Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1911-11-03
JAMES WALTON
GOES OVER The
GREAT DIVIDE
VENERABLE PIONEER AFTER
LONG AND USEFUL LIFE,
PASSES PEACEFULLY AWAY
CAME TO SALEM IN 1s7O-FU-
NERAL TO BE HELD SUNDAY.


James Walton, a respected Oregon
pioneer, died at his home, 1917 Cen
ter street last evening at 6:45 o'clock
from the effects Of a stroke Of par
alysis he suffered about 10 days ago
James Walton, familiarly known to
acquaintances as Judge" Walton,
was born at Chester, England
March l, 1922. He was the eldest of
a family of IL and the last survivor
of the family. Only one, the only
other brother, ever came to America
and he died in Salem in 1903
He was a son of Daniel Walton,
Methodist preacher of limited means
and his early education was at Hud-
dersfeld, England. At 10 he was ap-
prenticed in the trade of weaver and
six months later was an apprentice
in the druggist trade At 16 years
of age he shipped aboard the "Ursu-
la" for New Zealand and three years
later shipped out of Port Nicholson
as ships doctor on the whaler "Coer-
narvon" Capt. Irving. After a two
years cruise of much hardship, the
crew mutinied, Walton receiving
nearly fatal wound. On the arrival
of the ship in Auckland, n. H., Wal
ton, as soon as he was able, parted
company with the whaling business
and, TO take no chances of being
forcibly returned to his undesirable
berth, fed to the interior of the is
land and took up a temporary resi-
dence with the natives, the Maories,
where he learned the language.
knowledge of the native language
secured him a position as interpreter
for the British government in their
dealings with the natives. About
this time he married his first wife,
who was Miss Elizabeth Barclay but
to whom no children were born.
Comes to California.
On the first news of the discovery
of gold in California, Walton was
early there, (1S49) and in 1850 was
at Trinidad bay where he engaged in
mining with considerable success,
but after two years, migrated to the
Umpqua valley, douglas county,
where he was joined by his brother,
John S. Walton; the two taking up
donation land claims. Walton's dis
position was such that he was soon
into the political events of that stir
ring time, being successively justice
of the peace, clerk of the land Office
and county clerk for two terms, de-
spite the fact that he was a Union
Democrat and that Douglas was then
controlled by the Slavery Democrats.
After retiring from office, he, with
his brother engaged in the sheep
business with considerable success,
until one of the hard winters cost
them a fortune in lost sheep, where
upon (1S7O) he sold out in Douglas
county and came to Salem.
Prominent in Salem.
In this city he was prominent in
many capacities. Owing to his YER
satile nature and varied ability, he
had success as instructor of elocu-
tion in Willamette university, Sc
cured the perfection of a mechanical
patent, was a portrait painter of
more than ordinary ability and as a
draughtsman was especially we'll re-
garded' Some of his work in the
Marion county court house and the
state capitol is conceded to be mas
ter workmanship. In 1874 he was
appointed U. S. commissioner by
Judge M. P. Deadly which position
he held for 23 years, resigning on ac-
count of i'll health In 1880 his wife
died and he then married Mary E.
Bangert in 1882. He is survived by