St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1901-04-17
VERMONT NEWS.
Meath of Col. AIdace IF. Walker.


outs best known sons, died suddenly
:, Nv New York Sunday morning. He was
10 have sailed for Europe on that day.
E ~ Walker has been a prominent figure
=, ~ Vermont life since 1862 in which year
I he graduated from Middlebury College
=, he uniform of first lieutenant, hay
y; ;na =, hit a few days before been chosen for
tps nosition in Co. B, 18th Vermont
rr r His army record is a good
o on He was promoted regularly and on
LINE oath, 1864, when but little more
l4han % years of age he was major and
oD vpar later was brevetted lieut.. colonel
toy gallantry in battle. Later he pub.
rsbfd an interesting book OF reminiscent
r,s, entitled "The Vermont Brigade in the
Shenandoah Valley" Of his career the
Springfield Republican says editorially:
The sudden death of Aldace F. Walker
takes away a man OF prominence in the
abroad world and lawyer of high at
ts;nments. He is best known as one OF
the original members of the interstate
commerce commission, who, with Judge
Cooley. had most to do with putting the
;mnortant federal legislation of 1887into
working order; later as the choice of
large railroad interests to manage the
trnnk.line traffic association, known as
The "gentIemens agreement; and more
recently receiver and then chairman Of
the board of directors of the Atchison
railway system. Mr.. Walker was sue
cpssful in all these different employments,
nroving him to be man of large and
varied ability. He was native of Rut-
land, VT, born in 1912, the only son of
congregational clergyman, and gradu-
ated from Middebury college in 1862.
xxx At the close of the war
Col. Walker studied law in New York
city and practiced there some time, later
removing to his native place, where he
became prominent in railway litigation,
and as counsel for the Vermont and Can
ada road he made anotable fight against
the Smith or Central Vermont ring in it's
efforts to swallow the former line with.
out paying anything for it. 1t was at
Rutland practicing law that President
Cleveland found him when the duty
arose OF making up the commission to
administer the interstate commerce act.
Col. Walker was one Of the two republi-
cans chosen, was highly Endorsed at the
time and amply proved the fitness OF the
appointment. The big railroad interests
Of the country very soon thereafter dis
covered his capacity and managed there
after to appropriate his services. He was
friend of Senator Edmunds who doubt
less was influential in drawing Mr..
Cleveland's attention to him. He was at
one time a member of the Vermont SEN
ateand shaped the legislation creating the
state railroad commission. Col. Walker
was man of large frame, six feet tall,
broad.s houldered and stout of figure,
and it was said at the time that in point
ofappearance at least he would be taken
as the head of the interstate commission.
Ever since his appointment to that posi-,
ton he had been an occasional contribu
tor to magazines on railway and other
subjects, his latest article relating to the
isthmian canal project.
The funeral was held at Rutland Mon
day and was one of the largest ever
known in the state. Among the honor
airy pail bearers were several prominent
in the state and railroad affairs.
Death of Old vermOnters in California.
The San Francisco Chronicle of March
81 contains announcements of the death
Of Horatio NJ Templeton, March 20,
and that of Leander G. Cole. March 80.
These men were natives ofVermont. Mr..
Templeton was a son of the late Horatio
Templeton OF Worcester. Three sisters
are living in the latter place, brother
in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and an
other in Omaha, Nebraska.
Mr.. Cole formerly lived up the Branch.
OF him the Chronicle says; Cole came
to California from his native state, Yer
mont, in 1851. For time he engaged
in mining and was fairly successful, but
in 1860 he went to Australia, where he
secured government contracts for carry
ing mail and express matter over the
stage lines which he established and
which he managed for ten years, amass-
ing "a large fortune. Returning to America
in 1870 he took up his residence in this
city and began specializing in real estate.
de died possessed of considerable for
tune. Several years ago he had stroke
OF paralysis, and since that time he has
attended to little or no business. He
partly recovered from his first stroke and
hope was entertained that he would
entirely recover, when the second shock
came and rendered him perfectly bel pless.
FOR the past few weeks his death has
oeen expected at almost any time. In
the early seventies Cole took quite an
active interest in politics and was elected
10 serve one term as member of the
city council but politics was not to his
liking and he refused denomination.
de leaves no relatives on this coast
except brother, Daniel T. Cole, who for
many years has been the chief coiner in
tne San Francisco mint, and an adopted
daughter, the wife of Douglas Tilden, the
We'll known sculptor.
Frank A. Miller not Guilty.
The case OF Frank Miller of Mortified
charged with the murder OF Seth John
son which began on Monday OF last
week at Montpelier, was abruptly term
mated Friday by the &C ion of States At
torney Hoar who ADDRESSED the court
ana asked the jury to return verdict Of
not guilty. This was done and Miller
was discharged. The evidence in the
case was entirely circumstantial and so
mHeagre that the state gave up the case.
Seth Jones was stone cutter whose
9oody was found in the Winooski river at
montpelier last June. Foul play was
suspected and after time Frank Miller
was arrested, charged with the crime.
IN the trial States Attorney Hoar was
assisted by Hon. Frank Plumley, and the
ue'ence was in the hands of John H.
oenter and Hiram A. Huse.
Vermont ACademy's 25th Anniversary.