TAZEWELL COUNTY, VA - OBITUARIES - Major Samuel Walton, 28 Mar 1915 ----€€€---- FALLS MIILS, TAZEWELL COUNTY, VIRGINIA HAD IT'S OWN EARLY 1900'S SAM WALTON "Clinch Valley News" Tazewell, Tazewell Co., VA Friday, April 2, 1915 MAJOR WALTON DIED ON SUNDAY Was Prominent Railroad Contractor and Public Spirited Citizen-Helped Many Who Needed Help MAJOR SAMUEL WALTON, one of the best known contractors in this section of the country, died at his Home at Falls Mills, Va., Sunday morning at 1 o’clock, says the Telegraph of Sunday. MAJOR WALTON was 69 years old and the immediate cause of his death was heart failure. During the month of December his condition became so grave he went to John-Hopkins hospital in Baltimore, for treatment. He spent two months in that institution, returning to his home in February but little improved. The trip it is said was to his disadvantage, and he did not recover from its effects. He leaves a widow, the only family survivor. A brother, however, JOHN WALTON, lives in Wycomb. Pa. His wife before marriage was MISS MARGARET MILLER, of Charles Town, W. Va. (Charleston, Kanawha Co., WV). MAJOR WALTON, has amassed a considerable fortune in railroad contracting work in many sections of the south, and was identified with some large projects. The firm of Walton & Company built the Radford cut-off of the Norfolk & Western, the tunnel at Coopers, and had numerous other contracts for that road, among them being Williamson and a great deal of the work on the Clinch Valley extension. The firm received the contract for the work on the Bluefield-Princeton electric (?) line and the road work along the same route, both of which contracts are now being rushed to completion. The company also had contracts in Nashville, Tenn., for the Lousivelle and Nashville railroad, and did the grading in 1893 of the Tazewell Fair grounds and is now engaged in the grading of the Bluefield-Graham fair grounds, of which latter organization MAJOR WALTON was President. The firm did considerable work also on the Shenandoah Valley extension and a great deal of the heavy tunnel work of the Chesapeake and Ohio railway. MAJOR WALTON came to this section in the year 1886. He helped to build the Norfolk & Western railroad into Pocahontas and has been engaged actively in railroad contract work since that time. There are men who have been associated with him during the past twenty-five years and it is said that not as much as a cross word occurred between them during the entire time. MAJOR WALTON loved clean and healthy sport, his main hobby being horse flesh. He engaged in the breeding of standard bred horses a number of years ago and the Walton stables at Falls Mills have produced some of the fastest trotters in the country. MR. WALTON was a familiar figure about the race tracks on the fair circuits in this section, and his judgement of the fine points of a horse was accepted as authority by the racing people, professionals and others. His stables at Falls Mills estate are among the best appointed in the entire country, and have been referred to by horsemen as a model. He maintained a track on his premises where the young trotters are trained. The Walton estate at falls Mills is situated on the West Virginia side, in Mercer County. His home is a mansion, but the doors have always swung wide open to all classes, be they rich or poor. Karen EAGLE Moman arizonaeagle@qwest.net July 12, 2002 ADDED DATA: "Tazewell County," Louise Leslie, Second Edition, Copyright 1982, Commonwealth Press, Inc., Radford, Virginia, 24143, page 665 MAJOR WALTON BUILT RAILROAD MAJOR SAMUEL WALTON came to the Tazewell area in 1886. He helped to build the Norfolk and Western railroad into Pocahontas as was engaged actively in railroad and other construction contract work since that time. Major Walton loved clean and healthy sport, his main hobby being horse flesh. He engaged in the breeding of standard bred horses a number of years ago and the Walton Stables at Falls Mills have produced some of the fasted trotters in the COUNTRY. Mr. Walton was a familiar figure about the race tracks on the fair circuits in this section, and his judgement of the fine points of a horse was accepted as authority by the racing people, professionals and others. His stables at Falls Mills estate were among the best appointed in the entire COUNTRY, and have been referred to by horseman as a model. He maintained a track on his premises where the young trotters were trained. [Notice the word COUNTRY was used rather than county, therefore he must have been very knowledgeable]. …………………. "Clinch Valley News, " Tazewell, Tazewell Co., VA., Friday, March 8, 1901 From the Falls Mills Section Lee J. Barbee was called to Roanoke Saturday by telegram on business for Walton & Co. [This was Lee J. Barbee, Sr. Lee J. Barbee, Sr., and his wife, Fannie P, had a son, Lee J. Barbee, Jr., who was the husband of Myrtle Belle Wagner, d/o James Henry Wagner & Cassie Ellen Belcher]. ……………… "Clinch valley News," Tazewell, Tazewell Co., VA., Friday, April 19, 1901 Submitted from Falls Mills, Va., April 17 LEE J. BARBEE went to Virginia City on business for Walton & Co. last week. Lee is a hustler, and a jolly good man. [This was Lee. J. Barbee,Sr., whose son Lee J. Barbee, Jr., was the second husband of Myrtle Belle Wagner, d/o James Henry Wagner & Cassie Elen Belcher. Myrtle’s first husband was Orvall Thomas "Pat" Patton]. ………………………….. "CLINCH VALLEY NEWS, " Tazewell, Tazewell Co., VA., Friday, April 12, 1901 Cost: $1.00 per year-in advance Distributed each Friday Falls Mills Items MAJ. WALTON shipped a fine horse to Roanoke last Tuesday. RELATED: Friday, April 12, 1901 "Items from Italy" ( Also called Italy Leaks and was near Falls Mills): GRANGER COMPTON went to Roanoke in charge of a fine horse from Maj. Walton’s stock farm (Granger Compton, s/o Joseph W. Compton & Nancy Shanon) MAJ. B. WALTON returned last Monday from a business trip to his works at Elkins, W, Va. …………………. "Clinch Valley News." Tazewell, Tazewell Co., VA., Friday, May 24, 1901 Submitted from Falls Mills,Va., May 22 The different firms of which MAJ. S. WALTON of this place is senior member , employ 2,140 laborers. This does not include MAJ. WALTON’S farm hands and stockmen. The different firms are styled: S. WALTON & CO. WALTON & CO. WALTON & LUCK WALTON, PURCELL & CO. WALTON, WITTEN & GRAHAM ………………………. "Clinch Valley News, " Tazewell, Tazewell ., VA., Friday, January 24, 1902 Submitted from Bailey, Va., Jan 20 A. HOUNDSELL has sold his farm to GILES R. KARR, of pocahontas, being the purchaser. [Andrew Houndsell, a brother-in-law to Giles Rufus Carr. Andrew was married to Julia A. Moore and Giles was married to Octavia C. Moore. Julia & Octavia are daughters of Joseph Addison Morre & martha Pogue (Moore) Moore]. RELATED: Friday, January 24, 1902 Submitted from Bailey, Va., Jan 20 MAJ. S. WALTON and Co., are building almost a town on the farm of G. R. Karr, preparatory to trea____?______, and have already gone to _lling trustle (?) No, 1 which is one and four miles east of the siding. [Major Samuel Walton and Rufus Giles Carr]. …………… "Clinch Valley News," Tazewell, Tazewell Co., VA., Friday, June 13, 1902 Submitted from Italy Leaks MISS DOUGLASS STUBBLES (sic), who had been teaching a private school at MAJ. WALTONS, left Saturday for Tazewell. Friday June 13, 1902 Submitted from Italy Leaks MRS. WALTON, MISS NANNIE, amd MR. WALTON SUDDETH are visiting friends and relatives in Bluefield this week. [Maj. Samuel Walton of the Falls Mills area of Tazewell Co., VA] ……………….. "Clinch Valley News," Tazewell, Tazewell Co., VA., Friday, July 11, 1902 TIP TOP The last arched culvert between Tip Top and Graham is finished There are 7 in all. They are just grand specimen(s) of workmanship, and are intended as wagon road ways under the R. R. Five were constructed by A. Alberrtoli, the Italian contractor. Two by the Sam Walton Company. [Maj. Samuel Walton]. …………… "Clinch valley News," Tazewell, Tazewell Co., VA Friday, July 25, 1902 Submitted from Italy Leaks MAJ. S. WALTON left last Tuesday on a business trip to Knoxville, Tenn. ……………….. "Clinch Valley News," Tazewell, Tazewell Co., VA., Friday, August 1, 1902 Submitted from Falls Mills L. J. BARBEE was paying off WALTON & CO’S men at Cooper last Saturday. [Lee J. Barbee, Sr]. …………………. "Clinch Valley News," Tazewell, Tazewell Co., VA., Friday, August 1,1902 ITALY LEAKS MISS NANNIE SUDDUTH, of Welch was visiting MRS. WALTON, the first of the week. RELATED: MAJ. WALTON left last Saturday for Danville, Va., where he will spend a week looking after important business. [Major Samuel Walton]. RELATED: E. V. RAWN, of North Tazewell, stopped over with MAJ. WALTON last Saturday night on his way to Bramwell to visit his father. [I wonder if the surname, RAWN, might be a typo as I found no one in 1900 Tazewell Co., VA Census with such a surname]. ……………… "Clinch Valley News," Tazewell, Tazewell Co., VA., Friday, August 22, 1902 BAILEY We regret very much that MR.GRAYSON FARMER , who has been in our midst for quite a while, acting as foreman for WALTON & CO., will soon take his departure. He will be succeded by MR. WILLIAM DIFFENDAUL, of Newport News. [Walton & Co., one of the several companies owned by Maj. Samuel Walton] ………………….. "Clinch Valley News," Tazewell, Tazewell Co., VA., Friday, August 22, 1902 ITALY LEAKS MAJ. WALTON left last Monday night for Toledo , Ohio, where he will be gone for several days. [Maj. Samuel Walton] The continued stream of stone shipped from Falls Mills Quarries is enormous, ranging from 200 to 260 cubic yards per day. [Maj. Walton apparently used a lot of this stone in his many projects]. ……………….. "Clinch Valley News," Tazewell, Tazewell Co., VA Friday, September 5, 1902 Submitted from Italy Leaks MRS. WALTON and MISS NANNIE SUDDETH, of Welch, are visiting MAJ. and MRS. WALTON. ……………………. "Clinch Valley News," Tazewell, Tazewell Co., VA Friday, September 5, 1902 Submitted from Falls Mills, Va., August 27 WALTER J. FINK, general manager for S. WALTON and CO., will takke a vacartion, commencing next Friday, and will visit Washington, baltimore, and Norfolk and other points. Walter is the prince of good fellows, and we wish him a pleasant and safe trip. [Son of James C. Fink & Cynthia M. Dudley]. ………………………….. "Clinch Valley News," Tazewell, Tazewell Co., VA.,Friday, October 31, 1902 Submitted from Falls Mills, VA, Oct 22 (sic) * CHARLES PERALDO, a forman for S. Walton & Co., on the Clinch Valley Division, was killed by the passenger train on the 27th. We did not learn the particulars of the sad affair. He will be buried with Masonic honors at this place today. * The date of submission and date of death do not agree. I believe the submission date was probably the 29th. ……………………….. "Clinch Valley News, " Tazewell, Tazewell Co., VA., Friday, November 14, 1902 Submitted from Italy Leaks, Va [Two entries] MRS. S. WALTON left last week to visit her old home at Charleston, W. Va. She will stop over a few days in Staunton, Va., to spend a few days with MR. WALTON and MISS NANNIE SUDDETH, who are in School there. MAJ. S. WALTON returned last Sunday from a tour of his work in Ohio. …………………. "Clinch Valley News," Tazewell, Tazewell Co., VA., Friday, April 17, 1903 Submitted fro mFalls Mills, Va., April 15 MAJ. WALTON, returned fram a business trip to Williamson Friday evening. ………………… "Clinch Valley News," Tazewell, Tazewell Co., VA., Friday, May 8, 1903 Submitted from Falls Mills, Va., May 6 LEE J. BARBEE is in Washington city on business this week. [L. J. Barbee, Sr., was a manager for one of Maj. Walton’s five local companies, Walton & Co]. ……………………….. "Clinch Valley News, " Tazewell, Tazewell Co., VA., Friday June 12, 1903 Submitted from Falls Mills, Va., June 10 WALTON SUDDETH and his sister, MISS NANNIE, returned from school at Staunton last Monday. MRS. S. WALTON returned from a visit to her old home in Charles Town last Sunday. (sic) [Charleston, Kanawha Co., WV]. ……………………………… "Clinch Valley News" Tazewell, Tazewell Co., VA Friday, June 16, 1905 Falls Mills News The change of schedule Sunday will make it hard on the people who live in Graham, and work for MR. WALTON here and near here. [Maj. Samuel Walton] …………………… "Clinch Valley News," Tazewwell, Tazewell Co., VA., Friday, June 30, 1905 Falls Mills,, Va., June 26. MR. W.W. CLINE, who works in the office at this place for MR. WALTON, is off to Kentucky for a vacation and to visit homefolks.. ………………… "Clinch Valley News," Tazewell , Tazewell Co., VA Friday, February 14, 1908 (The next article is being added since it contains an early name of the Falls Mills Dam. It was apparently called the Mill Dam before it was constructed as a man-made facility by N & W, around 1909 and before March, 1910. After its completion it was referred to as "The Company Dam" in an article of March 4, 1910, from Falls Mills in the Clinch Valley News. In a July 15, 1910, article of the Clinch Valley News it was listed as the N & W Dam, meaning it has had at least four names in its history. It has been known as the Falls Mills Dam for many years-Karen. (Both previous articles can be found in the file CVN 1910 Misc Dates). Friday, February 14, 1908 Falls Mills, Va., Feb. 10 We are still having old time winter around here. There has been more snow and ice than for several winters past. The school children have enjoyed the rides down hill on sleds and skaters on the ice on the mill dam and other streams near by. "Tazewell County," Louise Leslie, Second Edition, Copyright 1982, Commonwealth Press, Inc., Radford, Virginia, 24143, Page 320 "The Falls Mills Dam was built for the Norfolk and Western Railway about 1908. It was built by SAMUEL WALTON with stone from his quarry on Brush Fork. It was a popular place and on Sunday afternoon, crowds of young people turned out to see the work progressing. The dam was later leased to the Falls Mills Fishing Club. [My grandfather, Samuel Henry Shrader, was a member of the Falls Mills Fishing Club-Karen EAGLE Moman]. "Tazewell County," Louise Leslie, Second Edition, Copyright 1982, Commonwealth Press, Inc., Radford, Virginia, 24143,page 25-26 A newer Tazewell County Courthouse was dedicated in 1913 by the Masonic Lodge members. In 1908 CAPT. SAMUEL WALTON, of Falls Mills (Tazewell Co., VA) was the contractor when a stone wall was constructed around three sides of the Court House square. …………………… "Clinch Valley News," Tazewell, Tazewell Co., VA., Friday, March 4, 1910, Tazewell, VA Falls Mills, March 2- The company dam, which is very near completion, at this place, is a beautiful little pond of water. Sunday being the first pretty day we have had in sometime, the dam was thronged with visitors. (The company was Norfolk & Western Railroad. This would become known as the Falls Mills Dam in later years and would have a club of locals who belonged for the purpose of having fishing rights and excess to the swimming facilities, picnic grounds and cabins. At one time there was a beautiful white wooden gazebo for shelter and relaxation near the body of water. Our school picnics were held in the area. My grandfather, Samuel Henry Shrader, was a member of the Falls Mills Dam. I know that others fished/swam/picnicked/ice-skated there that were not members. My family always used the area since we lived behind the dam). ………………… "Clinch Valley News", Tazewell, Tazewell Co., VA: Friday, July 15, 1910 A crowd of young people from Bluefield spent Sunday at the N & W dam at this place. Miss Effie Lee and sisters were among the number. (Norfolk & Western Railroad built the dam, apparently for flood control, since their tracks were located lower down the road. I have no personal knowledge of Effie Lee. The dam was built at Falls Mills, Tazewell Co., VA). …………………. 1913-1931 Obituary Index of Tazewell Co., VA...As reported in local publications-NOT date of death but date of publication! MAJOR SAMUEL WALTON.... 02 Apr 1915-SEE OBITUARY ABOVE ………………… "ANNALS OF TAZEWELL COUNTY VIRGINIA"from 1800-1922, Vol II. pg 192 SAM WALTON, Will probated March 1920, Tazewell Co., VA Devises his property as follows: to his wife (not named); to Walton Suddith, Nannie K. Suddith, John D. Cline, Robert Anderson, Warren W. Cline, LEE J. BARBEE, SR., Mary W. Boissean ……………….. "Clinch Valley News, " Tazewell, Tazwell Co., VA Friday, July 24, 1936 DEATH (Typed as written) I. H. HARRY ISAIAH H. HARRY, well known and prominent merchant of Falls Mills, died Monday in a Bluefield hospital of pneumonia following an illness of ten days. He was 71 years of age. Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at the Falls Mills Methodist church, conducted by the assisted by REV, C. W. COLLINS, REV. F. B. JACKSON, and REV. E. T. GILMER. Before entering business for himself MR. HARRY worked for the Walton Construction company for a number of years. He was twice married, his first wife being MISS MELDORA TABOR, of Tazewell county, whom he married September 10, 1885. His second wife who survives was MRS. MINNIE BURTON. They were married November 4, 1920. MR. HARRY, was a Mason and a Shriner and a member of the board of stewards of the Falls mills M. E. Church. He is survived by two brothers, JAMES HARRY, of West Graham, and CHARLES HARRY of Roanoke, Va., and by the following children by his first wife: ARTHUR S. HARRY, of Ashland, Ky JOHN B. HARRY, Princeton, W. Va. ROBY J. HARRY, Salem, Va. WALTER C. HARRY, of Pocahontas (VA) CLARENCE M. HARRY, Pocahontas (VA) MARION HARRY, falls mills (VA) MRS. W. W. THOMPSON, (not given) MISS MARY HARRY, Columbus, Ohio MRS. LAWRENCE MAHOOD, Columbus, Ohio (Isaiah Henderson Harry, s/o John Harry and his third wife, Mary E. Dedmons. First wife was Meldora Moore Tabor, d/o John Andrew Tabor and his first , of three wives, Martha A. Compton. I. H. & Meldora Harry had three daughters, Bertha , Mary & Eula/Eulah (?), however, I do NOT know which daughter married Lawrence Mahood or W. W. Thompson). Meldora Moore (Tabor) Harry died 16 October, 1918 Karen EAGLE Moman arizonaeagel@qwest.net July 12, 2002 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright. 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