William B. Walton
Encyclopedia
William Bell Walton was an American
lawyer
, politician
, and U.S. Representative
from New Mexico
.
Born in Altoona, Pennsylvania
, Walton attended the public schools and South Jersey Institute, Bridgeton, New Jersey
.
In 1891 he moved to Territory of New Mexico, where he studied law, and was admitted to the bar
in 1893 and commenced practice in Deming
, New Mexico. He was the owner of the newspaper, the Silver City Independent, in nearby Silver City
, where he would take up residence. Walton served as member of the New Mexico Territorial Legislature in 1901 and 1902, then served as County Clerk of Grant County
1903-1906.
In 1908 Walton was selected as the delegate
to the Democratic National Convention
, then served as chairman of the New Mexico Democratic Central Committee in 1910.
Next he went to Washington, D.C.
, to lobby for statehood
for the territory, as a member of the New Mexico Constitutional Convention in 1911.
After New Mexico became a state, Walton served in the New Mexico Senate
1912-1916.
Walton was elected as a Democrat
"At-Large
" to the Sixty-fifth Congress
(March 4, 1917-March 3, 1919). He did not seek renomination, but was an unsuccessful candidate for election
to the United States Senate
in 1918.
He returned to Grant County and resumed practicing law in Silver City, New Mexico. On November 2, 1926 Walton was elected District Attorney
of New Mexico's Sixth Judicial District, he was reelected in 1928 and served until 1932. He continued the practice of law until 1934, when he retired from active pursuits.
He had three children, Leona Walton Neblett (a talented concert violinist and violin teacher), Eda Lou Walton Mandell (a former member of the faculty of New York University
, head of the English Department), and William B. Walton, Jr.
He died in Silver City on the April 14, 1939, and was interred in the local Masonic Cemetery.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, and U.S. Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
.
Born in Altoona, Pennsylvania
Altoona, Pennsylvania
-History:A major railroad town, Altoona was founded by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1849 as the site for a shop complex. Altoona was incorporated as a borough on February 6, 1854, and as a city under legislation approved on April 3, 1867, and February 8, 1868...
, Walton attended the public schools and South Jersey Institute, Bridgeton, New Jersey
Bridgeton, New Jersey
Bridgeton is a city in Cumberland County, New Jersey, United States, in the south part of the state, on the Cohansey River, near Delaware Bay. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 25,349. It is the county seat of Cumberland County...
.
In 1891 he moved to Territory of New Mexico, where he studied law, and was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in 1893 and commenced practice in Deming
Deming, New Mexico
Deming is a city in Luna County, New Mexico, United States, located 60 miles west of Las Cruces. The population was 14,116 at the 2000 census. Deming is the county seat and principal town of Luna County.-History:...
, New Mexico. He was the owner of the newspaper, the Silver City Independent, in nearby Silver City
Silver City, New Mexico
Silver City is a town in Grant County, New Mexico, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 10,545. It is the county seat of Grant County. The city is the home of Western New Mexico University.-History:...
, where he would take up residence. Walton served as member of the New Mexico Territorial Legislature in 1901 and 1902, then served as County Clerk of Grant County
Grant County, New Mexico
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*84.9% White*0.9% Black*1.4% Native American*0.4% Asian*0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*2.8% Two or more races*9.8% Other races*48.3% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
1903-1906.
In 1908 Walton was selected as the delegate
Delegate
A delegate is a person who speaks or acts on behalf of an organization at a meeting or conference between organizations of the same level A delegate is a person who speaks or acts on behalf of an organization (e.g., a government, a charity, an NGO, or a trade union) at a meeting or conference...
to the Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
, then served as chairman of the New Mexico Democratic Central Committee in 1910.
Next he went to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, to lobby for statehood
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
for the territory, as a member of the New Mexico Constitutional Convention in 1911.
After New Mexico became a state, Walton served in the New Mexico Senate
New Mexico Senate
The New Mexico Senate is the upper house of the New Mexico State Legislature. The Senate consists of 42 members, with each senator representing an equal amount of single-member constituent districts across the state. All senatorial districts are divided to contain a population on average of 43,300...
1912-1916.
Walton was elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
"At-Large
At-Large
At-large is a designation for representative members of a governing body who are elected or appointed to represent the whole membership of the body , rather than a subset of that membership...
" to the Sixty-fifth Congress
65th United States Congress
The Sixty-fifth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from March 4, 1917 to March 4, 1919, during the fourth and fifth...
(March 4, 1917-March 3, 1919). He did not seek renomination, but was an unsuccessful candidate for election
Election
An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy operates since the 17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the...
to the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
in 1918.
He returned to Grant County and resumed practicing law in Silver City, New Mexico. On November 2, 1926 Walton was elected District Attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
of New Mexico's Sixth Judicial District, he was reelected in 1928 and served until 1932. He continued the practice of law until 1934, when he retired from active pursuits.
He had three children, Leona Walton Neblett (a talented concert violinist and violin teacher), Eda Lou Walton Mandell (a former member of the faculty of New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
, head of the English Department), and William B. Walton, Jr.
He died in Silver City on the April 14, 1939, and was interred in the local Masonic Cemetery.