Lawyers and Lawmakers of Kentucky, by H. Levin, editor, 1897. Published
by Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago.  Reprinted by Southern Historical
Press.  p. 243.  Jefferson County.

WALTER EVANS, of Louisville, was born in Barren County, Kentucky, September
18, 1842, and during his early youth removed to Buena Vista Springs, near
Russellville, Logan county, where, at the age of eight years, he began his
education under the instruction of William A. Washington, a cousin of
America's first president.  He attended school at intervals in Logan, Todd,
and Christian counties, but his advantages in that direction were limited.
He has always been a student, however, and his extensive research into
realms of knowledge has made him a well informed man.
     Mr. Evans began his business career as deputy in the office of the
county clerk in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, in December, 1860, and while thus
engaged devoted his evenings to reading law.  In September, 1861, he
joined the federal army as a member of the Twenty-fifth Kentucky Infantry,
under command of Colonel James M. Shackleford, became second lieutenant
of Company C, and in February, 1862, went with his regiment to Fort Henry
where in the absence of the officers of Company G, he was assigned to its
command.  He commanded the company at the battle of Fort Donelson and was
in the expedition up the Tennessee river to Pittsburg Landing, after which
he resigned.
     In 1864 Mr. Evans was licensed to practice law and was a member of
the Hopkinsville bar until his removal to Louisville in 1874.  In 1871 he
represented Christian county in the legislature and in 1873 was elected to
the senate.  In 1876 he was the Republican nominee for congress, and in
1879 for governor, making a strong canvass and winning votes.  He has
served as delegate to the Republican national conventions in 1868, 1872,
1880 and 1884, and in 1880 was most zealous in support of General Grant
for the presidential nomination, leading his friends that year in Kentucky,
and becoming one of the memorable "306" at the Chicago convention.  In
1883 he was appointed by President Arthur commissioner of internal revenue,
and capably administered the affairs of that important office until
President Cleveland assumed the reins of government in 1885.  Since that
time he has been an active, distinguished and successful member of the
Louisville bar.  In 1891 he opposed with great vigor the adoption of the
new constitution, and his arguments against it attracted wide-spread
attention.  One of the most remarkable political contests that ever
occurred in the Jefferson county district was in 1894, when he became the
candidate of his party for congress.  He made a thorough canvass,
addressing immense crowds everywhere and being received with the wildest
enthusiasm; the district which had previously returned between six and
seven thousand Democratic majority now gave a majority of over four
thousand votes to the Republican candidate, and the whole Republican ticket
was elected, though the other candidates received a much smaller vote than
Mr. Evans, who carried every ward in Louisville and nearly every precinct
in the district.  On the organization of the house in December, 1895,
Speaker Reed appointed Mr. Evans a member of the way and means committee,
a very rare honor for a new member, and Chairman Dingley made him chairman
of the sub-committee on internal revenue.  His labors during the session
were arduous, and he was known as one of the most indefatigable workers in
the house.  On the floor he had charge of several important bills reported
from the committee, and always led the fight to a successful issue.  He was
instrumental in securing the repeal of section 61, of the Wilson tariff
bill, remitting the internal revenue tax on alcohol used in the arts and
manufactures, involving a revenue of ten million dollars per annum.  The
bill passed with a provision for the investigation of the whole subject by
a joint select committee of the two houses, and Speaker Reed placed Mr.
Evans at the head of the house branch of the committee.  Mr. Evans also
introduced a bill to provide for the erection in Washington of a monument
to Abraham Lincoln, of whom he has ever been a most ardent admirer.  He is
a stanch protectionist and sound-money man, and to his advocacy of the gold
standard is due much of the strength of that doctrine in Kentucky.
     In 1896 Mr. Evans was again elected to congress, over ex-Governor
John Young Brown, by a majority of over twelve thousand.  In the contest
for the seat vacated by J. C. S. Blackburn in the United States senate, Mr.
Evans' name is frequently mentioned.  He is a conservative man, safe,
reliable, of unquestioned integrity and high moral character.

Evans Washington
=
Barren-KY Logan-KY Todd-KY Christian-KY

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/jefferson/evans.w.txt