John Gary Evans
Encyclopedia
John Gary Evans was the 85th Governor of South Carolina
from 1894 to 1897.
to an aristocratic and well connected
family. His father was Nathan George Evans
, a Confederate
general
, and after his father died in 1868, he went to live in Edgefield
with his uncle Martin Witherspoon Gary
. After completing his secondary education in Cokesbury, he enrolled at Union College
in Schenectady, New York
. His uncle's death in 1881 forced him to withdraw from college due to financial constraints, but he would later graduate in 1883.
and became known for his representation of poor farmers which led to the development of ties with John Lawrence Manning
and Benjamin Tillman
. He was elected in 1888 to the South Carolina House of Representatives
at the age of 25 and elevated four years later in 1892 to the South Carolina Senate
. His rapid political rise continued by being elected in 1894
as the 85th governor of South Carolina at the age of 31, youngest ever for a South Carolina governor
. During his time as governor, Evans continued the policies of Tillman and presided over the constitution convention of 1895.
Pledging not to run for reelection as governor in 1896, Evans set his sights instead for the U.S. Senate
race. He lost the election and his attempt for an open Senate seat in 1897 again proved equally unsuccessful. Frustrated, Evans volunteered as a major in the U.S. Army
for the Spanish-American War
in 1898 and helped create the civilian government of Havana. After the war, he resumed the practice of law in Spartanburg
.
s in 1900
, 1912
and 1916
. In 1914, he became the chairman of the South Carolina Democratic State Executive Committee
and from 1918 to 1928 was the National Democratic Committeeman
from South Carolina. Evans won a term to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 1922 from Spartanburg and served on the judiciary and rules committees.
On June 27, 1942, Evans died and was buried at Willowbrook Cemetery in Edgefield.
Governor of South Carolina
The Governor of the State of South Carolina is the head of state for the State of South Carolina. Under the South Carolina Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the South Carolina executive branch. The Governor is the ex officio...
from 1894 to 1897.
Early life
Evans was born in Cokesbury, South CarolinaCokesbury, South Carolina
Cokesbury is a census-designated place in Greenwood County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 279 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Cokesbury is located at ....
to an aristocratic and well connected
Good ol' boy network
Good ol' boy network, or "Good old boys", describes a system of social networking/cronyism perceived to exist among communities and social strata. These networks are perceived to be located throughout the world...
family. His father was Nathan George Evans
Nathan George Evans
Nathan George "Shanks" Evans was a captain in the 2nd U.S. Cavalry who became a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.-Biography:...
, a Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
general
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
, and after his father died in 1868, he went to live in Edgefield
Edgefield, South Carolina
Edgefield is a town in Edgefield County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 4,449 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Edgefield County.Edgefield is part of the Augusta, Georgia metropolitan area.-Geography:...
with his uncle Martin Witherspoon Gary
Martin Witherspoon Gary
Martin Witherspoon Gary was a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War and a Democratic politician in postbellum South Carolina.-Early life and career:...
. After completing his secondary education in Cokesbury, he enrolled at Union College
Union College
Union College is a private, non-denominational liberal arts college located in Schenectady, New York, United States. Founded in 1795, it was the first institution of higher learning chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. In the 19th century, it became the "Mother of Fraternities", as...
in Schenectady, New York
Schenectady, New York
Schenectady is a city in Schenectady County, New York, United States, of which it is the county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 66,135...
. His uncle's death in 1881 forced him to withdraw from college due to financial constraints, but he would later graduate in 1883.
Political career
Admitted to the bar in 1887, Evans began the practice of law in AikenAiken, South Carolina
Aiken is a city in and the county seat of Aiken County, South Carolina, United States. With Augusta, Georgia, it is one of the two largest cities of the Central Savannah River Area. It is part of the Augusta-Richmond County Metropolitan Statistical Area. Aiken is home to the University of South...
and became known for his representation of poor farmers which led to the development of ties with John Lawrence Manning
John Lawrence Manning
John Laurence ManningJohn Laurence Manning, was the 65th Governor of South Carolina from 1852 to 1854.In 1838, John L...
and Benjamin Tillman
Benjamin Tillman
Benjamin Ryan Tillman was an American politician who served as the 84th Governor of South Carolina, from 1890 to 1894, and as a United States Senator, from 1895 until his death in office. Tillman's views were a matter of national controversy.Tillman was a member of the Democratic Party...
. He was elected in 1888 to the South Carolina House of Representatives
South Carolina House of Representatives
The South Carolina House of Representatives is the lower house of the South Carolina General Assembly, the upper house being the South Carolina Senate. It consists of 124 Representatives elected to two year terms at the same time as US Congressional elections...
at the age of 25 and elevated four years later in 1892 to the South Carolina Senate
South Carolina Senate
The South Carolina Senate is the upper house of the South Carolina General Assembly, the lower house being the South Carolina House of Representatives...
. His rapid political rise continued by being elected in 1894
South Carolina gubernatorial election, 1894
The 1894 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1894 to select the governor of the state of South Carolina. John Gary Evans was nominated by the Democrats and became the 85th governor of South Carolina.-Democratic campaign:...
as the 85th governor of South Carolina at the age of 31, youngest ever for a South Carolina governor
Governor of South Carolina
The Governor of the State of South Carolina is the head of state for the State of South Carolina. Under the South Carolina Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the South Carolina executive branch. The Governor is the ex officio...
. During his time as governor, Evans continued the policies of Tillman and presided over the constitution convention of 1895.
Pledging not to run for reelection as governor in 1896, Evans set his sights instead for the U.S. Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
race. He lost the election and his attempt for an open Senate seat in 1897 again proved equally unsuccessful. Frustrated, Evans volunteered as a major in the U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
for the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
in 1898 and helped create the civilian government of Havana. After the war, he resumed the practice of law in Spartanburg
Spartanburg, South Carolina
thgSpartanburg is the largest city in and the county seat of Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States. It is the second-largest city of the three primary cities in the Upstate region of South Carolina, and is located northwest of Columbia, west of Charlotte, and about northeast of...
.
Later life and career
Further attempts at an open Senate seat in 1902 and 1908 proved futile and henceforward he focused his energies on internal Democratic politics. Three times he served as a delegate to the Democratic National ConventionDemocratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
s in 1900
1900 Democratic National Convention
The 1900 Democratic National Convention was a United States presidential nominating convention that took place the week of July 4, 1900 at Convention Hall in Kansas City, Missouri....
, 1912
1912 Democratic National Convention
The 1912 Democratic National Convention was held at the Fifth Regiment Armory in Baltimore from June 25 to July 2, 1912. It proved to be one of the more memorable United States presidential conventions of the twentieth century. The main candidates were House Speaker Champ Clark of Missouri and...
and 1916
1916 Democratic National Convention
The 1916 Democratic National Convention was held at the St. Louis Coliseum in St. Louis, Missouri from June 14 - June 16, 1916. It resulted in the nomination of President Woodrow Wilson of New Jersey for President and Thomas R...
. In 1914, he became the chairman of the South Carolina Democratic State Executive Committee
South Carolina Democratic Party
The South Carolina Democratic Party is the South Carolina affiliate of the United States Democratic Party. The Democratic party thrived during the Second Party System between 1832 and the mid-1850s and was one of the causes of the collapse of the Whig Party....
and from 1918 to 1928 was the National Democratic Committeeman
Democratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
from South Carolina. Evans won a term to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 1922 from Spartanburg and served on the judiciary and rules committees.
On June 27, 1942, Evans died and was buried at Willowbrook Cemetery in Edgefield.