Walton, Joseph

WALTON, CLARK, ONEY, CHASTAIN, MARTIN, MCGINNIS, RANE, ALSBAUGH, HASLET

Posted By: Mary H. Cochrane, Volunteer
Date: 7/11/2019 at 20:52:02

JOSEPH WALTON

Although many years have since Joseph Walton was called to his final rest, there are still those in this county who remember him and cherish his memory because of his many admirable qualities of character. He was born October 30, 1841, in Indiana, a son of Lenhart and Elizabeth (Clark) Walton, both natives of Ohio and the former of Irish descent. They removed to Iowa with their family in the early ‘50s and the father purchased land on section 4, Eden township, Decatur county, which he cultivated for a number of years. He passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Henry Oney, in Eden township.

Joseph Walton accompanied his parents on their removal to this county and here grew to manhood, remaining upon the home farm until he reached mature years. He was early trained to agricultural pursuits, was energetic and industrious and possessed excellent judgment. One the 1st of October, 1868, he was married and a week later was taken ill with typhoid fever, which occasioned his demise on the 4th of November following at the home of his father on section 4, Eden township.

His widow was in her maidenhood Miss Mary E. Chastain, and her birth occurred on the 22d of January, 1836, in Putnam county, Indiana. Her parents, Levi and Louisa (Martin) Chastain, were both born in Bath county, Kentucky, and were descended respectively from French and from Irish and Yankee ancestry. They were married in their native county but removed to Indiana at an early day in the history of that state. For twenty-five years they resided in Putnam county, where the father carried on agricultural pursuits, but at the end of that time they removed to Iowa, locating on a farm in Eden township, Decatur county, which the father had purchased with a land warrant before leaving the Hoosier state. Subsequently he bought an adjoining one hundred and sixty acres and he continued to farm until he retired from active live and removed to Leon, where both he and his wife passed away. He took a great deal of interest in growing small fruit and was completely contented with planting, grafting or otherwise engaged in horticultural work. He was a democrat in politics and both he and his wife belonged to the Christian church while living in Kentucky. They were the parents of four children besides Mrs. Walton. Lucy is the deceased wife of J. B. McGinnis, of Indiana, who has also passed away. Licious Rane married Sarah J. Walton, who is now living in Center township upon a farm. Eliza A. died at the age of seventy-four years. John, a resident of Leon, married Sarah A. Alsbaugh.

To Mr. and Mrs. Walton was born a son, Joseph Willis, whose birth occurred on the 8th of May, 1869. He is farming in Eden township and is well known and highly esteemed in his community. He married Miss Ena Hazlet, and they have three children, namely: Mary, Margaret and Willie Hugh.

Following her husband’s demise Mrs. Walton resided upon the home place, which her son, Joseph Willis, began to operate as soon as he reached mature years. In 1905 she and her maiden sister, Eliza A. removed to a farm on section 4, Eden township, which Mrs. Walton owns, and there she is still living, although her sister passed away on the 23d of August, 1911. Mrs. Walton has reached the advanced age of seventy-nine years and yet is still active and takes a keen interest in the happenings of the day. She has the entire respect and the warm regard of all who know her, as she possesses many excellent qualities of character. During the many years that she has resided in the county she has witnessed a remarkable transformation and has taken much pleasure in seeing the advancement of civilization and the growth in the material prosperity of the county.