Leigh Evans of Bainbridge, NY

 Leigh Wallace Evans

As partner of the Will D. Evans Company, wholesale lumber dealers and manufacturers, and manager and owner of the Leigh W. Evans insurance agency, Leigh W Evans is ranked among the most prominent and successful business leaders of Bainbridge, where he also has taken an active part in social and civic affairs. 

 

Mr. Evans was born in Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], January 22, 1891, the son of Will D. and Carrie (Albee) Evans.  His father, who was born here in November, 1859 has engaged in a local lumber business for more than a quarter of a century.  His mother born near Conklin in 1863, died May 17, 1931.  According to family records the Evans family has been established in this section of the State since about 1778, and one member, Major Henry Evans, is said to have been granted land which now forms part of the site of Bainbridge.

 

Mr. Evans received a general education in Bainbridge and after completing his high school studies matriculated at the Central City Business School in Syracuse, from which he was graduated with the class of 1912.  For a number of years following completion of his training he engaged in sales work and continued in this business until 1922, when he became associated with his father, on a partnership basis in the wholesale lumber and manufacturing business.

 

He has been one of the most active leaders in community affairs.  Since 1925 he has served as chief of the Bainbridge Fire Department, is a member and vice-president of the Bainbridge Chamber of Commerce and belongs to the Slater Silvernail Post, No. 806, of the American Legion.  During the World War he served in the Medical Supply Department of the 310th Infantry from September 1917 to March, 1919.  Mr. Evans worships at the Bainbridge Episcopal Church in which he is a member of the choir.

 

On December 31, 1924, Mr. Evans married Vera Strail, of Schenevus, Otsego County, daughter of Orson Strail of that place.

 

Central New York, An Inland Empire, Vol IV (Lewis Historical Pub. Co., Inc., NY, 1941) p32.

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Obituary

Tri-Town News, September 6, 1972

 Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY]:  Leigh Wallace Evans, 81 years, of 9 South Main St., Bainbridge died Friday, September 1, at the Hospital , Sidney, after a short illness.  Funeral services were held at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Bainbridge, Monday September 4, at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Andrus Smith, rector officiating. Burial was in the Greenlawn Cemetery, Bainbridge.  He was born January 22, 1891 in Bainbridge, a son of William and Carrie (Albee) Evans. He married Vera Strail.  He was a member of St. Peter's Episcopal Church. He had been fire chief in Bainbridge for many years. He had been Presiding Judge at many leading raceways including Saratoga and Vernon Downs.  He is survived by his widow. Arrangements were by the Terhune Funeral Home. Bainbridge.