Wm. Walker goes missing 1875

WALKER

Posted By: Clayton co. Coordinator (email)
Date: 3/21/2005 at 19:39:58

Curious Mental Aberration
A few weeks ago Wm. Walker, a well-known citizen of Strawberry Point, left
home with horse and carriage, for Elkader, and suddenly was missing. No
trail of him could be found, except that he drew about $3,000 from the bank
at Elkader. From there he could not be traced. A few days ago he returned.
He says that while on his way to Elkader he felt a singular sensation in his
head, and then knew no more until he found himself at Clinton. It appears
that he drew the money at Elkader, went with his team to Dyersville, where
he left it, thence by cars to Dubuque, thence to Pennsylvania, where he
visited relations; thence returned, by what route he does not know, to
Clinton, where his reason suddenly returned; and finding himself in a city
he never saw before, he inquired its name, and was told. He at once
returned home, and subsequently found his team where he left it. Singularly
enough, his money was safe -- none missing but what he probably expended in
his trip. He was a sun-rised man when he woke up in Clinton.

-source: St. Louis Globe Democrat; December 24, 1875
-transcribers note: I find a Wm. Walker listed on the 1870 federal census living in Millville twp. He is age 34, a farmer, b. MO; wife Matilda and sons Oscar, Edgar & Terry.
-transcribed by S. Ferrall