Anna Evelyn Binks

Cleburne & Anna Evelyn

(For Anna's early life, see biography of her father, Alfred John Binks)

Anna (known as Evelyn, or 'Eve') was born on October 15, 1899 in Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.A.

She spent 1909-1918 in Australia, and after the death of their father, Alfred John Binks (in 1913) she and her sisters spent the rest of their time in Australia in an orphanage until safe transit could be arranged for them to return to the USA after WW1.

The story goes that Anna Evelyn wrote, explaining the predicament, to their Aunt Sarah (Boswell) in Fort Worth. As the Boswell family were quite well known in that state, the letter found it's way without a complete address.

On March 2, 1918, the girls set sail on HMS Katoomba from East Fremantle, Australia. On March 6, 1918 they arrived at 12:30pm in Adelaide where they were met by cousins Mr & Mrs Cecil H. Walters (Christiana Jubilee Binks) who lived at Rose Park in Adelaide. Other cousins were also there.

On March 7, 1918 they departed Adelaide at 4pm on HMS Katoomba arriving in Melbourne, Australia on March 9th. They continued to Sydney and boarded the ship, 'Samona' arriving in San Fransico, USA on April 1, 1918. By June 8, 1918 they were living with their Grandmother (Boswell) in Fort Worth, Texas.

Evelyn began work at Fort Worth Telephone exchange on August 31, 1918.

She married Cleburne Burtrain Williams (born September 1, 1899, Whitewright, Texas) on June 15, 1919 at St Andrew's Church, Fort Worth, Texas.

Cleburne and Eve's first child, Earle M. Williams was born July 31, 1920 in Fort Worth, Texas but died June 21, 1922 from cancer. Their second child was Carl Burton Williams, born September 4, 1922 in Fort Worth. Carl was affectionately known as 'C.B. Jr' and the family migrated to California in 1922.

Their third child, Lorraine Evelyn Williams was born in Monterey Park, California, USA on January 30, 1924.

Tragedy struck when on January 20, 1927 in Monterey Park, Carl was killed when a bus hit Eve's car and was thrown through the windshield and subsequently run over by the bus.

Two more children followed; Darline Ann Williams (born October 12, 1935) and Cleburne Burtrain Williams (Jun), (born Los Angeles, USA, February 12, 1938).

Cleburne & Eve were also foster parents to orphans, Jim & Bill Brown.

Evelyn died of a heart attack at Sierra Vista Hospital 1010 Murray St. San Luis Obispo, California on October 23, 1982.

Husband, Cleburne died at the same hospital on November 1, 1985.

According to Evelyn's obituary, she had 14 grand children and 21 great grand children and was a member of the 'Grandmothers club', an organisation in California.

 

Photo Album

(Click on the thumbnails to view the pictures)

'Evelyn' in Monterrey

Evelyn with first son, Earle

Evelyn with husband Cleburne, daughter Lorraine and (far right) sister Opal

Cleburne......

...and Evelyn later in life

See also scrap book for Alfred John Binks