Dudley Evans (Wells Fargo) facts for kids

Dudley Evans (born January 27, 1838 – died March 27, 1910) was an important American figure. He was a soldier, a lawmaker, and a top leader in banking. He served as the president of Wells Fargo Company from 1902 until he passed away in 1910.

Early Life and Education

Dudley Evans was born on January 27, 1838, in Morgantown, Virginia. This area is now known as Morgantown, West Virginia. His family came from Wales and first settled in Virginia in 1683. Before the American Revolution, his family moved to a part of Virginia that later became West Virginia.

When he was fifteen, Evans attended Monongahela Academy. He then graduated from Washington College in 1859.

Military and Political Career

After college, Evans worked as a teacher in Louisiana. But when the American Civil War began, he returned to Virginia. Even though his hometown was now part of the new state of West Virginia, he joined the Confederate Army.

Evans fought throughout the war. He became a Captain after the Battle of Seven Pines in 1862. Later, he was made a Colonel of the 20th Virginia Cavalry. Near the end of the war, he was captured and spent time in a Federal prison. While serving in the military, he was also elected to the Virginia Legislature two times.

Business Leadership

After the Civil War, Evans moved west to California. He started working for Wells Fargo, a famous express and banking company. He worked in different places, including Vancouver, British Columbia, and Portland, Oregon. He became a Superintendent, overseeing Wells Fargo operations in the Northwestern states.

Rising Through Wells Fargo

In the late 1880s, Evans's responsibilities grew. By 1892, he became a manager and was elected Second Vice President. He held this role until 1902. After the death of the previous president, John J. Valentine Sr., Evans became the acting president. In October 1902, he was officially elected as the president of the Wells Fargo Express Company.

Besides leading the Express Company, Evans held other important positions. He was president of the Wells Fargo Bank of New York. He was also a director at Mercantile Trust Company and the Citizens' National Bank of Englewood, New Jersey. He was also involved with mining and other banking companies.

Working with Railroads

Evans was a close friend of E. H. Harriman, a powerful railroad executive. Evans made sure Wells Fargo's express lines worked closely with Harriman's Southern Pacific Railroad. This partnership covered the Pacific coast and Mexico. Wells Fargo even took over the express business on all Mexican railway lines controlled by the Mexican Government.

Harriman had a big impact on Wells Fargo's financial decisions because he owned a lot of its shares. He strongly supported Evans during a disagreement in 1906 about how much money to give back to shareholders. After Harriman died in 1909, Wells Fargo increased its capital significantly.

Family Life

Dudley Evans married Nellie Seelye, who was from New Brunswick, Canada. They had two children together:

• Stanley Seelye Evans (born 1886)
• Clarice Evans

Evans passed away at Roosevelt Hospital in New York City on March 27, 1910. His wife, Nellie, died in 1929.