Portrait and biographical record of Christian County, Illinois : containing biographical sketches of prominent and   representative citizens, together with biographies of all the Governors of the state, and of the Presidents of the United States.  Chicago, Ill. : Lake City Pub. Co., 1893.  Transcribed and annotated by Judy Rosella Edwards, 2007.

EVAN A. HUMPHREYS, JR., who is engaged in the practice of law in Pana, is one of the public-spirited and progressive citizens of this place and manifests a commendable interest in everything pertaining to the public welfare. The record of his life is as follows, and it is with pleasure that we present it to our readers. He was born in St. Louis, Mo., November 20, 1852, and is a son of Evan A. and Martha J. (Skeen) Humphreys, the former a native of England, and the latter of Kentucky. The paternal grandfather of our subject, also bore the name of Evan A. Humphreys, and he too was born in England. With his family he left the land of his birth and crossed the Atlantic to America, landing in New York. He afterward removed to St. Louis, where he lived for many years, and there followed contracting and building. His death occurred in that city in 1873, when past the age of eighty years. The father of our subject was one of a family of five sons and three daughters. He accompanied his parents to the United States and became a plasterer by trade, which business he has followed throughout the greater part of his life. He is now living retired. Himself and wife are worthy members of the Methodist Church. Unto them have been born nine children, five sons and four daughters, of whom four sons and two daughters are now living, namely: Charles M., Edward D., Evan A., Andrew J., Ella, and Dollie, wife of Henry C. White. We now take up the personal history of our subject, who remained in his native city until six years of age, when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Illinois, the family locating in Jonesboro. From there he went to Carbondale, and in April, 1861, came to Pana, where he has since made his home. The public schools afforded him his educational privileges and he is now a well-informed man. Turning his attention to the legal profession, he began the study of law in 1869, under A. C. McMillan, and was admitted to the Bar in 1873, since which time he has been in active practice. On the 29th of December, 1875, Mr. Humphreys was united in marriage with Mrs. Ann E. McMillan, widow of A. C. McMillan, and a daughter of Charles and Sarah J. (Parker) Barker, natives of New York. Their union has been graced with one child, Arthur. The mother is a member of the Presbyterian Church and is a lady of culture and refinement, who ranks high in social circles. Mr. Humphreys is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, the Knights of Pythias, and the Fraternal Mystic Circle. For about sixteen years he has held the office of City Attorney, his repeated re-elections being a high testimonial to his ability and fidelity. He has a good home and other city property in Pana, where he has now lived for thirty-two years. In politics, he is a supporter of the Democracy. In the line of his profession he has met with success, and his clients are many.

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