Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1919-09-18
CAPT. X. D. WALKER
b. & Q. VETERAN AND
HIGH MASON DIES
Distinguished Citizen Celebrated Goth
Wedding Day Sunday


man high in Masonic circles in West
Virginia, died this morning at $50
O. clock at his home 818 Field street
after an illness Of a complication of
diseases extending over period of
several years.
Captain Walker came to this city
in the year 1857. He was native of
Somerset county, Pa, and with the
exception of about seven years spent
in Belington, W. Va, had been a res
ident of this city ever since. When
lad of fourteen years of age he en-
tered the employ of the Baltimore &
Ohio railroad company and was sta
toned as telegraph operator at Wash
ington, Pa. He continued in the en-
ploy of this railroad company until
some years ago when i'll health com
PEELED him to leave the road. He had
served in practically every capacity as
railroad man, having been telegraph
! operator, station master, fireman,
brakemen, engineer and conductor.
For long term of years he was con-
ductor of the passenger train between
Fairmont and Morgantown and when
J that line was extended to Pittsburg
! he was transferred elsewhere. While
resident of Belington his run was
between Grafton and Belington.
He was well known to practically
every man, woman and child along
the route his run traversed during
the years he was actively engaged in
railroading ard when he retired from
the service great regret was occasion
4 ed
On last Sunday Captain Walker
and Mrs. Walker celebrated the six
tieth anniversary of their marriage
lat their home. At that time the
health of Captain Walker was of such
character that the day was very
quietly spent. During the afternoon
he was taken much worse and con-
tinued in a critical condition until
this morning when he passed away.
Captain and Mrs. Walker were unit
ed in marriage in small brick cot
tage on the East side which is now
used as tobacco factory. Mrs. Wal
Nker was before her marriage Miss
Josephine l.. Wiggington. During the
years of their residence in this city
they reared large family of children
nine children having been born to the
union seven of whom survive. Dur
ing the greater part of their residence
in this city they resided in property
which stood at the foot of Madison
street which was torn away number
of years ago and later when they re-
turned here from Belington they re-
sided on Merchant street, East side.
In recent years they moved to Field
street where his death occurred to-
day.
Two sons Charts Walker and Milf
mer grew to manhood and died num-
Der of years ago while the latter
died in infancy. Seven daughters
survive, Mrs E. j. Thomas of this
city, Mrs. Fred Bartlett of Manning
ton, Mrs. Claude Jeffreys of Wheel
ing; Mrs. Freeman Jenkins, of Ripley;
Mrs. D. w. Dorsey of Fairmont;
Mrs. w. B. Rector of Belington and
Mrs. S. F. Thompson of Clarksburg.
Eleven grandchildren also survive.
Captain Walker was a great home
man and was greatly beloved in the
home circle where during his illness
he has been the recipient of the ten
drest care and devotion upon the part
lof his faithful wife and daughters.
He was never so happy as when sur
rounded by his family and took every
occasion to assemble them together
He was a great lover of nature and
was famous all during his life for his
beautiful rose garden in which he cul-
tivated with the greatest care, guam
titles of choice roses. People came
from far and near to see his wonder
full rose garden.
A grandson, Kephart Walger, the
son of Charles Walker deceased, and
a great favorite of Capt. Walker is in
New York state and has been APP
Iprised of his grandfather's death
and is. expected to arrive here for the
funeral. He recently returned from
over seas service.
4 While known and greatly beloved
Throughout the state as a man, rail-
road man, and in various other capac-
tiles, perhaps as Mason was the
subject of this sketch best known
\ Early in life he identied himself with
this organization and had during
practically his entire life been prom
inently identified with all the activi-
ties of the lodge. He was a past
i Al I 7 4