After graduating from Washington College, he became a teacher in
Louisiana until the
American Civil War broke out. Evans returned to Virginia, although his hometown had become part of the newly formed state of
West Virginia (which was admitted to the
Union), he enlisted in the
1st Virginia Infantry of the
Confederate Army. serving in that role until 1902. After the death of
John J. Valentine Sr. in December 1901, Evans served as acting president until he was formally elected to succeed Valentine as
president of the
Wells Fargo Express Company in October 1902. Harriman had a large influence over the financial policy of the company as one of its largest shareholders, and staunchly supported Evans during a 1906 stockholder fight over a more liberal distribution of earnings. After Harriman's death in 1909, however, the company increased its capital from $8,000,000 to $24,000,000 paying stockholders a 300% dividend. ==Personal life==