Never married
Cause of death - myocardial failure
Arkansas City Daily Traveler
Arkansas City, Kansas
Friday, July 12th, 1940
page 7
Pioneer of County Dies
Alfred Bookwalter Passes in Winfield; A Colorful Life.
Winfield, Kas., July 12 - Alfred Bookwalter, 90, well known Cowley county landowner, self-termed pioneer, "hitchhiker," herdsman and farmer, died here Thursday. Death occurred at St. Mary's hospital where Mr. Bookwalter had lived since March 1939.
For some time Mr. Bookwalter had been in failing health but until about two months ago was able to make frequent trips to town - slight, a little bent, carrying a cane and in the summer time, wearing light colored trousers, white shirts and hat. He always wore a Van Dyke beard.
Born in 1849 in Pennsylvania, Mr. Bookwalter spent much of his boyhood in Ohio and moved to Indiana when he was 20.
Walked to Kansas
In 1869, Mr. Bookwalter started walking to Kansas, coming first to Pottawatomie county. He soon came on to Cowley county where he worked at various jobs. He borrowed $200 at 30 per cent interest, and bought his first claim near Hackney. Since that time, Mr. Bookwalter has boasted that he never borrowed any other money. About this time the railroad came to Wichita and a city on the prairie was started.
Mr. Bookwalter walked to Wichita in March of 1874 and soon got a job with some cattlemen from Texas and had driven to Wichita the first and according to Mr. Bookwalter's recollection, the only large herd to come to Wichita from Texas. Mr. Bookwalter was cook and herdsman for one of three divisions of the 10,000 head of cattle. Then the "grasshopper year" occurred. Having a chance to sell his land, Mr. Bookwalter did so and walked back to Indiana to spend the winter.
Back Again in 1875
In 1875 Mr. Bookwalter walked back to Kansas again and bought the claim in the South Bend district where the Clarence Roberts family now lives. The property is now owned by Miss Mary Sparks of Winfield. He bought three yoke of oxen and broke land for settlers. He lived in South Bend until 1903.
His only suvivors are nephews and nieces.
(transcribed by Judy Mayfield) April 2023
Cause of death - myocardial failure
Arkansas City Daily Traveler
Arkansas City, Kansas
Friday, July 12th, 1940
page 7
Pioneer of County Dies
Alfred Bookwalter Passes in Winfield; A Colorful Life.
Winfield, Kas., July 12 - Alfred Bookwalter, 90, well known Cowley county landowner, self-termed pioneer, "hitchhiker," herdsman and farmer, died here Thursday. Death occurred at St. Mary's hospital where Mr. Bookwalter had lived since March 1939.
For some time Mr. Bookwalter had been in failing health but until about two months ago was able to make frequent trips to town - slight, a little bent, carrying a cane and in the summer time, wearing light colored trousers, white shirts and hat. He always wore a Van Dyke beard.
Born in 1849 in Pennsylvania, Mr. Bookwalter spent much of his boyhood in Ohio and moved to Indiana when he was 20.
Walked to Kansas
In 1869, Mr. Bookwalter started walking to Kansas, coming first to Pottawatomie county. He soon came on to Cowley county where he worked at various jobs. He borrowed $200 at 30 per cent interest, and bought his first claim near Hackney. Since that time, Mr. Bookwalter has boasted that he never borrowed any other money. About this time the railroad came to Wichita and a city on the prairie was started.
Mr. Bookwalter walked to Wichita in March of 1874 and soon got a job with some cattlemen from Texas and had driven to Wichita the first and according to Mr. Bookwalter's recollection, the only large herd to come to Wichita from Texas. Mr. Bookwalter was cook and herdsman for one of three divisions of the 10,000 head of cattle. Then the "grasshopper year" occurred. Having a chance to sell his land, Mr. Bookwalter did so and walked back to Indiana to spend the winter.
Back Again in 1875
In 1875 Mr. Bookwalter walked back to Kansas again and bought the claim in the South Bend district where the Clarence Roberts family now lives. The property is now owned by Miss Mary Sparks of Winfield. He bought three yoke of oxen and broke land for settlers. He lived in South Bend until 1903.
His only suvivors are nephews and nieces.
(transcribed by Judy Mayfield) April 2023
Never married
Cause of death - myocardial failure
Arkansas City Daily Traveler
Arkansas City, Kansas
Friday, July 12th, 1940
page 7
Pioneer of County Dies
Alfred Bookwalter Passes in Winfield; A Colorful Life.
Winfield, Kas., July 12 - Alfred Bookwalter, 90, well known Cowley county landowner, self-termed pioneer, "hitchhiker," herdsman and farmer, died here Thursday. Death occurred at St. Mary's hospital where Mr. Bookwalter had lived since March 1939.
For some time Mr. Bookwalter had been in failing health but until about two months ago was able to make frequent trips to town - slight, a little bent, carrying a cane and in the summer time, wearing light colored trousers, white shirts and hat. He always wore a Van Dyke beard.
Born in 1849 in Pennsylvania, Mr. Bookwalter spent much of his boyhood in Ohio and moved to Indiana when he was 20.
Walked to Kansas
In 1869, Mr. Bookwalter started walking to Kansas, coming first to Pottawatomie county. He soon came on to Cowley county where he worked at various jobs. He borrowed $200 at 30 per cent interest, and bought his first claim near Hackney. Since that time, Mr. Bookwalter has boasted that he never borrowed any other money. About this time the railroad came to Wichita and a city on the prairie was started.
Mr. Bookwalter walked to Wichita in March of 1874 and soon got a job with some cattlemen from Texas and had driven to Wichita the first and according to Mr. Bookwalter's recollection, the only large herd to come to Wichita from Texas. Mr. Bookwalter was cook and herdsman for one of three divisions of the 10,000 head of cattle. Then the "grasshopper year" occurred. Having a chance to sell his land, Mr. Bookwalter did so and walked back to Indiana to spend the winter.
Back Again in 1875
In 1875 Mr. Bookwalter walked back to Kansas again and bought the claim in the South Bend district where the Clarence Roberts family now lives. The property is now owned by Miss Mary Sparks of Winfield. He bought three yoke of oxen and broke land for settlers. He lived in South Bend until 1903.
His only suvivors are nephews and nieces.
(transcribed by Judy Mayfield) April 2023
Cause of death - myocardial failure
Arkansas City Daily Traveler
Arkansas City, Kansas
Friday, July 12th, 1940
page 7
Pioneer of County Dies
Alfred Bookwalter Passes in Winfield; A Colorful Life.
Winfield, Kas., July 12 - Alfred Bookwalter, 90, well known Cowley county landowner, self-termed pioneer, "hitchhiker," herdsman and farmer, died here Thursday. Death occurred at St. Mary's hospital where Mr. Bookwalter had lived since March 1939.
For some time Mr. Bookwalter had been in failing health but until about two months ago was able to make frequent trips to town - slight, a little bent, carrying a cane and in the summer time, wearing light colored trousers, white shirts and hat. He always wore a Van Dyke beard.
Born in 1849 in Pennsylvania, Mr. Bookwalter spent much of his boyhood in Ohio and moved to Indiana when he was 20.
Walked to Kansas
In 1869, Mr. Bookwalter started walking to Kansas, coming first to Pottawatomie county. He soon came on to Cowley county where he worked at various jobs. He borrowed $200 at 30 per cent interest, and bought his first claim near Hackney. Since that time, Mr. Bookwalter has boasted that he never borrowed any other money. About this time the railroad came to Wichita and a city on the prairie was started.
Mr. Bookwalter walked to Wichita in March of 1874 and soon got a job with some cattlemen from Texas and had driven to Wichita the first and according to Mr. Bookwalter's recollection, the only large herd to come to Wichita from Texas. Mr. Bookwalter was cook and herdsman for one of three divisions of the 10,000 head of cattle. Then the "grasshopper year" occurred. Having a chance to sell his land, Mr. Bookwalter did so and walked back to Indiana to spend the winter.
Back Again in 1875
In 1875 Mr. Bookwalter walked back to Kansas again and bought the claim in the South Bend district where the Clarence Roberts family now lives. The property is now owned by Miss Mary Sparks of Winfield. He bought three yoke of oxen and broke land for settlers. He lived in South Bend until 1903.
His only suvivors are nephews and nieces.
(transcribed by Judy Mayfield) April 2023
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