Walton family donates their grandfather’s relics to museum

Kayne Pyatt, Herald Reporter
Posted 7/13/18

Reuel Walton's granddaughters travel to Evanston to donate to museum

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Walton family donates their grandfather’s relics to museum

Posted

EVANSTON — On Saturday, July 7, the Uinta County Museum received a special donation from two of the granddaughters of Reuel Walton. Walton was a respected attorney, district judge, and Wyoming state senator from 1910 until his death in Evanston on Sept. 16, 1956.

The artifacts given to the museum include two 48-star American flags, ledgers, letters, music scripts, a trombone, news clippings, pictures, and a gun that was evidence in a murder trial.  

Shari Lieby and Mara Bishop Statnekov are cousins whose mothers, Rose and Dorothy, were the daughters of Reuel Walton. They came from Washington and New Mexico, respectively. The cousins decided to donate some of the Walton memorabilia to the museum because their grandfather was such a prominent figure in Evanston’s history and they wanted it preserved.

They made the trip to Evanston purposefully for that reason and to bury the ashes of Dorothy and Charles Bishop, Mara’s parents, next to the rest of the Walton family.

The history of the Walton family begins in nearby Woodruff, Utah. Reuel Walton was born Nov. 7, 1880, in Woodruff, the third child in a family of 13 children. Shari and Mara said that the Walton children could each play three different musical instruments and the family had its own orchestra at one time.  

Reuel continued to play the trombone and was part of a local band as an adult. After finishing public schools in Woodruff and Salt Lake, Reuel attended the Brigham Young Academy in Provo, Utah. He studied law at the University of Utah and was admitted to the bar in both Utah and Wyoming. Reuel married Florence M. Lewis of Evanston on Nov. 28, 1912, and began his law practice.  

Walton was elected as Uinta County Attorney in 1918 and held that position until 1932. He was then appointed district judge of the Third Judicial District of Wyoming, serving until 1934. He was elected justice of the peace in 1940, and served as court commissioner from 1943 until his death.

Walton was a state senator for several terms, and upon his death the family received a copy of the resolution of deep sympathy from the Wyoming Senate that was read at the 34th session of the Wyoming State Legislature in Reuel’s honor.   

Walton was highly regarded in the Evanston community during his lifetime. He spent many years in public service both in Evanston and in the state of Wyoming. He and his wife Florence participated in the Evanston Social Club and were active members of the Evanston community.

Museum director Kay Rossiter and curator Mary Walberg said they are very thankful to the Walton family for the donation of this important memorabilia, which adds another piece of Evanston history to the museum’s growing collection.