WALKER, William J.

WALKER, BERRY, LYONS, MITCHELL, ROW

Posted By: Annette Lucas (email)
Date: 5/23/2021 at 09:03:59

SOURCE: Biographical History of Shelby and Audubon Counties, Iowa; W. S. Dunbar & Co., Publishers, 1889

WILLIAM J. WALKER, an active farmer of Hamlin Township, was born in Pike County, Missouri, September 21, 1834. He is a son of Thomas B. and Polly (Berry) Walker. The father was born in Virginia, but was reared in the State of South Carolina; the mother was a native of Missouri, and died when William J. was three years old. Thomas Walker was again married, to Susan E. Lyons, of Clinton County, Iowa, and resided in Iowa until his seventy-fifth year, when he removed to southwestern Nebraska; he died there October 19, 1888, in his seventy-ninth year. He had three children by his first marriage and eight by the last. William J. Walker passed his boyhood and school days in Clinton County. He received the educational advantages of the district school, which were somewhat meager. He remained with his parents until his nineteenth year, when he was married to Matilda H. Mitchell, of Clinton County, Iowa. Mrs. Walker was born in Adrian, Michigan, and is the daughter of Charles M. and Elizabeth (Row) Mitchell; she came to Iowa with her parents when a child of eight years. After his marriage Mr. Walker settled on a farm in Clinton County, and resided there until 1877, when he removed to Audubon County, and located on his present farm in Hamlin Township. The place contains eighty acres of excellent land, and he has made many valuable improvements. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Walker — Oscar E., in business in Omaha; Edward W., a farmer; Terry II. and Wilber L., both at home. Mr. Walker spent two years in Dakota, and improved a homestead there, but on account of the severe winters returned to Iowa.