Walter Evans (American politician)
Encyclopedia
Walter Evans was a U.S. Representative
from Kentucky
, nephew of Burwell Clark Ritter.
, Evans attended the public schools near Harrodsburg, Kentucky
. He moved to Hopkinsville
, Christian County
, where he served as deputy county clerk in 1859. He was a captain in the Union Army
1861-1863. He served as deputy and later as chief clerk of the circuit court.
in 1864. He commenced practice in Hopkinsville, and served as delegate to the Republican National Convention
s in 1868, 1872, 1880, and 1884. Evans was elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives
in 1871 and to the Kentucky Senate
in 1873. He moved to Louisville, Kentucky
in 1874, where he continued the practice of law. He was an unsuccessful candidate for election in 1876 to the Forty-fifth Congress
. He was the Republican
nominee for Governor of Kentucky
in 1879, but lost to Luke P. Blackburn
. He was appointed by President Chester A. Arthur
as Commissioner of Internal Revenue
May 21, 1883, and served until April 20, 1885, when he returned to Louisville and resumed the practice of law.
to the Fifty-fourth
and Fifty-fifth
Congresses (March 4, 1895-March 3, 1899). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1898 to the Fifty-sixth Congress
.
on March 3, 1899, to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Kentucky vacated by John W. Barr. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
on March 3, 1899, and received commission the same day. Evans's service was terminated on July 1, 1901, due to reassignment to another court. On July 1, 1901 Evans was reassigned to the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
. He served in this capacity until his death at his home in Louisville, Kentucky
, December 30, 1923. He was interred in Cave Hill Cemetery.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, nephew of Burwell Clark Ritter.
Early life
Born near Glasgow, KentuckyGlasgow, Kentucky
Glasgow is a city in and the county seat of Barren County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 14,200 at the 2000 census. The city is well-known for its annual Scottish Highland Games. In 2007, Barren County was named the number one rural place to live by Progressive Farmer magazine...
, Evans attended the public schools near Harrodsburg, Kentucky
Harrodsburg, Kentucky
Harrodsburg is a city in and the county seat of Mercer County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 8,014 at the 2000 census. It is the oldest city in Kentucky.-History:...
. He moved to Hopkinsville
Hopkinsville, Kentucky
Hopkinsville is a city in Christian County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 31,577 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Christian County.- History :...
, Christian County
Christian County, Kentucky
Christian County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1797. As of 2000, its population was 72,265. Its county seat is Hopkinsville, Kentucky...
, where he served as deputy county clerk in 1859. He was a captain in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
1861-1863. He served as deputy and later as chief clerk of the circuit court.
Early career
Evans read law and was admitted to the barAdmission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in 1864. He commenced practice in Hopkinsville, and served as delegate to the Republican National Convention
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
s in 1868, 1872, 1880, and 1884. Evans was elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives
Kentucky House of Representatives
The Kentucky House of Representatives is the lower house of the Kentucky General Assembly. It is composed of 100 Representatives elected from single-member districts throughout the Commonwealth. Not more than two counties can be joined to form a House district, except when necessary to preserve...
in 1871 and to the Kentucky Senate
Kentucky Senate
The Kentucky Senate is the upper house of the Kentucky General Assembly. The Kentucky Senate is composed of 38 members elected from single-member districts throughout the Commonwealth. There are no term limits for Kentucky Senators...
in 1873. He moved to Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
in 1874, where he continued the practice of law. He was an unsuccessful candidate for election in 1876 to the Forty-fifth Congress
45th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:-Leadership:-Senate:*President: William A. Wheeler *President pro tempore: Thomas W. Ferry -House of Representatives:*Speaker: Samuel J. Randall -Members:This list is arranged by chamber, then by state...
. He was the Republican
Republican Party of Kentucky
The Republican Party of Kentucky is the affiliate of the Republican Party in Kentucky and follows its nationally established platform. Headquarters for the party have been established in Frankfort, Kentucky.-Emergence and relevancy:...
nominee for Governor of Kentucky
Governor of Kentucky
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky is the head of the executive branch of government in the U.S. state of Kentucky. Fifty-six men and one woman have served as Governor of Kentucky. The governor's term is four years in length; since 1992, incumbents have been able to seek re-election once...
in 1879, but lost to Luke P. Blackburn
Luke P. Blackburn
Luke Pryor Blackburn was a physician, philanthropist, and politician from the US state of Kentucky. He was elected the 28th governor of Kentucky, serving from 1879 to 1883. Until the election of Ernie Fletcher in 2003, Blackburn was the only physician to serve as governor of Kentucky...
. He was appointed by President Chester A. Arthur
Chester A. Arthur
Chester Alan Arthur was the 21st President of the United States . Becoming President after the assassination of President James A. Garfield, Arthur struggled to overcome suspicions of his beginnings as a politician from the New York City Republican machine, succeeding at that task by embracing...
as Commissioner of Internal Revenue
Commissioner of Internal Revenue
The Commissioner of Internal Revenue is the head of the Internal Revenue Service , a bureau within the United States Department of the Treasury.The office of Commissioner was created by Congress by the Revenue Act of 1862...
May 21, 1883, and served until April 20, 1885, when he returned to Louisville and resumed the practice of law.
Congressional career
Evans was elected as a RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to the Fifty-fourth
54th United States Congress
- House of Representatives :-Leadership:- Senate :* President: Adlai E. Stevenson * President pro tempore: William P. Frye - Majority leadership :* Republican Conference Chairman: John Sherman- Minority leadership :...
and Fifty-fifth
55th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:* Republican: 206 * Democratic: 124* Populist: 22* Silver Republican: 3* Silver: 1* Independent Republican: 1TOTAL members: 357-Leadership:-Senate:* President: Garret Hobart * President pro tempore: William P...
Congresses (March 4, 1895-March 3, 1899). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1898 to the Fifty-sixth Congress
56th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:- Leadership :- Senate :* President: Garret Hobart , until November 21, 1899 , vacant thereafter.* President pro tempore: William P. Frye * Democratic Caucus Chairman: James K. Jones...
.
Judgeship
Evans was nominated by President William McKinleyWilliam McKinley
William McKinley, Jr. was the 25th President of the United States . He is best known for winning fiercely fought elections, while supporting the gold standard and high tariffs; he succeeded in forging a Republican coalition that for the most part dominated national politics until the 1930s...
on March 3, 1899, to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Kentucky vacated by John W. Barr. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on March 3, 1899, and received commission the same day. Evans's service was terminated on July 1, 1901, due to reassignment to another court. On July 1, 1901 Evans was reassigned to the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
The United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky is the federal district court for the western part of the state of Kentucky....
. He served in this capacity until his death at his home in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
, December 30, 1923. He was interred in Cave Hill Cemetery.