William D. Evans (1908 - 1934)

Served on the Iowa Supreme Court for more than a quarter of a century, from September 17, 1908, when he was appointed to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Justice Charles A. Bishop, until December 31, 1934. For four years he was Chief Justice.

Born in Marquette County, Wisconsin, May 10, 1852, he migrated with the family to Williamsburg, Iowa, in 1858. He attended the University of Iowa where he was graduated from the Law Department in 1879; however, his early ventures were in teaching before turning to the practice of law at Hampton. In 1902 he was elected Judge of the District Court where he continued to serve until coming on the Supreme Court. His career of more than twenty-six years on the Supreme Court was the longest in the history of the state until surpassed in 1969 by Justice Garfield.

He wrote more than two thousand opinions while on the court that serve as a monument to his character and profound knowledge of the law.

Justice Evans died at Hampton May 4, 1936.