Walker, Henry

WALKER, RHYNEBECK, BENSON, DARLING, NENSON, LLEWELLYN, SHADDUCK

Posted By: Volunteer Subscribers
Date: 4/15/2003 at 22:04:37

Source: "The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated" published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.

HENRY WALKER.

In the pioneer epoch in the history of this section of Iowa, Henry Walker came to Clinton county, and has been an important factor in its substantial development and permanent improvement. He has seen its wild lands transformed into fine farms, while industrial and commercial interests have been introduced and thus towns have become thriving cities. In the work of progress he has borne his part and has been particularly active as a representative of the agricultural interests of the county, but is now living a retired life on the old homestead in Elk River township, where his father’s family located in 1847.

Mr. Walker was born in Vermont, February 5, 1832, and is a son of William and Eliza (Rhynebeck) Walker, both natives of Ireland, and the latter of Scotch descent. Soon after their marriage in 1825, they emigrated to America and settled in the Green Mountain state, where the father purchased property and engaged in farming for some time. In 1836 he removed to Columbia county, New York, where he engaged in the same occupation upon rented land for ten years, and then started west in company with his wife and family. They journeyed by way of the Erie canal from Albany to Buffalo, New York, and by way of the Great Lakes to Chicago, which was then a mere trading post. By ox teams they proceeded to Sabula, Jackson county, Iowa, where they arrived after four weeks spent upon the road, it requiring two weeks to make the journey from Chicago. Our subject walked the most of that distance, hunting game for the sustenance of the family along the way. After spending about six weeks in Sabula, they located on section3, Elk River township, where the father operated a rented farm for about a year. In 1847 he purchased forty acres of wild land on the same section, it being now the property of our subject. At the time of purchase he erected the house which is still in good condition and is now used as a stable. It has the same shingles which were placed there when it was built in 1847, and which were made by hand by the subject, who at that time also manufactured shingles for neighboring farmers. The father made his home upon that farm throughout the remainder of his life with the exception of seven years spent in Lyons. In politics he was first a Whig and later a Republican, and was called upon to serve as township trustee and fill other minor offices. He died in 1877, at the age of seventy-four years, honored and respected by all who knew him, and his wife departed this life in 1858, at the age of fifty-two, the remains of both begin interred at Teeds Grove.

Unto this worthy couple were born nine children, namely: George, who died in 1872, and is also buried at Teeds Grove; Robert, who sent to California with the gold seekers in 1849 and is still a resident of that state; Byron, who died in Miles, Iowa; Henry, our subject; Wesley, who served in the Civil war as a member of Company A, Twenty-fourth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and is now engaged in farming in Nebraska; Jason and Dedwick, who both died in New York state; Jane, wife of J. S. Walker, of Preston, Jackson county, Iowa.

Henry Walker began his education in the common schools of the Empire state, and after the removal of the family to Iowa he attended school in Elk River township, this county, for a time. He aided in the arduous task of opening up a new farm, and broke prairie with six yoke of oxen. He is now the owner of the old homestead, which is a well improved farm, and has added considerably to the area of his land. He still has in his possession the original papers deeding this property to his father, signed by President Jackson. For many years he successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits, and although he still occupies the house he now rents the farm and is living a retired life, enjoying a well-earned rest.

In 1858 Mr. Walker was united in marriage with Miss Sarah C. Benson, a native of New York state, who came here with her brothers and sisters and engaged in teaching school prior to her marriage. The only child born of this union died in infancy, and the wife and mother passed away February 7, 1869, being laid to rest in Teeds Grove cemetery.

Mr. Walker was again married in October, 1869, his second union being with Miss Belle B. Darling, a daughter of Charles and Amanda (Nenson) Darling, both of whom were natives of Dutchess county, New York, and on first coming west in 1846 located in Wisconsin, but in 1852 removed to Clinton county, Iowa settling on section 17, Elk River township, where Mr. Darling purchased a quarter section of land. There he made his home until his death, which occurred in 1891, when he was seventy-three years of age. His wife died in 1894, at the age of sixty-eight, and both were buried at Teeds Grove. In politics he was originally a Whig and later a Republican. His children were Belle B., wife of our subject; Frank J., an engineer on the Chicago & Northwestern Railway, and a resident of Clinton; Charles Llewellyn, who died in 1901; and George H., who lives on his father’s place on section 17, Elk River township. Mr. and Mrs. Walker have one child, Grace D., who is now the wife of Willis J. Shadduck, of Miles, Jackson county, Iowa, and they have four children, Mabel, Homer, Gladys and Wayne.

By his ballot Mr. Walker supports the men and measures of the Republican party, and in religious faith he is a Methodist, he and his family holding membership in the church of that denomination at Teeds Grove. He can relate many interesting incidents of pioneer life in this county. When the family first located in Elk River township there were only two houses between their place and Lyons, and only one between there and Maquoketa. In those early days a number of neighbors would drive to Chicago with their grain and after disposing of it would buy merchandise, which they would bring back, starting on Monday morning, and if the weather was good arriving home on Saturday night. During his long residence in this county Mr. Walker’s life has been such as to commend him to the confidence of all with whom he has come in contact, and there is probably no man in his township that is held in higher regard or has more warm friends.