Mr. Gould was married to Nellie Marietta Burt at Hurley, Wis., March 24, 1889; subsequently he became the husband of Valeska Surratt.
Mr. Gould was born in New York City, May 1, more than forty years ago, but not more than forty-five.
George Evans, famous the country over as the “Honey Boy,” so called from the fact that he was the author of the famous song “I’ll Be True to My Honey Boy,” has the distinction of being one of the youngest minstrel comedians heading his own organization.
His first appearance was at Balser’s Music Hall, Canton, Ohio, in 1891, as a member of the Columbia Quartette; subsequently with Edwin Mayo’s “Silver Age” Company he was one-fourth of the Southern Quartette.
Like many other good performers, Mr. Evans had his experience with medicine shows, one of which was the “East India Moon Plant” Company; he left this organization because he felt that the title of the company was not dignified enough, nor in keeping with his manifold talents.
After some scouting he joined “Bamboo, or the King of Trampiana.” Mr. Evans is not a proud man, but he was sure that his ambitions could be better realized with this show; and he felt so for four days, when the “King of Trampiana” tramped—some place or other, Mr. Evans never exactly found where.
This near-tragedy occurred in St. Louis, Mo., and Mr. Evans soon found himself at the Southern Hotel, in the Mound City. Is there any opening here? quoth our hero; there was; one of the bell hops, having acquired a competence after six consecutive weeks of faithful service, had given notice, and George was installed in his place, and remained—until his uniform had been paid for.
Mr. Evans’ first minstrel engagement was at the Casino, with Haverly, in Chicago, 1892; he remained several weeks, and about January 1, 1893, he joined Cleveland’s Minstrels; subsequently he was with Primrose and West’s Minstrels, and in 1894 he returned under the Haverly banner.
Shortly after this he launched forth as a singing comedian in vaudeville, and as such continued for several years.
In musical comedy he starred in “The Runaways,” and “The Good Old Summer Time,” in which he appeared in white-face.