Persona

Evans, John, 1867-1958

John Evans can best be described as a reformer who wanted to rectify many of the evils of the capitalist system. He was born in Rhayader, Radnorshire, Wales on 25 June 1867, and emigrated to Canada in 1890. He took up farming in the Saskatoon area and by 1907 his experiences had turned him into an advocate for the cause of the Western Canadian farmer. He quickly rose to executive positions in a number of farmer organizations: President of the Saskatchewan Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Co.; Director of the Saskatchewan Co-operative Elevator Co.; Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Grain Growers; Association; and President of the United Farmers of Canada, Saskatchewan Section. He also entered the political arena. As a member of the Progressive Party he was elected to the House of Commons for Saskatoon in 1921. He was re-elected in the General Elections of 1925 for Rosetown. Upon the break-up of the Progressive Party in the late 1920s, he became an active candidate in the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation, however, he was never to gain re-election to the House of Commons. John Evans died in 1958.