Walter Evans (American politician)

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Walter Evans (September 18, 1842 - December 30, 1923) was a U.S. Representative from Kentucky, nephew of Burwell Clark Ritter.

Born near Glasgow, Kentucky, Evans attended the public schools near Harrodsburg, Kentucky. He moved to Hopkinsville, Christian County. Deputy county clerk in 1859. He served as a captain in the Union Army 1861-1863. He served as deputy and later as chief clerk of the circuit court. He studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1864 and commenced practice in Hopkinsville. He served as delegate to the Republican National Conventions in 1868, 1872, 1880, and 1884.

Evans was elected to the State house of representatives in 1871 and to the State senate in 1873. He moved to Louisville, Kentucky, in 1874 and continued the practice of law. He was an unsuccessful candidate for election in 1876 to the Forty-fifth Congress. He served as Republican nominee for Governor in 1879. He was appointed by President 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.

Evans was elected as a Republican 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. He was appointed by President McKinley judge of the District Court of the United States for the District of Kentucky March 4, 1899, and served until his death at his home in Louisville, Kentucky, December 30, 1923. He was interred in Cave Hill Cemetery.