William Gray Evans
Encyclopedia
William Gray Evans was the oldest son of Colorado's second territorial governor, John Evans
. William Evans was president of the Denver Tramway
Company. William Evans was born in Evanston
, Illinois in 1855. He moved with his family to Denver, Colorado in 1862 when Abraham Lincoln
appointed his father, John Evans
as Colorado's territorial governor.
In addition to his work with the Denver Tramway
company, William Evans was instrumental in building the Moffat Tunnel
. William Evans worked with David Moffat
in financing the project in New York. William Evans was with David Moffat
at the time of his death in 1911, and the Grand Valley News described Evans as "the mainstay of Mr. Moffat in his railroad building and other enterprises for a number of years." After David Moffat's death, William Evans took over Moffat's positions as president of the Denver, Northwestern & Pacific Railway as well as president of the Colorado-Utah Construction Company. Taking over Moffat's former offices allowed Evans to continue the work the two men had started in negotiating the terms of the Moffat Tunnel
's construction.
William Evans was also influential in Denver politics in the first years of the twentieth century, and counted Denver Mayor Robert W. Speer
and University of Denver chancellor Henry Buchtel among his personal friends.
William Gray Evans' home at 1310 Bannock Street in Denver is now a historic house museum, operated by History Colorado as the Byers-Evans House Museum.
John Evans
- Academics :*Sir John Evans , English archaeologist and geologist*John Davies Evans , English archaeologist specialising in the prehistory of the Mediterranean and Malta, former Director of the Institute of Archaeology, London...
. William Evans was president of the Denver Tramway
Denver Tramway
The Denver Tramway, operating in Denver, Colorado was incorporated in 1886. The tramway was unusual for a number of reasons: the term "tramway" is generally not used in the United States, and it is not known why the company was named as such...
Company. William Evans was born in Evanston
Evanston
Evanston may refer to locations:in Australia:* Evanston, South Australiain Canada:* Evanston, Calgary, a neighbourhood in Calgary, Alberta* Evanston, Nova Scotiain the United States:...
, Illinois in 1855. He moved with his family to Denver, Colorado in 1862 when Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
appointed his father, John Evans
John Evans
- Academics :*Sir John Evans , English archaeologist and geologist*John Davies Evans , English archaeologist specialising in the prehistory of the Mediterranean and Malta, former Director of the Institute of Archaeology, London...
as Colorado's territorial governor.
In addition to his work with the Denver Tramway
Denver Tramway
The Denver Tramway, operating in Denver, Colorado was incorporated in 1886. The tramway was unusual for a number of reasons: the term "tramway" is generally not used in the United States, and it is not known why the company was named as such...
company, William Evans was instrumental in building the Moffat Tunnel
Moffat Tunnel
The Moffat Tunnel is a railroad and water tunnel that cuts through the Continental Divide in north-central Colorado. Named after Colorado railroad pioneer David Moffat, the tunnel's first railroad traffic passed through in February 1928....
. William Evans worked with David Moffat
David Moffat
David Halliday Moffat was an American financier and industrialist.Moffat was one of Denver's most important financiers and industrialists in late 19th and early 20th century Colorado, and he was responsible for the development of the Middle Park area. He served as president, treasurer and as a...
in financing the project in New York. William Evans was with David Moffat
David Moffat
David Halliday Moffat was an American financier and industrialist.Moffat was one of Denver's most important financiers and industrialists in late 19th and early 20th century Colorado, and he was responsible for the development of the Middle Park area. He served as president, treasurer and as a...
at the time of his death in 1911, and the Grand Valley News described Evans as "the mainstay of Mr. Moffat in his railroad building and other enterprises for a number of years." After David Moffat's death, William Evans took over Moffat's positions as president of the Denver, Northwestern & Pacific Railway as well as president of the Colorado-Utah Construction Company. Taking over Moffat's former offices allowed Evans to continue the work the two men had started in negotiating the terms of the Moffat Tunnel
Moffat Tunnel
The Moffat Tunnel is a railroad and water tunnel that cuts through the Continental Divide in north-central Colorado. Named after Colorado railroad pioneer David Moffat, the tunnel's first railroad traffic passed through in February 1928....
's construction.
William Evans was also influential in Denver politics in the first years of the twentieth century, and counted Denver Mayor Robert W. Speer
Robert W. Speer
Robert Walter Speer was elected the mayor of Denver, Colorado three times. He served two four-year terms in office from 1904 to 1912. He died from pneumonia in 1918 while halfway through a third term in office that had started in 1916.-Biography:...
and University of Denver chancellor Henry Buchtel among his personal friends.
William Gray Evans' home at 1310 Bannock Street in Denver is now a historic house museum, operated by History Colorado as the Byers-Evans House Museum.