Preheat oven to 350F. Grease and flour 1 large loaf pan. Sift together the dry ingredients. Combine the vegetable oil, water, canned pumpkin and eggs. Slowly add dry ingredients to egg mixture, (about 1/2 cup at a time) and mix until blended.
Pour mixture into loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 1 hour and 30 - 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean and top of bread is browned. Cool bread in loaf pan on a rack for 15 minutes. Remove bread by running a knife around the inside and turning loaf upside down to dislodge bread. Cool completely. Serve warm with butter.