The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-04-03
DEATH TAKES
WELL KNOWN
WILTON MAN
Walter Perkins Macomber
Succumbs Following
Short Illness
PROMINENT IN STATE
Leader in Development of
Lignite Industry in
North Dakota
PROMINENT IN STATE

Walter Perkins Macomber of Will
ton. president and general manager
Of the Washburn Ignite Coal Com
pany Of Wilton and one of North
Dakota's leading citizens. died unex-
pectedly at his home in Wilton at
$50 p. m. yesterday after an illness
of only few hours:
Mr.. Macomber suffered stroke of
paralysis at non and died without
gaining consciousness. He had spent
the morning at his office and seemed
to be in excellent health and spirits.
His sudden death comes as shock to
his wide circle of friends and ac
quaintanccs in North Dakota.
MIR. Macomber was born in Bangor,
Maine. May 10. 1859, a son of James
Macomber and Mercy Perkins Ma
comber. He came to Anoka, Minn.,
with his parents at the age of IL
years where he resided until he came
to North Dakota in 1899. In Anoka
he was prominent and active in civic
and political affairs of the town,
Serving as mayor of the city when
only % years of age He was asso-
ciated with the late Senator W. D..
Washburn, both in Minnesota and
North Dakota.
Upon coming to North Dakota, Mr..
Macomber settled near what is now
the town of Wilton. and during the
early days of his residence there he
was active in the development of Nc
Lean and Burleigh counties. He
Slated the town of Wilton and was
engaged in the land and grain busi-
ness, bringing in many settlers to
this section of the state.
During the last 20 years Mr.. Mac
omber had been prominent in the lig-
mite coal business and has been call
ed, "the father of the Ignite indus
try" For the past ten years he had
been president and general manager
of the Washburn Ignite Coal Com
pany at Wilton, operating the lar
gest Ignite mine in the state. He
was largely responsible for the de-
velopment of the Wilton mine and
was recognized as an authority in
the ignite business.
Incidental to the coal business Mr..
Macomber carried a large trade in
lands and grains. He was success
full in farming and operated 600
acres in Burleigh and Mclean coun-
ties.
In politics, Mr.. Macomber was a
Republican and during the admins
tration of Governor l.. B. Hanna he
served as member Of the Board of
Paroles. He was Mason and serv-
ed for several years as Worshipful
Master of the Anoka lodge. He was
also a Woodman, a Workman and a
member of the Royal Arcanum.
Mr.. Macomber was united in mar
riage to Nettie l.. Kelsey in Anoka
on Aug. 3, 1877. He is survived by
two daughters, Mrs. r. c. Thompson
and Mrs. Gilbert w. Stewart of Will
ton, and one sister, Miss Caroline
M. Macomber Of Minneapolis, who is
now in Honolulu, II. l.
Mr.. Macomber had large circle
of friends and acquaintances
throughout the Northwest. He was
known as a philanthropist and gave
generously to worthy causes. AS an
employer he was known as fair and
just man who always dealt fairly
with his employees.
Funeral services will be held at 2
p. m. tomorrow in the Grand Theatre
in Wilton. The body will lie in
state in the theatre from 10 a. m.
until noon. The body will be brought
to Bismarck and lie in state at the
Webb Brothers undertaking parlors
from s to $3.50 p. m. The body will
be taken to Minneapolis Saturday
evening and be placed in receiving
vault in Lakewood cemetery until
the return of his sister from Homo
lulu.