Hon. William Walker

WALKER, SHERIDAN, BOWEN, BARHAN

Posted By: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs (email)
Date: 5/18/2009 at 13:40:09

1889 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF
SHELBY AND AUDUBON COUNTIES, IOWA
W. S. DUNBAR & CO., PUBLISHERS
113 ADAMS STREET, CHICAGO

pages 744-749

HON. WILLIAM WALKER has been
identified with the interests of Audu-
bon County since the year 1855. He
was born in Huron County, Ohio, March 2,
1834, and is the son of Joseph and Catherine
(Sheridan) Walker. His father was a native
of England, and emigrated to America when
a young man. His mother was a native
of Ireland, and was brought to this country
when a child. After his marriage Joseph
Walker settled in Huron County, remaining
less than one year; he then removed to Ber-
rien County, Michigan, and settled on a farm,
there passing the remainder of his days. He
died in 1867; his wife, who survives him,
occupies the old homestead in Michigan; she is
the mother of ten children, five sons and five
daughters. William spent his youth on his
father's farm, where his services were usually
in demand, as he was the oldest son. He re-
ceived the advantage of a district-school ed-
ucation, and at the age of twenty-one years
he forsook the ancestral roof and went to
make his fortune in the far west, as Iowa was
then considered. He pre-empted 160 acres
of land in Andubon County, and entered 200
acres at $1.25 per acre; this secured to him
a home which he began to improve as his
means would allow. In February, 1857, Mr.
Walker was married to Miss Nancy J. Bowen,
the oldest daughter of W. H. and Elizabeth
Bowen, who came to Audubon County in
1853. W. H. Bowen is still living at the
age of seventy-seven years, and his wife died
in 1873. Mrs. Walker was among the pio-
neer school teachers of the county. After
his marriage Mr. Walker settled on his farm
on the west side of Troublesome Creek; this
being a most excellent piece of land, Mr.
Walker prospered, and as his means increased
he invested in another farm on the east side
of Troublesome Creek; this land is skirted
on the north by a heavy belt of timber which
affords the best protection to the live-stock
on this farm. Here Mr. Walker has erected
a fine two-story frame residence, a large barn
for horses, and numerous buildings for the
protection of live-stock. His landed estate
at present numbers 1,500 acres, the greater
portion of which is seeded down to grass.
Large numbers of cattle are fattened annually
on Mr. Walker's farm, and special attention is
given to the breeding of the higher grades of
live-stock. Mr. and Mrs. Walker are the
parents of nine children -- John E., Charles
W. (deceased), Frances A. (deceased), Laura
A., wife of J. D. Barhan; Ulysses S., Lula
May, Oliver M., Eva and J. Grant. Mr.
Walker has been politically identified with
his county as a member of the Legislature,
serving in the twenty-second session; he was
elected on the Republican ticket in 1887.
He has also served his township as clerk,
trustee, and treasurer of the school district.
He is a member of Exodus Lodge, No. 344,
A. F. & A. M. Mr. Walker cast his first
presidential vote for John C. Fremont. His
grandfather, William Walker, was a soldier
in the British army, and was present at the
surrender of Cornwallis. Mr. Walker began
life with small means, but his industry and
good management have served him well, and
to-day he is the owner of a handsome estate.