Henry Clay EVANS, Congress, TN (1843-1921)

EVANS Henry Clay , a Representative from Tennessee; born in Juniata County, Pa., June 18, 1843; moved to Wisconsin in 1844, with his parents, who settled in Platteville, Grant County; attended the common schools and a business school in Madison; was graduated from a business training school at Chicago in 1861; enlisted on May 6, 1864, as a corporal in Company A, Forty-first Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry and served until September 24, 1864; settled in Chattanooga, Tenn., in 1870 and engaged in the manufacture of freight cars; elected mayor in 1881, serving two terms; organized the public-school system of Chattanooga and served as first school commissioner; elected as a Republican to the Fifty-first Congress (March 4, 1889-March 3, 1891); unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1890 to the Fifty-second Congress; First Assistant Postmaster General 1891-1893; elected Governor of Tennessee in 1894 on the face of the returns, but a legislative recount rejected certain votes and declared his Democratic opponent, Peter Turney, elected; appointed Commissioner of Pensions April 1, 1897, and served until May 13, 1902, when he resigned to enter the diplomatic service; appointed United States consul general to London, England, May 9, 1902, retiring in 1905; chosen commissioner of health and education of Chattanooga in 1911; died in Chattanooga, Tenn., December 12, 1921; interment in Forest Hill Cemetery, St. Elmo, Chattanooga, Tenn.

Bibliography

Seehorn, John B. ``The Life and Public Career of Henry Clay Evans.'' Master's thesis, University of Tennessee, 1970.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present