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John Walter could well be
classed as one of Edmonton's builders and promoters. He resided in the
city for a half century and was a potent force in promoting its growth
and progress along many lines. He aided in advancing the work of pioneer
times and in the later period of progress and improvement and the worth
of his labors can scarcely be overestimated.
John Walter was born at
Stenness, in the Orkney Islands, August 12, 1849, and in the year in
which he attained his majority he joined the service of the Hudson's Bay
Company and sailed from his native town in the Hebrides to York Factory
on Hudson Bay. He traveled westward by way of Norway House oil Winnipeg
and the Saskatchewan river to Edmonton, proceeding by York boat until,
when the river was frozen over, the journey had to be continued by dog
train. Before leaving his native country Mr. Walter had learned the boat
builder's trade and it was at Edmonton that a large number of the York
boats from the Hudson's Bay Company were built. These had a cargo
capacity of five tons and the boats were sharp at both ends. These boats
could carry sail when circumstances permitted and for nearly a century
they were used by the company as a means of transportation oil rivers
through Canada. About the time of Mr. Walter's arrival there was a
change in the method of transportation from York boats to team and wagon
across the plains, while later steamers oil rivers were utilized and in
the '80s railways supplanted the earlier methods of transportation.
Buffalo robes constituted the principal source of trade of the Hudson's
Bay post when Mr. Walter came and buffalo meat largely supplied the
larder. It was not until four years later that the mounted police force
established the authority of Canada in the western country. Mr. Walter
bore his part in the work of early development and improvement and met
unfalteringly the hardships and privations of pioneer life. One of the
local papers at the time of his death said of him: "Mr. Walter fitted
into the scheme of things throughout all the changes that took place.
Quiet, unobtrusive, efficient, reliable, never assuming to lead but
always well to the front in the march of progress, he bore his part at
all times in the work that brought about the transformation of this
country." Because of his light hair he was known by the Indians as
Wapstiquan, meaning whitehead.
For five years Mr. Walter remained in the service of the Hudson's Bay
Company and at the end of that time took up his abode on the river flat
on the south side opposite the Hudson's Bay fort, now known as
Walterdale, there continuing to reside until his death. He established
the first cable ferry across the Saskatchewan at that point and he was
also engaged in boat building at Edmonton and at Athabasca Landing. For
a time he was associated in the enterprise with John Irvine but later
the partnership was dissolved. When Mr. Walter removed to the west he
brought by cart from Wininpeg one of the first coal stoves ever used in
Edmonton and at that time it was an open question as to whether Edmonton
coal was useful for fuel. With the building of the railroad to the south
side of the river in 1891 Mr. Walter recognized his opportunity for the
development of his business and established a sawmill in Walterdale,
being associated in this undertaking with William Humberstone of the
Humberstone coal mine. Mr. Walter also opened a coal mine on the
property in the rear of Walterdale and he made considerable investments
ill estate in what was then the town of Strathcona, now a part of
Edmonton, erecting there a number of dwellings and business houses. He
continued to develop and expand his lumber operations with the growth
and settlement of this section of the province, building a second
sawmill on Ross Point oil north side of the river. He likewise built a
steamboat on the Saskatchewan and he was actively interested in
prospecting for oil in the Pelican Rapids. His entire course was marked
by constructive business methods and his efforts constituted an
important element in the steady growth and progress of the city, as well
as in the up- building of his own fortune. He suffered considerably in
the collapse of the boom ill but the hazardous financial blow came to
him with the flood of 1915, which carried away a large stock of sawn
lumber piled at the mill on Ross Point and in the flood the mill itself
was destroyed. Although he was no longer able to continue his lumber
manufacturing business he retained a valuable equity in his large
interests and never was his reputation for honest dealing, foresight and
determination questioned.
On the 21st of October,
1886, Mr. Walter was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Newby, who
went to Morley, Canada, in 1884, as assistant matron at the Indian
Orphanage and afterward became a guest at the Hardisty home at Edmonton,
Mr. Hardisty being chief factor of the Hudson's Bay Company. In the big
house of the chief factor the marriage of Mr. Walter and Miss Newby was
celebrated and they traveled life's journey happily together for more
than a third of a century, until death separated them on the 25th of
December, 1920, Mr. Walter passing away at that date and leaving two
sons: John William and Stanley, who are engaged in farming. His life was
indeed an active and useful one. He was a member of the first city
council of Strathcona, thus serving for six years and he declined to
become mayor of the city. He ever stood for progress and improvement in
everything that pertained to the material, intellectual, social and
moral welfare of the community and his life record constitutes an
integral chapter in the annals of Edmonton. When he passed away Harry V.
Laughy, an old-time friend, under the caption of "Rest. in Peace," wrote
the following poem to the memory of John Walter:
"Today we break the sacred
sod
That grows above our old-time dead;
Another one would join the host
That long our early conquest led.
While herald angels sang on high
He laid aside his load of care
And faced the last, long, sunset trail,
To meet the others, waiting—there.
"Old friend—tried friend
of back-flung years—
Whose hand was ever wont to give,
Thou 'rt dead today, they'd have me think,
But long thy kindly works shall live.
The settler's child, in years long past,
Oft knelt to bless thy hand that gave;
That settler's child—a way-worn man—
Shall kneel today beside thy grave.
"Thou 'rt passed, thy just
reward to claim,
In realms beyond the set of sun;
Thy monument—already reared—
A thousand kindly deeds well done;
Upon the stone that marks thy grave—
Oft blessed by friendship's un-shed tear—
May hands of Love inscribe the words:
'Here sleeps a whole-souled pioneer.' |
