Walter Smiley Weatherwax was born on May 31, 1867, in Fort Scott, Bourbon County, Kansas, to William Cipperly Weatherwax and his wife Elizabeth Mary Smiley. Walter's siblings included William E. Weatherwax (1858-1859), Grace Ball Weatherwax (Mrs. Daniel Clements, 1865-1938); twin brothers Fred Van Allen Weatherwax (1870-1881) and Albert Weatherwax (1870-1870). Walter was just eight years old when financial and legal problems forced his parents to move to Denver, Arapahoe County, Colorado, on July 14, 1875. His parents were separated shortly thereafter, and were divorced in Denver, Arapahoe County, Colorado on March 27, 1878. By 1880, Walter was living with his father William C. Weatherwax in Durango, CO. At this point, Walter's mother had died and his younger brother, Fred, had been placed in an orphanage in San Francisco, CA. When Walter's father died on January 21, 1884, in Fort Scott, KS, the 16 year old Walter was able to find work with the cattle drives in Texas. In 1895, Walter Smiley Weatherwax met Anna Elisa Wallis while enroute to Deming, New Mexico Territory. They were married on September 1, 1896, by the Rev. N. W. Haukenupet in Deming, Luna Co., New Mexico Territory. While living in New Mexico, Walter filed for patents on several inventions. During the spring of 1913, Walter moved his wife Anna and their seven children to Los Angeles, CA. These children, all born in New Mexico, were Judge Wallis "Judd" Weatherwax (1897-1976), Doraneil "Dora" Weatherwax (1899-1979), Frank Thrall Weatherwax (1902-1991,) William McAlister "Mac" Weatherwax (1904-1986), Ruddell Bird "Rudd" Weatherwax (1907-1985), Jack Nathan Weatherwax (1910-1968) and Marguerite J. "Peggy" Weatherwax (1913-1973). Not long after arriving in Los Angeles, the Weatherwax children were able to find work in the silent film idustry that was beginning to flourish there. Sons Ruddell ("Rudd") and Frank later became famed Hollywood dog trainers, most notably of the series of male collies who portrayed Lassie in the movies and later on television. Walter himself was an excellent animal trainer and was noted for keeping some rather unusual specimens in the family's backyard...including, at one point, a very large bear.