OPINION
Bruce Clorfene
Our own John Evans makes the 'all it takes is one' list
The roster of celebrated and gifted men and women who forfeited brilliant careers and lost their chance at even greater fame and accomplishment because of just one bad (read profligate, sordid, fatal, criminal, unfortunate, regretful) incident, goes deep in the annals of American politics, arts, science, business, and sports.
A few unhappy examples:
Benedict Arnold - one act of treason. Aaron Burr - one thrust of a sword.
George Armstrong Custer - one act of hubris.
Shoeless Joe Jackson - one bribe. Robert J. Oppenheimer - one accusation.
Richard M. Nixon - one cover-up. Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle - one wild party.
Gary Hart - one mad dash out the back door.
James Dean - one reckless motorcycle ride.
O.J. Simpson - one night of murder.
Edsel Ford - one lousy car.
Closer to home, and a prime member of the club, was Dr. John Evans, whom we revere as one of the founders of Northwestern University, where he chaired the board of trustees until his death in 1887, and after whom the city of Evanston was named.
EVANS, A remarkable man of many accomplishments, was the second governor of the Colorado Territory from 18621865. In 1838, at age 24, he graduated with an M.D. from Clermont Academy in Ohio. He was instrumental in the creation of Indiana's first insane asylum and school for the deaf. He moved to Chicago where he helped found Mercy Hospital, edited the Medical and Surgical Journal, got a professorship at Rush Medical College, and founded the Illinois Medical Society.
Investments made him not only wealthy but allowed him to become politically influential. By 1852 he was on the Chicago City Council and founded the Illinois Republican Party where he not only ran for Congress but also became a close friend of Abraham Lincoln's.
In 1862 Lincoln appointed Evans Territorial Governor of Colorado. With Evans on the bandwagon, federal legislation created the Union Pacific Railroad Company, the first transcontinental railroad.
Another of his accomplishments was the creation of the Denver Methodist Seminary, now Denver University, chairing its board of trustees until he died.
Evans, with Lincoln's support, was on a track to become a leader in the Republican Party.
THEN IT happened. In 1864, the Plains Indians had shut down most of Colorado's overland trails, attacked travelers, and frightened new settlers. After a major encounter with the Southern Cheyenne tribe, and amid peace talks between the army and Chief Black Kettle, Evans launched an Indian-fighting regiment under Col. John Chivington, the Territory's most decorated soldier and a Methodist minister, who was well known for his hatred of Native Americans.
On Nov. 29, 1864, with Evans on a visit to Washington, Chivington shattered the fragile peace by attacking a Cheyenne camp at Sand Creek, killing upwards of 450 women, children, and elderly. The massacre-created a feeling of indignation so strong in the East that it prompted a lengthy congressional investigation. No solid proof was found that Evans ordered the attack or knew of it beforehand. But as a result, he lost his federal appointment as governor.
EVANS CONTINUED to build a railroad empire, amassed great wealth, but his political career was ruined.
Who knows? Evans might have overshadowed Charles Gates Dawes as Evanston's most illustrious citizen. After all, Dawes was only a vice-president under Calvin Coolidge. His greatest accomplishment was composing "It's All In The Game," a Top 40 years later by Engelbert Humperdinck.
All it takes is one.
