Catherine Mays Darden

DARDEN, CATHERINE MAYS EVANS (1836~1912) Catherine (or Katherine) Mays Evans Darden, wife of Stephen Heard Darden, was born February 13, 1836, in Washington, Arkansas to John Mays, of Prince William County, Virginia, and Ann Dean (Sherlock) Mays, of Bertie County, North Carolina.

In 1845, her family moved to Texas and settled near Seguin, where her father bought lands and built a substantial log home for the family home. Catherine married Joseph L. Evans of San Antonio at Seguin on November 8, 1854, but he died on March 20, 1860, leaving her with three small children. She later met the Honorable Stephen Heard Darden at a ball in the Texas State Capitol.

After a brief courtship, they were married on March 23, 1862, Catherine was his fourth and final wife. They had three children, in addition to the three from her first marriage. Their youngest child died in infancy.

Colonel Darden died on May 16, 1902, but Catherine lived for another ten years and died in Dallas on August 19, 1912. She was laid to rest next to her husband in the Texas State Cemetery.

Information provided by family members.