Dudley Evans (businessman) facts for kids

Colonel 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 at Wells Fargo. He served as the president of Wells Fargo Co. from 1902 until his death in 1910.

Dudley Evans's Early Life

Dudley Evans was born in Morgantown, Virginia on January 27, 1838. This area is now known as Morgantown, West Virginia. His family came from Wales and first settled in Virginia in 1683.

When he was fifteen, Dudley Evans started studying at Monongahela Academy. He then graduated from Washington College in 1859.

Dudley Evans's Career

After college, Dudley Evans worked as a teacher in Louisiana. This was until the American Civil War began.

Military Service During the Civil War

Evans returned to Virginia when the war started. Even though his hometown became part of the new state of West Virginia, he joined the Confederate Army. He was part of the 1st Virginia Infantry.

He fought throughout the war. In 1862, after the Battle of Seven Pines, he became a Captain. Later, after the Valley of Virginia campaign, he was promoted to Colonel of the 20th Virginia Cavalry. Near the end of the war, he was captured and held in a Federal prison.

While serving in the military, he was also elected to the Virginia House of Delegates twice. This meant he helped make laws for Virginia during the war.

Leading Wells Fargo

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

In the late 1880s, his responsibilities grew. By 1892, he was a manager and then elected Second Vice President. He held this role until 1902. When the president, John J. Valentine Sr., passed away in 1901, Evans became the acting president. He was officially elected president of the Wells Fargo Express Company in October 1902.

Besides leading the Express Company, he also held other important positions. He was president of the Wells Fargo Bank of New York. He was also a director for other banks and companies.

Dudley 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 was along the Pacific coast and in Mexico. Harriman had a big say in Wells Fargo's money decisions. He was one of the largest shareholders. He strongly supported Evans during a disagreement in 1906 about how to share company earnings.

After Harriman died in 1909, Wells Fargo made a big change. The company increased its capital from $8 million to $24 million. They also paid stockholders a large dividend.

Dudley Evans's 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

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

Dudley Evans's Grandchildren

Through his son Stanley, Dudley Evans had a grandson also named Dudley Evans (1918–1993). This grandson graduated from Princeton University. He married Carolyn Campbell Ingraham in 1945.