Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1901-04-19
COL. ALDACE r. WALKER.
Sudden Death Of the Vermonter Who
Won Distinction as a Soldier, Law.
yer, Railroad Manager and Finan.

3
Won Distinction as Soldier, Law.
yer, Railroad Manager and Finan.
cier.
Col. Aldace f. Walker died suddenly
from heart disease at his home i'm New
lorK friday. He broke down in
heath IN December and had planned
10 ieaVe Tor Europe for an extended
vacation ON the day that he died lie
was porn in West Rutland May IL,
1872. ms 1ather, Rev Aidace Walk
err, ID. d.. was a prominent clergy
man Of the congregational denomina-
ton. AluaCe f.. Walker fitted for col
lege at kimball Union academy, enter
ed Middlebury college and graduated
with honors in August, 1862, in the
unlGoim Of a first lieutenant of the
United States army having received
Il commission with the FIRST Regi-
ment OF Vermont heavy artillery, nth
Vermont Volunteers. He went into
service at once with his regiment
lie had abrilliant record, ana was
advanced through the inherent grades
until he held the commission of lieu
| tenant colonel. He participated in the
| principal battles in which the brigade
and the second division of the Sixth
| Army Corps was engaged during the
last year of the war; including Spott-
sylvanla, Cold Harbor, Fishers Island
| and Cedar Creek. He commanded the
|. nth regiment in the battle of Ope-
| quon.
At the close of the war he studied
| law in the Office of Senator George
| f. Edmunds in burlington Tor a year
ana then finished mis- law studies in
| New ork city where he was admit
ted to the bar in 1867. He became
| partner OF the firm of Strong a.
| Shepard in that city and had an i'm
portant business in railroad litigations
| and determinations of land titles
| lhe firm being broken by the death
| OF the senior partner in 1873. Mr.
Walker returned to Rutland and be
came partner in the firm OF Prout
SimOns Il Walker, which was counsel
| for important corporations, including
the Delaware q Hudson canal com
pany, the Vermont q Canada railroad
and the bondholders of the Central
Vermont railroad.
Col Walker was elected state sen
ator by the Republicans of Rutland
county in 1884 and was chairman OF
| the judiciary committee of that body.
| He was selected by President Cleve-
| land as one of the two Republican
members of the Interstate Commerce
commission in 1887; his salary was
| $1,000 per year and the commissioners
charged with the regulation of inter
state transportation throughout the
country. Many novel and intricate
legal questions We're brought before
the new commission relating to rates.
determinations and other matters.
| Col. Walker made his mark as one of
the most efficient members of the com
| mission and in 1889 was selected bv
the leading railroad men of the coun-
try as the chairman of the Interstate
Commerce Railroad Association. com
posed OF various railroad lines west of
Chicago, at salary of $4,000. Later
he was chairman of the Western
Traffic Association and OF the Joint
Traffic Association. In 1894. he was
appointed receiver of the Atchison &
Topeka Railroad company. and upon
the termination of the receivership
was made chairman of the executive
board OF the Atchison Topeka d San
ia Fe railway system. covering 5000
miles of track in - states and terri
tories and having annual earnings of
upwards of 100000. 900. This is the
most important position in the railway
world with single exception, and in
it Col. Walker continued to add to his
reputation as a railroad manager and
tinanCier.
Col Walker published in 1869 The
Vermont Brigade in the Shenandoah
Valley a volume Of graphic descrip-
| lions of service in the war for the
Union. In addition to his opinions
comprised in the two volumes of the
reports of the Interstate Commerce
Commission, he had published numer-
GUS articles in the Forum and other
magazines on railway Legislation and
| kindred topics. one of his last eff
forts in this direction was an article
| comparing the advantages OF the two
proposed Isthmian canal routes.
Col. Walker was man of large
| frame, six feet CALL broad-shouldered
and stout of figure. He was man
OF great ability, great independence
and nigh integrity - high minded
frank and genial. He is survived by
wife and four children.
The funeral of Col Walker was held
| in the congregational church in Rut-
land Monday. There was a large at
tendance of lawyers and railroad men.
The members of Rutland County Bar,
Roberts Grand Army Post and the
ID. X. L. fraternity of Middlebury col
lege, We're present in a body. The
church was effectively trimmed with
profusion of flowers and American
flags. After selections on the organ
by j. Harry Engels and prayer by Rev.
Dr. Phillips, President Brainerd of
Mlddlebury college spoke of Col.
Walkers college life, Rev. Dr. Smart
of Brandon of his military career,
and Rev. DR.. johnson of Pennington.
Conn, of his business life.
The active bearers were Robert C.
Gilmore, Frank r. Blanchard. John
Smith and Charles Mead. all descend
ants of families who for two or more
generations had been parishioners of
Rev. Aldace Walker. father of the de-
ceased. The honorary bearers were
Gov. w. w. Stickney of Ludlow, Gen.
j. Il. Mccullough of Bennington, Sen
ator w. p. Dillingham; of Waterbury,
B. F. Fifeld of Montpelier, w. r. Page
of Proctor, f. r. jennings and Hall
Mccullough of New York. d. j. Foster
of Burlington, Gen Ripley, P. w, Gle
ment, DR.. John A. Mead. Henry f.
Field, M. f. Wheeler F. G, Swining.
ton Harley M. Sheldon. John A. Shell
don and Edward l.. Temple of Rut-
land.