Barbara Walter

WALTER, WALTERS, SPACH

Posted By: Bruce L. Pearson (email)
Date: 7/28/2010 at 13:25:15

Barbara Spach Walter

Barbara Spach (sometimes spelled Barbary or Barbra Spack) was born on 6 March 1821, possibly in Baden, Germany. According to her death certificate (see below), she was the daughter of John Spack (or Spach) and Mary Houdenshield (or Hondenshield, or Haudenschield). It is not known when or where Barbara married John Walter (sometimes spelled Walters), nor is it known when they immigrated to the U.S. Their first child, Emeline (or Emaline) was born on 8 October 1844, somewhere in New York State, probably in Lyons, Wayne County. Likewise, it is not known how long they lived in New York, but they must have moved to Iowa sometime between 1857, when their son Charles, was born in New York, and November 1860, when their son, Hiram, was born in Iowa. See separate write-ups on John Walter, Hiram L. Walter and Mary Walter Aldridge.

The Iowa State census of 1895 lists John Walter, farmer, born c. 1822 in Germany, and his wife, Barbara Walter, born c. 1822 in Germany, as living in Caldwell, Appanoose County, Iowa in 1895. It also lists Hiram, Hiram's wife, Elizabeth J., Minnie, Lity, Edward R., Harley and Mamie Walter in the same household

According to the U.S. Census of 1910, John Walters, born in July 1821 in Germany, and his wife, Barbara Walters (note the "s"), were residing in Caldwell, Appanoose County, as of 1910. The census also states that they immigrated to the U.S. in 1840. This is obviously in error, because our John Walter died in 1902 and Barbara died in 1907. This may have actually been the U.S. Census for 1900, or there may have been another couple, John and Barbara Walters, living in Appanoose County in 1910, although the latter possibility seems very unlikely.

John and Barbara Walter had the following children (see the write-up on John Walter for more details regarding their children):

Emalene;

John;

Caroline Walter Seitz; born circa 1850; see below;

William Walter, born on 22 January 1852, probably in Lyons, New York; married Dora (or Diora) Withrow, who was born on 17 August 1858 in Appanoose County, Iowa, the daughter of James Ross Withrow and Rebecca Ann Hutchinson. William was a farmer. He died on 3 January 1934 in Appanoose County and was buried in Zoar Cemetery, next to Dora. According to the death certificates in Appanoose County, William died at the age of 81 years, 11 months and 11 days. Dora, who resided at 1010 W. Washington, Centerville, Iowa, died on 28 December 1946, aged 88 years, four months, 11 days. According to the birth records of Appanoose County, William and Dora Walter had two daughters, names not indicated, born on 20 May 1881 and on 12 July 1888 (both in Caldwell Township, Appanoose County).

Mary E. Walter was born on 17 August 1853, probably in Lyons, New York. See separate write up on her under Nathan Tower Aldridge. She died on 25 October 1931 in Long Beach, Calif. See separate write-up on Nathan Tower Aldridge and Mary Walter Aldridge.

Sarah;

Charles;

Hiram L. Walter was born on 18 November 1860 in Appanoose County, Iowa. He died in Olympia, Washington, on 24 February 1950. See separate write up on Hiram L. Walter and his wife, Elizabeth Deahl Walter;

Edward C.; and

James Walter; born circa 1867;

John and Barbara Walter lived in Caldwell Township, Appanoose County, for many years. John was a farmer and Barbara was a housewife.

The following is Barbara's obituary which appeared in the Iowegian newspaper of Centerville, Iowa, on 23 October 1907:

"Mrs. Walter Dies

"Aged Woman Passes Away at Exline Sunday Afternoon

"Mrs. John Walter died Sunday afternoon at the home of her grand daughter, Mrs. N.A. Withrow, at Exline, aged 86 years. She has long been a resident of that locality, her husband dying a few years ago. She has a son, William, living near Exline, another in Colorado and a daughter in Kansas. The funeral was this morning at the residence and interment at Zoar. Rev. Monkman conducted the services."

Note: Mrs. N.A. Withrow was probably Ida E. Withrow (see below). Hiram L. Walter was the son in Colorado. Carolyn Seitz was the daughter in Kansas.

According to the death certificate on file at the Appanoose County Court House, Barbra (sic) Walter died of pneumonia on 20 October 1907 in Exline, at the age of 86 years, seven months and 14 days. She was born on 6 March 1821 in Germany, the daughter of John Spack (or Spach) and Mary Houdenshield (or Hondenshield). She was a widow and had been a housewife. The informant who provided the foregoing information was Ida E. Withrow. Barbara was buried in Zoar Cemetery, Exline, Iowa.

Barbara died without a will. Her son William filed a petition on 10 December 1907 with the District Court of Iowa, in and for Appanoose County. The purpose of the petition was to settle Barbara's estate and divide it among the heirs, who were listed as follow:

Caroline Seitz, daughter, age 57, of Kelly, Kansas;

William Walter, son, age 55, of Dean, Iowa;

Mary Aldridge, daughter, age 48, of Santa Rosa, Calif;

H.L. Walter, son, age 44, of Fort Lupton, Colorado; (this was Hiram);

James Walter, son, age 40, of Santa Rosa, Calif;

Louisa L. Walter, wife of deceased son, age 40, of Dean, Iowa; note: she was the widow of Edward C. Walter. According to the Appanoose County death records, Edward C. Walter, born in Caldwell Township, Appanoose County, a farmer, married, died on 2 October 1901, aged 36 years, seven months, five days, and was buried at Zoar Cemetery. Also according to the Appanoose County death records, Lawrence E. Walters (sic), born 17 January 1900 in Caldwell Township, the son of Edward C. Walter and Louisa L. Withrow, died on 8 February 1924; Lawrence was not married. He was buried at Zoar Cemetery, along with his parents.

Clara Walter, wife of deceased son, age 46, of Sylvan, Kansas. Note: she may have been the widow of Charles Walter, who died prior to 2 December 1902, per the probate information on Barbara's husband, John Walter.

Ida Withrow, granddaughter, age 39, Exline, Iowa; note: Ida may have been the same person as Mrs. N.A. Withrow, mentioned above in the obituary;

Charles Denning, grandson, age 30, of Santa Rosa, Calif;

Mattie Moore, grand daughter, age 35, of Oskaloosa, Iowa; note: see separate write-up on Mattie Walter Moore; Mattie Walter was born on 15 February 1871 in Forest Home, Iowa, the only daughter of John and Sara Walter. This John was the son of John and Barbara Walter. According to a photo which Bruce L. Pearson has, John died c. 1904, and Sara died c. 1900. Mattie died at the age of 104 on 27 July 1975 in Clovis, Calif.;

Maude J. Patterson, granddaughter, age 20, Dean, Iowa;

Dora L. Walter, granddaughter, age 19, Dean, Iowa;

Everet M. Walter, grandson, age 17, Dean, Iowa;

Gracie Walter, granddaughter, age 15, Dean, Iowa;

Virgil W. Walter, grandson, age 12, Dean, Iowa; note: There are graves in Zoar Cemetery in Exline for Virgil W. Walter, born 16 September 1895; Private, U.S. Army, World War I; died 10 February 1991; Ruth Walter, born 30 October 1901, died 2 March 1988; and an infant, William E. Walter, died in 1927. According to the Appanoose County death certificates, Virgil William Walter was born on 16 September 1895 in Dean, Iowa, the son of Edward C. Walter and Louisa L. Withrow. William Walters (note misspelling) was stillborn on 21 June 1927, the son of "Virgle (sic) Walters (sic)" and (fnu) Johnson. Thus Ruth Walter's maiden name was probably Johnson;\

Emil B. Walter, granddaughter (sic, he was a grandson), age ten, Dean, Iowa;

Clovie D. Walter, grandson, age nine, Dean, Iowa; (note: see separate write-up on Clovie);

Lawrence E. Walter, grandson, age seven, Dean, Iowa; note entry above for Louisa L. Walter;

Edna L. Walter, granddaughter, age five, Dean, Iowa; note: there is an Edna Walter Worley, born 29 December 1902, died 22 March 1926, buried in the Zoar Cemetery;

Gertrude Dengate, granddaughter, age 23, in Sylvan, Kansas; note she is probably the daughter of the Clara Walter listed above. Dengate could be her married name.

The court appointed one Harvey Cochran, an attorney, as the administrator of Barbara Walter's estate, which consisted of $112.23 in cash at time of her death. Thereafter, the estate received the following income:

Dick Evans note, $68.25; William Walter rent, $11.04; rent from Centerville property, $43.92; W.A. Withrow note, $25.80; Louisa Walter note, $17.17; James Hutchison note, $30.00; Charles Thompson, rent of pasture, $1.00; and N.A. Withrow, account, $8.00.

B.C. Withrow, manager of the Clark and Burgher Co., presented a bill to the estate for $82.65, for Barbara's casket.

Barbara Walter is buried next to her husband, John, in Zoar Cemetery, near Exline, Iowa. Her tombstone reads "wife of John" and that she was born 6 March 1821 and died 20 October 1907.