Ina Della Evans ^{2 3 4}

  General Notes:

By the time of the 1910 census, Ina had borne 4 children with all still living.

Former Resident Buried in N. Mex.
(The following clipping of an article appearing in a Clovis, N. M., newspaper tells of the death of the wife of Frank M. McCasland, former residents here. Both Mr. and Mrs. McCasland finished their school days and were married at Center City. They moved to New Mexico in 1907, but have kept up with their friends here by way of the Eagle since. They have many relatives living here. Present at the funeral were: Mrs. Mable Doggett, a sister, Goldthwaite; Mrs. Lillie Cook, a sister, Fort Worth; brothers, W. B. Evans of Houston and Charlie Evans of Mexia; sister-in-law, Mrs. Carry Evans; Martin Stacy, a brother, and Myra and Mason, sister and husband of Mr. McCasland):

Mrs. Ina McCasland was born August 10, 1844, in Falls County, Texas, and as a young girl moved with her parents to Center City, Tex., near the home of the S. L. McCaslands, parents of Frank McCasland. In the course of time, the young people became acquainted, a romance started and they were married Sept. 5, 1902.

In February, 1907, they and their two daughters, Eda and Leona Bell, moved to New Mexico, then a territory, and filed on a quarter section of land seven miles west and one mile north of Grady. all of their household goods, a wagon, two horses, chickens and one pig were shipped by caravan train to Farwell, Tex., and then the family drove by covered wagon to the tract of land that was to become home. Few people lived in this section of the country at that time.

Rugged Life
During their first two years there was little moisture and farmers had a very short row crop. So did the McCaslands, but the $200 they brought with them lasted. To get their mail they had to go to Bovina, Tex., but later there was a post office located at Puerto, N. M., which was below the caprock. Two boys, Lester and Delma, were born in the two years, 1907 and 1909.

Conditions turned rather gloomy for the couple. McCasland became ill with typhoid fever, and was sick for several weeks. Mrs. McCasland nursed him back to health, however, in addition to taking care of her small children and hauling water.

Staked Future on Well
After McCasland regained his health the couple was faced with a decision to make. They had just enough money left to pay the doctor bill and drill a water well. If they were able to reach water they would be able to stay in New Mexico--if not, they would have to give up the claim and return to Texas.

Luck was with them, and they made a good well. That, they said in later years, was one of the happiest moments of their lives for, although things had been hard at times, they had come to love the country.

Three more children--Mattie Lou, Mildred and Z--were born to the union, but Mildred died in infancy.

Pinch Hit as Doctor
Early in her married life, Mrs. McCasland obtained a medical book--the type that is available and understandable by lawmen--and studied it carefully. With doctors many miles away she was called on by many to help during illnesses, and was never too tired to help day or night.

She was a wonderful wife to her husband, helping him during his many trials and tribulations. In those days there were no men available for hire, and she found it necessary to go to the field to help cultivate and gather the crops in addition to her own nearly all of the clothes for her family.

The McCaslands were ambitious, hard working and conservative, and at the same time they practiced good fellowship and were always willing to lend a hand. They were leaders in the community, always upholding what was right and good. Their home was a stopping place for many people for a night's lodging and food, and Mrs. McCasland became noted for her hospitality and tasty food to friends and strangers alike.

Retired in 1945
In 1945 the couple retired and moved to Clovis, where they lived at 316 Calhoun. The next year they did some traveling going to Texas for several months, and then to California. After a rest they returned to Clovis, where they visited their daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Wells. On the return trip they visited their other two daughters and families Mr. and Mrs. Wesley Henson in Monte vista, Colo., and Mr. and Mrs. Burnell Vick of Springer. They returned just in time to help their son, Deb, who is farming the home place, harvest one of the largest wheat yields of their lives.

While in Clovis, Mrs. McCasland acquired many new friends and March 26, while she and a neighbor, Mrs. Frank Cheney, were on their way to a club meeting, she fell and broke a hip. Her attending physician recommended that she be taken to Albuquerque to a specialist for examination. With her husband ill, Mrs. McCasland was accompanied by her daughter, Mattie Lou, and sons, Lester and Z.

Death Came Quickly
In Albuguerque, X-rays and examinations showed her in condition for an operation, which was successful, and it was thought that it would be only a matter of a few weeks before she could return to her home. However, a blood clot formed on March 29, and it was only a matter of minutes until she was dead.

She was buried in the Clovis cemetery, with five of her grandsons, Gene Pettigrew, Ulric, Eumont, U.V. and Udell Henson, and a nephew, George Elliott Mason, as pallbearers. The flower girls were her six granddaughters, Mrs. Helen Grawburg, Mrs. Marcine Tipton, Mrs. Mary Lou Henson, Elizabeth Pardue, Ethylene McCasland and Mancy Ruth McCasland. Her many, many friends were present to pay their respects.

She was a wonderful wife and mother, and was loved and cherished by all who knew her. She will be missed by her husband, children and friends. ⁵

Ina married Frank Andrew McCasland, son of Samuel Leatherman McCasland and Mattie Jennie Guinn, on 5 Sep 1902 in , Mills County, Texas.¹ (Frank Andrew McCasland was born on 25 Sep 1881 in Texas ^{6 7 8} and died on 23 Sep 1969 in Clovis, Curry County, New Mexico ⁸.)

  Marriage Notes:

J. F. Jones, Justice of the Peace, Pct. 2, performed the marriage ceremony.