My Genealogy Hound

Evan P. Marks, merchant. Considering the fact that Mr. Marks began life for himself with little or no means to start on, his career has been more than ordinarily successful, and since 1869 he has been successfully engaged in merchandising. He was born near where he now lives on July 27, 1839, and is a son of Hastings and Sivility (Powell) Marks, who were born in Georgia in 1795 and 1805, and died in Arkansas in 1846 and 1873 respectively. They were married in Georgia, and moved from there to Montgomery County, Ala., and thence to Union County, Ark., in 1836, being among the early agriculturists of that region, and the first family to locate near where New Edinburg now is. To them a family of ten children were born, four of whom are now living: John H: (a farmer of Calhoun County, Ark.), James N. (a farmer and surveyor of Cleveland County), George M. (a farmer of the county), and Evan P. Those deceased are: Benjamin (who died when twenty-five years of age), Hastings (who died in Louisiana, while serving in the Confederate army), Eliza and Emma (who died young), Owen K. (in infancy), and Robert (who died when seventeen years of age). The Marks family are supposed to be of English descent, and on coming to America settled in Virginia, as early as 1680. Gen. Marks, of Revolutionary fame, belonged to the same family. Hastings Marks was a son of James Marks, a native Virginian, who moved with Gen. Matthews to Georgia, and in that State he was reared. After coming to Arkansas he became quite wealthy, and at the time of his death was the owner of a large tract of land and many slaves. He became well known, and was the first treasurer of what was then Union County. The Powell family are of Welsh descent, and Mrs. Marks was a daughter of Benjamin Powell of Hancock, County, Ga. Evan P. Marks, the immediate subject of this sketch, received his early education in Arkansas, but finished his literary education in Roanoke College, Salem, Va. In May, 1861, he left home and entered the Fifth Arkansas Infantry, Confederate States Army, Company C, and was soon promoted to sergeant-major of his regiment. In the fall of 1863 he was appointed adjutant of the Second Arkansas Cavalry, Trans-Mississippi Department, and in this capacity served until the close of the war, having taken part in the engagements at Perryville, Murfreesboro, and was in the engagements of the Missouri raid. He was neither wounded nor captured during his entire service, and in his own words, he was the most fortunate man in the service. For four years after the close of the war he was engaged in farming, but in 1869 engaged in merchandising at New Edinburg, and this calling has received his attention up to the present time. He is associated in business with a Mr. Atwood, and they do the most extensive business of any firm in the county, and are safe, reliable men of business. They are devoted to their work, and this, together with their large and select stock of goods, which they sell at reasonable rates, has contributed largely to their success. Mr. Marks is a Democrat, and in 1874 was elected on this ticket to the office of county clerk, the duties of which he discharged in a very efficient manner. February 23, 1865, he was married to Miss Mattie H. Thornton, a daughter of William S. Thornton, of Calhoun County. She was born in Chambers County, Ala., December 26, 1844, and has borne Mr. Marks the following children: Emma (wife of William D. Atwood, the business partner of Mr. Marks), Gertrude (at home), Effie, Ione and Myrtle. Mr. Marks is not a member of any church, but it may be truly said of him that in every walk of life has been upright and honorable.