Union County IL Archives Biographies.....EVETT, D,H. January 19, 1835 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Tim Casey timcasey5@gmail.com and Andy Anderson oxdrover@mindspring.com June 8, 2008, 6:38 am

Author: History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties Illinois

D. H. EVETT, merchant, Cobden, was born January 19, 1835, in Henderson
County, Tenn.; is a son of W. B. and Sarah Williams Evett, natives of
Tennessee and the parents of eight children, all of whom grew up. Our
subject only resides in this county. He had the chance to attend school but
a few days, and did not then even learn how to read and write. He was
brought up at the duties of a ruralist, and at the age of 19 he began
carpentering. At that time his only worldly possessions were a suit of
clothing and $2.50.

When about 25 years old he began clerking for the firm of Crytes & Cooper of
Bloomfield, Mo., whither the family had gone from Williamson County, Ill.,
where they settled in 1843. He severed his connection with the above firm
and took a position with Bartlett & Legget of Piketon, the same State. Here,

under the instructions of Legget, he learned to read and write, and within
two years was able and did post the books of his employer. He remained with
this firm, however, only a few months on account of the war oppressing the
business, which was finally closed up, and he then went to the individual
store of Bartlett, of Bloomfield, where he was engaged actively for some
time, and this store was also closed on account of the war.

He clerked for awhile at Cape Girardeau, and from there made preparations to
start for St. Paul, Minn., to take a position as a clerk. James Morrison, an
elderly man with wife and no children, had for a long time clerked for an
adjoining firm to Mr. Evett, just merely to have employment, and had in the
meantime taken a deep interest in his strong competitor, and without any
solicitation on the part of Mr. Evett, Morrison prevailed on him to draw
from the account of Mr. M. $6,000 and go in business for himself, which he
did at Piketon, where he was very successful, and in a number of years paid
back to Mr. Morrison the $6,000, together with $1,800 interest that had
accrued.

While at Piketon, he served as postmaster for 15 years. While here, he lost
his wife, Arabell Spiller, whom he married in 1867. This union gave him
three children, one living - Betty. Soon after the death of his consort, he
came with his little daughter to his farm in Williamson County, Ill. After
farming for some time, he went to Neosho, Mo., where he merchandized under
the firm name of Biddle & Evett, at which he was successful for two years,
when he sold his interest to Biddle and returned to his farm in Illinois,
which he sold in 1881, and in March the following year he opened up at
Cobden his present fine line of general merchandise and groceries, and has
been very successful. The only losses he has sustained have been by robbers.

He lost an entire crop by frost. He enlisted in 1863 in an Illinois infantry
company, and was soon discharged on account of illness. He was married a
second time to Ray Rendleman, daughter of John Rendleman of Anna, and the
result has been two children - Olive M. and Clyde. He votes the Democratic
ticket. The names of his brothers and sisters were William, Ann, Elizabeth,
Eveline, Jane, Samuel, Sarah and Mary.


Additional Comments:
Andy Anderson submitted the Biography. I believe is Cobden Township.

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