Green Berry Evans, born January 3, 1842, in Marshall County, Alabama, is a prominent farmer and stock-raiser in Stone Township, Arkansas. The son of William and Mary (Hill) Evans, he received his education locally and spent his early years on his family’s farm. In 1860, he traveled to France with his uncle, Green B. Hill, and upon returning, enlisted as a first lieutenant in the Confederate army, later becoming a captain under Gen. Forrest. After the Civil War, Evans moved to Arkansas, engaging in farming and horse trading. He married Martha Ann Satterfield in 1872, with whom he had two surviving children, and after her death, he remarried M. Hovis in 1881, having seven children, four surviving. Evans owns 480 acres of land, actively farms, and raises livestock. He is a member of the Baptist Church and the Masonic lodge, contributing generously to community causes and maintaining a respected reputation.
Green Berry Evans is numbered among the substantial farmers and stock-raisers of this county. He is now residing on Section 34, Stone Township, and was born in Marshall County, North Ala., January 3, 1842, being the son of William and Mary (Hill) Evans. Mrs. Evans was the daughter of John Owen Hill, also a native of that state, who was married in Tennessee. Col. Hill participated in the Seminole War, and there obtained his title as colonel commanding a regiment of the United States troops. Mr. Evans received his education in Marshall County, in the subscription schools, and was reared on a farm, making his home with his parents until the age of twenty-two.
In 1860 he went abroad with his uncle, Green B. Hill, landing at a port in France, where he remained about six weeks, and returning to America landed at New Orleans, going thence by steamer to Memphis, Tenn., and about six weeks later by boat to Gunter’s Landing, on the Tennessee River; from there his home, nine miles distant, was reached. Here he remained until the fall of 1860. After stopping at Memphis he went to St. Charles Landing, on White River, and engaged with Col. Stearns, a planter (living near St. Charles), as an overseer. In the spring of 1861 he returned to Memphis and enlisted as first lieutenant of Company A, Third Regiment Tennessee Cavalry, and on the promotion of Gen. Forrest to command he was unanimously elected as captain of his company to fill the vacancy, serving as such to the end of the war, taking part in all the exciting battles under that famous general. While serving as general he was wounded by a minie ball, and though this was only a flesh-wound, a deep scar will ever remain to tell the tale. At the surrender of Gen. Forrest, Capt. Evans took the old company and went to Mississippi, without having surrendered, and disbanded his company in Mississippi.
He then returned to Arkansas, in 1865, and located in what is now the town of Mount Vernon, taking an active part in the clearing of the town site of that place. After renting land, farming and horse-trading for one year, he moved to Johnson County, where he also continued the business of farming and horse-trading, the latter occupation taking him into the Indian Nation, where he bought horses and drove them back to Arkansas, here disposing of them. In the fall of 1871 he came to Conway (now Faulkner) County, and established himself as a merchant at what was then, and is still, called Cadron Gap, supplying the men then engaged in building the Fort Smith & Little Rock Railroad. He homesteaded forty acres of land, to which he subsequently added, and also carried on business there about two years with good success.
In 1872 he was married to Miss Martha Ann Satterfield, a native of Georgia, whose parents came to Arkansas at an early period. By that marriage two children are still living: William Thomas Evans (born April 10, 1874), and Edward Job Evans (born February 9, 1876). During the winter of 1878-79 Mr. and Mrs. Evans made a trip to Georgia to visit her aged grandparents, Satterfield, the grandfather being nearly one hundred years old. The following summer (August 13, 1879), Mrs. Evans died and was buried in Stone Cemetery, in Faulkner County, Ark. She was a faithful member of the Missionary Baptist Church.
The 160 acres of land owned by Capt. Evans on the northeast section of Section 36, and also the forty-acre homestead, on Section 12, he cleared and improved, and in 1876 sold the forty, then clearing about 100 acres on Section 36, where he erected a good dwelling, two tenant houses, barns, etc. In 1880 Capt. Evans, with his two little boys, made a trip to Texas to visit his sister, Mrs. Martha Thompson, and tarried about eight months, and on May 9, 1881, was united in marriage to Miss M. Hovis, a daughter of Mr. Archie C. and Savila (Wilson) Hovis. By this union seven children were born (four of whom are still living): Ira, Lee (twins, now deceased), John Calvin, Henry Alvin, Lula Hazeltine, and Luella.
On November 10, 1888, Capt. Evans purchased a farm of 320 acres, 100 of which are now under cultivation, and on this he resides at the present time, owning all told 480 acres, 160 under cultivation. He has usually bought his horses and mules, but has raised and sold cattle and hogs quite extensively. The Captain and Mrs. Evans are members of the Baptist Church, and he was made a Mason in Green Grove Lodge No. 107 (to which he still belongs): Col. Clifton being Master at the time of his initiation. Capt. Evans is, and always has been, a liberal contributor to all religious, social, and educational enterprises. A fact that speaks well for him is that he was never implicated in a lawsuit or anything of the kind. A peaceable and good citizen, he commands the respect of all who know him.