Wesley M. Walters Biography


	This biography appears on page 952 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				WESLEY M. WALTERS. 

	Wesley M. Walters, serving as postmaster of Fairfax under 
appointment of President Wilson, was born in Ohio, near Marietta, on 
the 20th of July, 1869, a son of Alfred and Drusilla Walters, the 
former a farmer by occupation. The son attended the public schools and 
after his education was completed continued to assist his father in the 
work of the home farm until he reached the age of nineteen years. He 
afterward taught school through three winter terms and for fifteen 
years worked in a drug store, becoming a registered pharmacist of West 
Virginia. In 1900 he turned his attention to newspaper publication in 
that state and was thus occupied until 1906, when he arrived in South 
Dakota, making his way to Fairfax. For two years he was associated with 
Judge Starcher in a bank and later was in the courthouse as deputy 
auditor and deputy treasurer for two years. When in 1910 the office of 
county treasurer was left vacant by the death of the incumbent Mr. 
Walters was chosen to serve out the term and continued in the 
treasurer's office in the capacity of deputy for two years longer. In 
1913 he was appointed postmaster by President Wilson for a term of four 
years and is now serving in that capacity. He is ever prompt, accurate 
and faithful in the discharge of his duties and is making a creditable 
official record. 

	On the 25th of October, 1891, Mr. Walters was married to Miss 
Emma McCoy, a daughter of Joseph McCoy, who died in March, 19:L5, in 
West Virginia, in his one hundredth year. Mr. and Mrs. Walters are the 
parents of the following children: Edwin, who married Miss Carrie 
Schultz and is in the postal service as mail carrier at Fairfax; Marcel 
M., who passed away when four and a half years old, Mabel; Emma; 
Virginia L.; George B.; Ethel McCoy; and Dorothy. The eldest daughter 
is now acting as assistant postmaster. 

	In religious faith the family are Protestants, while in political 
belief Mr. Walters is a democrat, as is indicated by his recent 
appointment to office. He has served as town clerk and while in West 
Virginia filled the position of mayor of Ripley. In masonry he holds 
membership with the blue lodge and the chapter at Bonesteel, being past 
high priest of the latter, and he has the degree of Knight Templar, 
belonging to the commandery at Chamberlain. He is also a member of the 
Woodmen and of the Knights of Pythias. Those who know him esteem him 
highly and he has gained a large circle of warm friends during his 
residence in Gregory county.