in 1810 to Rebecca Baldwin, born in 1795.

Gibson and Rebecca Evers moved from Georgia to Conecuh County, Ala., during 1840, and Gibson died that year.

Rebecca lived an additional 20 years until 1860.

They had a son, Reuben Jasper Evers, who was born in 1821 in Wilkinson, Ga., and who was married in 1846 in Monroe County, Ala., to Sarah Solomon (1829-1898), daughter of John G. Solomon (1797-1863) and Sarah A. Godbolt (1797-1866).

The couple had moved to Albany and Iles, Caddo Parish, La., by 1850.

In 1860 they were residing in Sulfur Fork, Lafayette County, Ark.

From this home, Reuben enlisted in the Confederate Army to serve as a private in the Third Arkansas Regiment.

He became ill with dysentery and died in the Soldiers/Marines Hospital in Shreveport, La., in 1864.

The youngest of their children was born that very year.

Sarah, the widow, chose to move back to Monroe County to be near her relatives and finish rearing their children.

Reuben Jasper and Sarah Evers had the following 10 children: John Gibson, b. 1848, d. 1907, m. (1) Frances Angyline Wilkerson (1846-1871) (2) Mary Ann Browning (1845-1914); Sarah A., b. 1850, d. 1900, m. Francis Marion Austin (1850-1932); Elizabeth “Eliza” A., b. 1852, d. 1860; Edwine C., b. 1853, d. 1922; Robert Leonard, b. 1857, d. 1924, m. Melinda Laura “Minnie” Bailey (1867-1953); Mary Augusta, b. 1858, d. 1938; William Newton, b. 1863, d. 1894, m. Alice E. Andrews; and Joshua Jasper, b. 1864, d. 1948, m. Mary Ellen Owens. (Some records list a child named Edwina, so her existance is uncertain.)

The oldest son, John Gibson Evers, and his first wife, Frances A. Wilkerson, only had one son before her early death. The child was named Jasper F. Evers (1871-1901). Jasper m. (1) Frances Louisia Harrison (1871-1894) (2) Elizabeth Wade (1879-1918). John Gibson and his second wife, Mary Ann Browning, had the following children: William Jefferson “Will,” b. 1873, d. 1960, m. Abbie Woods (1868-1941); Alonzo Baldwin, b. 1875, d. 1913, m. Myrtle E. Thornton; Julia Ordelphia, b. 1877, d. 1957, m. Shelby James Butler (1875-1949); John Walter, b. 1879, d. 1955, m. Nellie Mae Riggs (1880-1958); Sallie Beatrice, b. 1881, d. 1919; and Mary Lillian, b. 1886, d. 1953, m. Oscar W. Nelson (1874-1970). Most of these couples moved to Oklahoma or Texas and reared their families there.

The second son, Robert Leonard Evers, was born in 1857 in Springbank, Lafayette County, Ark., and would have been a young boy when his mother moved the family back to Monroe County, Ala.

He was married to Melinda Laura “Minnie” Ruth Bailey, daughter of Barrett James “BJ” Bailey and Rebecca Elizabeth (Robinson). At his death in 1924 in Old Texas, Monroe County, Ala., Robert Leonard was buried there in the Solomon Cemetery. His widow live for about 30 more years, and was living in Daphne in Baldwin County at the time of her death, so she was buried there in the Bellforest Community Cemetery.

Robert Leonard and Minnie Ruth Evers had at least the following 11 children: James Edward, b. 1881, d. 1967, m. Georgia Pugh; Emmett Ezell, b. 1885, d. 1964, m. Mattie Langham Robinson (1887-1971); Leonard Tolbert, b. 1889, d. 1963, m. Daisy Solomon (1897-1971); Howard Lee, b. 1893, d. 1961, m. Viola Covin: Laura Estelle, b. 1895, d. 1924, m. Nathaniel Laban Hayes; Emily Adele, b. 1898, d. 1985, m. Dazey Henry Brantley; Joshua Rudolph, b. 1900, d. 1985, m. Daisy A. Booker; Rufus J., b. 1901; Ella Mae, b. 1903, d. 1932; William Leroy “Roy,” b. 1907, d. 1954, m. Pearline Gladys Booker; and Burley Gibson, b. 1909, d. 1938, m. Dixie Mixon.

Robert Leonard’s second son, Emmett Ezell Evers, and his wife, Mattie, ended up residing in the Repton community in Conecuh County. They reared the following children: Clifford Leonard, b. 1911, d. 1996, m. Othelle Macyllm Polly Creel (1916-1989); Ora Lee, b.&d. 1912; Emmett Woodrow, b. 1913; Lauree, b. ca 1915; Alvin Luther, b. 1917, d. 1966, m. Martha Evelyn Morris; Elmore Aubrey, b. 1919, m. Alma Inez Daniel; and Carmel Leo, b. 1923, m. Martha Lee Pierce.

Reuben Jasper Evers’s son, William Newton Evers, and his wife, Alice E. (Andrews) began their marriage in Alabama where their first child was born.

They later moved to Texas where the other children were born.

They reared the following children: Vena, b. 1888, m. H.E. Goode; Bert Julius, b. 1894; Sallie, b. ca 1896, m. Allen Adcock; R.B., b. 1898, d. 1904; Lula, b. ca 1901, m. Louis H. Deitzel; Marvin Wesley, b. 1903, d. 1959; Foy Ira Mae, b. ca 1905, m. Jack H. Roland; and Lillie Ruth, b. 1907.

The youngest son of Reuben Jasper Evers, Joshua Jasper Evers, and his descendants were the ones who moved to Covington County and contributed significantly to the area.

They were successful in various businesses and the medical field.

The genealogy of Joshua Jasper’s family and their contributions to the well-being of the community will be presented in the next column.

Sources for this writing included Ancestry.com and the family records of two descendants, Patricia (Evers) Caton and her grandson, Stephen Caton.

Anyone who might have a correction to any of the above or additional information on the Evers family is requested to contact this writer, Curtis Thomasson, at 20357 Blake Pruitt Road, Andalusia, AL 36420; 334-222-6467; or Email: cthomasson@centurytel.net.