The Ordway new era., 1920-11-05
Pioneer Passes On

T.. W. Walter, one OF the pioneer
iesidents OF Ordwsy. died at his home
htre on Friday morning, October 90
af.er an illness that has lasted for
tee past several months. He had
been confined to his home most of
the time for several months and for
seyeral days. few weeks ago his
condition was so serious that HIS re-
coyery seemed impossible, but he 80
regaiDed strength that he was able
TO be out some up until recently.
The funeral services were con-
Quoted ON Sunday afternoon at the
Methodist Episcopal church and in
terment was made In Valley View
cemetery. this city. Rev. +. w. PIN
lott preached the funeral sermon and
the choir sang Nearer My God to
Thee" and Beautiful Isle Of Some
where" The services at the church
were under the direction of the l. o.
q. F.. lodge which used the order 5
ceremony, this service being partic-
.pated In by the Women of Wood
craft order. At the cemetery the Ma
sonic lodge had charge of the burial
ceryices and performed the buriei
ceremony.
Mr.. Walter was one of Ordway's
very first residents. He came to this
section Of the valley before there wss
q town. that being in 1891. He came
here from Greeley to take charge Of
the Bradbury irrigation system as
engineer and superintendent, and in
March OF 1891 he turned in the frat
water thai came down the canal
which has since developed this vicin-
ity into a rich agricultural district.
When Mr. and Mrs. Walter arrived
here there was one store building. To-
Gated where the Thomas Service COM
pany is now located, and they moved
nto the only house IN the town, that
OF z one-room frame building where
ths creamery now stands. He start
ed the erection of q residence soon
after coming. the same residence he
lived in until his death where the
family now reside. The train made
ro stop here, but between here and
what is now Sugar City. there was
Meredith station aud postoffice
where the mall was received. In the
vicinity there were d. c. Roberts,
Van Ormau. Mock. Burke and G. y.
Ordway families. The lands were rot
Irrigated previously and therefore
there was no farming being done OF
any great extent. Soon afterwards,
however. when the waters cOmmenc-
cd to irrigate the land farmers start
ed settlement and In very few years
the agricultural business had taken
On great proportions.
Mr.. Walter had devoted most of
his life to the irrigation business. be-
ing for seven or eight years with one
OF the big ditch companies of Weld
county prior to coming to Ordway.
Mr.. Walter was born at Madison,
HIS. September 90. 1859. and was
therefore just past 81 years of age.
He was confirmed in the German
Lutheren church at the age of IA
yearg. When "a years OF age he
came TO Colorado arriving first in
Denyor and soon settled in Greeley.
He was married in Greeley to Retta
Wasson in August 1884. He was a
member of the Masonic lodge, the /.
o. o. F.. order, and the Neighbors Of
Woodcraft order.
Mr.. Walter Is survived by his wife,
one daughter, Mrs. Frank Miller of
this city. and three sons. John r..
Elvin II. and Ira r., also one sister,
Mrs. Ahrens of Corning. Mo.
In the death OF Mr.. Walter the
family loses n beloved father and
husband and the community a pio-
neer whose work here aided in build
Ing the prosperous town and com
munity for he was one of the most
active men in the community for a
great many years.