The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-08-20


Genial, kindly, accommodating John
Walton, handicapped BY and suffering
from an unfortunate allment for many
years, is no more. His familiar figure
will not be Seen again in the circui:
clerks ONCE in the court house, where
he has seen constant service for nearly
sixteen years. The legal fraternity will
mourn his demise with even greater un-
animlty than the general public, for the
deceased's long experience IN the cir
cult court office gave to him an &C.
quaintance with It's affairs possessed by
no other man in the county.
Mr.. Walton has recently been su1er,
ing from an ailment OF the stomach, ana
about ten days ago went to Cambridge
boro with the hope that the waters
there would bring about at least partial
recovery. Unfortunately this hope was
not realized, and Mr.. Walton returned
from the Pennsylvania resort on Wed-
nesday O very sick man. He has since
been confined to his home on the Island
and although It was known that MS III
ness was severe, 1t was not generally
known that he was so III. Yesterday
morning he began to sink and the emo
came at o'clock in the afternoon.
The funeral Is TO occur on sunday
with the lnterment at Peninsular GEM
etery.
county. Ohio, his birthplace being
Woodsfield. He was born on Christmas
day in 1874. He received q good COM
mon school education at his native
town, and in his boVhood became a
printers apprentice. Before the war he
found employment on several newspa-
pers, and at the outbreak OF the war
was a reporter on Pittsburgh paper.
When Sumter surrendered to Beaure-
gard the nation was Inhamed north and
south, from ocean to ocean, and John
Walton was among the first to enlist for
the defense Of the Union. He went into
the volunteer service as a private IN
Company c, OF the TWenty-fifth Ohio
Volunteer Infantry In 1861, although on
ly seventeen years Of age. His record
was one OF ,gallantry and ability
throughout. He ultimately rose to the
rank OF first lieutenant and became ad-
jutnnt OF the regiment, a postion IN
which his talents were at once recog-
nized. The regiment was at one time q
part Of the Army OF West Virginia, and
saw service in the Valley OF Virginia.
Mr., Walton fought at Bull Run, Cham
celIorsville, Antletam, Gettysburg. and
other famous battles OF the Army OF the
Potomac, and It was at Gettysburg
that he was severely wounded.
Through occupying the office OF adju-
tant, Lieutenant Walton became ac-
auaInted with many OF the general OF
ficers Of the army, including Siegel'
schurz, Mcclellan, Meade Hancock
and others. He was an admlrer OF Carl
Schurz (now the editor OF Harper's
Weekly, and has often told OF an In
cldent during the battle Of Chancellors-
Vile, In which General Schurz, who was
foremost in the line OF battle. came to
Lieutenant Walton for q drink OF the
apple Jack" which the general knew he
had in his canteen.
After the war Mr.. Walton returned to
Ohio and later became resident OF
wheeling. He first held public offics as
a deputy under Circuit Clerk Samuel
McColloch sixteen years ago, when the
county's home was In the old court
house. at the corner OF Chapllne and
Twelfth streets. When Major John w,
Mitchell, since deceased, became clerk
of the circuit court, Mr.. Walton was his
deputy and continued with him 10 the
time Of Major MItchell's demise In 1886,
Mr.. Walton knew the circuit court Of
fee 0s no other man knows II, so 1t was
not surprising that the circuit judges
chose him as the successor OF Major
! Mitchell for the unexplred term ending
| In January, 1897. Mr. Walton became a
candidate for the Democratic nominal
tlon in 1895, but was defeated at the
primaries by John A. White on n close
vote. It was a tribute to the ability OF
the deceased that he was found to be
indispensable in the conduct OF the Of
flee when the present incumbent,
Charles II. Henning, assumed Office
early in 1897.
Mr.. Walton was thrice married. and
leaves widow and two children, French
Walton, a reporter on the News stan,
and Mrs. Lottle Walton Campbell, OF
this city.