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Louis Walter

In the 1800's when horses and mules were the only mode of transportation or work power, good harness and saddle makers were in demand. Cheney boasted one of the finest shops of this kind in the country. Owned by Louis Walter, the shop soon achieved an enviable reputation for workmanship and reliability.

Louis Walter was born in Thuringea, Germany in 1853. He was an infant when his parents left their native land and brought their family to the U.S.

Mr. Walter learned the saddle and harness making trade as a youth in Minnesota then established his own business in Logan, Iowa in 1873, where he stayed until 1880. He came to Washington Territory that year traveling on the Old Oregon Trail. Late the same year he arrived in Colfax where he remained for a short time. News of the growing settlement of Cheney to the north reached him and seemed to offer better prospects for the future. He came to this community in 1881, set up shop on Main St. and opened for business. The vision of a successful enterprise soon materialized. In a relatively short time the Walter Harness Shop was so busy he hired James Watt, a Lance Hills homesteader who had given up mule-packing as a livelihood and turned to farming. He, too, was an experienced harness maker and made Louis Walter a dependable assistant in both the repair and production of fine harnesses.

Advertising was as important then as now and Mr. Walter made use of the Cheney Free Press by placing box ads picturing beautiful hand-tooled saddles and accessories. It bore the caption, "L. Walter, proprietor; Harness and Saddle Manufacturing ---- One door west of Bank of Cheney." It went on to advertise a fine line of trunks and valises; "the largest and finest harness and saddlery store in Washington. First rate repairing guaranteed at a reasonable rate. A complete stock of goods kept constantly on hand and at prices that defy competition."

Wares were also displayed in the shop windows but the small fry were attracted by a life-size wooden horse equipped with saddle which stood outside the store. Little boys looked forward to trips to the Walter shop with their father in order to climb on that horse. There they would sit "galloping", letting imagination run free. Many a youngster was chased by Indians on the warpath or won a wild race while waiting for their father. Meanwhile, the men were inside swapping stories, passing on the latest news and gossip, along with making necessary purchases or waiting for some repairs. Others congregated there just for the sociability or to discuss the latest city problems with Mr. Walter.

In 1882 Louis Walter took Ella Kallnor for his bride. Three children were born as time passed: Emma, Lillian and William. The latter joined his father in the business when he grew to manhood. Daughter Lillian had the distinction of being one of the first graduates of Cheney Normal School.

Louis Walter took pride in his community and could always be counted on to help when the need arose. During a time when the Normal School seemed in peril of being closed for lack of operating funds he was the first to come forward, using his own money to provide wood, lights and other necessities. He formulated a plan of local subscription until State funds could be appropriated. The plan gained the support of the entire business and private sector and the school was saved.

His family was of the utmost importance to him and he was always seeking ways to provide them with more comforts. The features we enjoy in our homes today were limited niceties in that era. A newspaper article in an old scrapbook tells how the remodeling of a Cheney hotel in the mid-1880's led to a "modern" bathtub becoming the property of Louis Walter. His daughter, Emma Falor, recalled the hotel owner decided to modernize the facility by installing bathtubs for the use of his guests. Three were ordered before it was determined one bathtub to each of the two floors was sufficient. The third tub was superfluous and Mr. Walter seized the chance to install this luxury item in his own home, the first private residence in town to claim such a novel convenience. It was a beautiful utilitarian object constructed of a copper elongated container fitted with a tin cover. Set flat on the floor, it reposed in all it's majestic glory awaiting the buckets of warm water from the cook stove reservoir to offer soothing relief and cleanliness after a day's toil.

Politics were of great interest to Louis Walter. He served in the State Legislature for a time and was chairman of the appropriations committee. Locally he was on the council for an extended period of time and was the second Mayor of Cheney, following Mayor Percival in 1886 and was again elected to that office from January 1, 1908 to September, 1909. In that year the question of re-incorporating the city was presented to the people. In order to qualify for the classification of a third class city the population according to State law must be over 1,500 but less than 10,000. A special election was duly advertised and held on June 7, 1909 with 126 electors voting for the change and 12 against. There then followed a special election of officers as stipulated by law, to be held September 10, 1909 in the council chambers of City Hall. All elected officers of the newly re-incorporated city were to be installed immediately after the results of the election were determined.

On September 13, 1909 a special meeting of the common council was called to canvas the returns of the election held three days previously in which 176 votes had been cast. G.A. Fellows succeeded L. Walter as Mayor. City council was made up of S.W. Webb, E.F. Betz, J.E. Buchanon, G.W. Lewis, J.J. Gholson, Peter Mouk and C.W. Macomber. Being qualified and present the new officers took their oath and were sworn in that same night.

The Louis Walter family were out-going folks and took part in neighborhood gatherings and social events in Cheney and surrounding countryside. The head of the household was a staunch member of the Cheney IOOF Lodge #21, the second lodge of that fraternity organized in Spokane County in 1881. Mr. Walter accepted nearly every office in the lodge at various times in his life here. He was a member of the Morning Star Rebekah Lodge #24 instituted in February, 1890 and assisted in securing its charter.

Death claimed this dedicated pioneer in May of 1924. He had spent 43 of his 79 years in business here. Out of respect of this beloved figure all stores and places of business closed at the time of his funeral. He was buried in Fairview Cemetery.

Contributed by Ellen Proctor, 1988.