The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-08-13
DEATH OF J.B. WALDEN
Former City Treasurer Expired Last
Night.
HAD CHECKERED CAREER
PASSED FROM WEALTH TO DEEP
PERJURY.
Came Here as Young Travelling
Salesman and Rapidly Worked
His Way Up to a High Place
His Election to the Treasurership
the Cause of His Fall.

his Election to the IreaSurerSnlp
the Cause of His Fall.
Joseph e. Walden, who but a few
years since was recognized as one of
Salt Lakes most capable and success
full business men. died of acute alco-
holism at the Kelley institute shortly
after o'clock last night. Walden
died penniless and unless friends come
to the rescue his body may be laid in a
pauper grave.
In his comparatively short existence
he was only Sc years old-Joe Walden
tasted the best that life can give. The
bitterness came, too, and the dregs were
at his lips when he was summoned
across the dark river.
Few young men have started in the
world with brighter prospects than the
man who died in poverty last night.
Few have looked upon a fairer dawn
ing of LIES sun, few have seen a darker
setting. Walden was born i'll New
Liberty, Ky, April 9, 1855. His father
was J. c. Walden, a Virginia gentle
man and a minister of the Christian
church. On his mothers side ne was
descended from the Winstons, one of
the proudest families in the blGe grass
state.
First Great Misfortune.
The first great misfortune that befel
Joe Walden was the death of his
mother. although he was then too
was still an infant. The boy grew up
as fine and talented a young fellow as
ever went out of Kentucky in quest of
fame and fortune. At IS years of age
he was travelling salesman for Samuel
Cupples, 4 woodenware manufacturer
of st. Louis.
He was drawing a salary of $3.50 per
month when he came to Salt Lake six
teen years ago in this capacity. 1t was
big pay for so young a man, but Wal
den had demonstrated his capacity and
was able to earn every dollar of it. He
saved his money, and it wasn't long be-
fore he launched out on his own ac-
count under the firm name of Walden
q Pavey in the willow and woodenware
business.
Prosperous times followed Money
flowed into the Golfers of the institu-
ton and Walden came to be looked on
as one of the most sagacious and far
sighted business men in Salt Lake
Things were coming Walden's way in a
style calculated to turn the heads of
most men.
Nominated For Treasurer.
In 1890 the Liberal campaign was
started. The committee in charge of
the movement sifted the field of avail
able timber very closely in order to
find candidates who could poll the
needed votes. Walden was settled on
as the ideal candidate for treasurer He
was only y, but his shrewdness in bus
mess, coupled with his popularity with
all classes of people, made him both
the natural and the logical choice.
1t was an evil moment for Joe Wal
den when he agreed to become a candi-
date. By nature companionable, gen
ial fellow. he thought it his duty to
become more so. He became "one of
the boys" and little by little acquired
the habit of drinking. The habit be-
came disease. Walden was elected
treasurer, but it was as dearly bought
an office as ever fell to any man. He
gave up his woodenware business in
order that he might have more time to
attend to his treasureship.
He made a good treasurer-nobody
Will deny that His books and accounts
were kept in the most accurate and
methodical manner. They balanced to
penny, and to his administration of a
public trust Walden brought the same
talent he had evidenced in private life.
Still a Good Fellow"
But when his term expired, he was
still a good fellow" He was good to
everybody but himself. and before he
realized it. his fortune had slipped
away. II was all gone in a few wears
of good fellowship and Walden was as
penniless as when he left his old Ken
lucky home. \ year ago he went to
Soda Springs. Ida. where he worked
in a mercantile establishments.
Still he could not overcome his ap-
petite for whisky Three DAYS ago he
came to Salt Lake in the last stages
of alcoholism, to take treatment at the
Kelley institute. His condition was
such that he could not be treated at
once. and DR.. +. s. Wright was try
ing to prepare him for the course 1t
was too late. He grew gradually worse
until the end came last night, as
stated.
There is another side to Joe Wal
den's life history. In a little cottage
at 269 East Second South street. a wo-
man whose face bore marks of care
and suffering, told it. In the early
days of his prosperity, Walden met
Miss Augusta Baker. The warm
friendship that followed became love-
and after a brief courtship. the couple !
were married. Walden installed his |
bride in d handsome home and sur
rounded her with all the comforts and |
luzuries OF life.
Happy Home Wrecked.
When she wanted to drive she used |
her own carriage. Servants were pro- |
vided TO attend to her most trivial /
wants and there seemed not a cloud /
on the horizon of her future Into this |
lOve-lit home after a time children |
We're born. The oldest today is Louise. |
II years of age; Forrest is - and Mar
Saret. the baby. is s. Happy in the de- /
VotiOn Of her husband and the cling
ing affection of her children. Mrs.
Walden counted herself one of the most
blest of women.
She told the story last night, her
voice breaking at the memory of those
old Joyous days. II broke again when
she spoke of what followed them; of
the disease that fastened itself uDon
her loVer-husband: Of the rapid dwin-
ding Of their fortune. For months
Mrs. Walden has been supporting her
self and her children by baking cakes
and confectionery. Her hands are
hardened by the toll and there are lines
in her face that speak pathetically of
the hardship she has undergone.
y year ago. Mrs. Walden was forced
10 leave her husband. His habits had
become such that she could no longer
live with him. Then she secured a di-