Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1901-04-19
WAS A WELL-KNOWN GRADUATE OF
MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE.

Born in Rutland and Became a Promi-
nent Railroad Attorney and Manager
in the West-His Busy Life Recounted-
Funeral Held in Rutland.
Col. Aldace F. Walker, chairman of
the board of directors of the Atchison,
Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad company,
died of angina pectoris Friday morning
at his home in New York. Although
Colonel Walker had not been thoroughly
well for the last six weeks, his illness
was not supposed to be serious. Up to
the time of his death he spent part of
each day at his office and on Thursday
he engaged passage for himself and wife
and two of his children on the steamship
Hohenzollern. which sailed Saturday for
Naples. The funeral was held at Rut-
land on Monday and was of military
character. Many from Middlebury were
in attendance, including 10 members of
the college d. X. E. society, to which
Colonel Walker belonged.
The honorary bearers were Gov. w.
w. Stickney of Ludlow, Gen. j. G.. Nc
Cullough of Bennington, Senator w. p.
Dillingham; of Waterbury. B. F. Fifield
of Montpelier, w. r. Page of Proctor,
f. b. Jennings and Hall Mccullough of
New York, d. J.. Foster of Burlington,
Gen. W. Y. w. Ripley, p. w. Clement,
DR.. John A. Mead, Henry F. Field, NJ.
E. Wheeler, F. G. Swinnington, Harley
NJ. Sheldon, John A. Sheldon and Ed
ward l.. Temple of Rutland. Pres. Ezra
Brainerd spoke of the college life of
Colonel Walker, DR.. Smart of Brandon
of his army life, and DR.. johnson of
Pennington, Conn, of his business life.
Colonel Walker was born on May II,
1912, In Rutland and was the son of the
Rev. Aldace Walker, a Congregational
clergyman of that city. His mother was
Mary Baker of Lebanon, N. H. He was
graduated from Middlebury college as
the leader of the class of 1862 and i'm
mediately went to the front as second
lieutenant In the Eleventh Vermont VOL
unteers. He served throughout the war
of the Rebellion and was mustered out
as brevet lieutenant-colonel. His prin-
cipal engagement was in the battle of
Cedar Creek.
After he was mustered out Colonel
Walker pursued his preliminary studies
in the law under the guidance and in the
office of Senator Edmunds of Vermont,
after w.ich he was graduated from the
Columbia Law School. Then after four
years practise in the office of Strong &
Shepard of New York, Colonel Walker
returned to Rutland, where he remained
until 1887 and built up successful prac-
tce as a railroad and corporation lawyer,
He served two terms in the state senate
of Vermont. Because of his reputation
as railroad lawyer he was chosen In
1887 by President Cleveland as the Re-
publican member of the Interstate Com
merce commission to harmonize the dis
cordant elements among the competing
railroads, or to carry out the gentle
mems agreement" between the members
of the traffic association. After the dis.
solution of the association Colonel Wal
ker went to Europe.
He was recalled t. America to become
receiver of the Atchison railroad.
He was made chairman of the IeOrgan-
lied company and had much to do with
its develOpement He was chairman OF
the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway
company, the Santa Fe Pacific Railroad
company and the Southern Californis
Railroad company. He was also direc
tor in the Aztec Land and Cattle com
pany, the Central Vermont Railroad
company, the San Francisco and Sar
Joaquin Valley Railroad company snd
the Sonora Railroad company. He was
also trustee of the New York Security
and Trust company, a Past Commander
of the Illinois Commandery of the Loyal
Legion and member of the West End
Collegiate church in New York.
Colonel Walker was married in 1871 tC
Catherine Shaw, daughter of Hudson
Shaw of Wallingford, VT. His wife
three children, Roberts, Harold anC
Ruth, and his sister, Mary NJ. Walker
survive him. He was the author Of
"The Vermont Brigade in the Shenan
doah Valley" and numerous essays-oI
railr1ad subjects. -