Orin Edwin Walker 1868-1909

WALKER

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 9/2/2010 at 20:08:26

Found Dead In His Barn
Orin E. Walker Found Dead Early Thursday Morning

Orin Edwin Walker, a prominent farmer residing about three miles south of Estherville and within one mile of Raleigh, was found dead in his barn about seven o’clock Thursday morning, December 31st. The cause of his death is a mystery. He never complained of being sick and was around as usual the day before his death, in fact he came to Estherville and transacted considerable business with local merchants. One thing in particular he did was to call upon J. P. Littell and get his insurance policy in the Des Moines Life Insurance Company which Mr. Littell had written for $2,000 only a few days prior to that time. He went home and as far as the family noticed appeared perfectly natural. Mrs. J. B. Lamb was keeping house for him at the time and his five children were at home. He wrote several letters to relatives during the evening and retired about nine o’clock. The following morning when the family arose Mr. Walker was not in the house and in searching from him they found the following note evidently hurriedly written on the corner of an envelope lying on the dining room table. “My heart, oh my poor heart. I am going to the barn to get into the cold air.” His initials were signed to the note. The children went at once to the barn and opening the door in front of the horses found him lying on his back with his arms folded and apparently asleep. They tried to rouse him but found he was dead. Coroner Wilson was notified and he drove the Walker farm and learned the particulars as near as possible and also examined the corpse. The death seemed a mystery to him. He empanelled a jury composed of the neighbors of Mr. Walker and an inquest was held. Before the evidence was finished Coroner Wilson decided to hold a post mortem. Nothing was found, however, that would indicate that he died from the effects of poison. The stomach was removed and Dr. W. E. Bradley made a chemical analysis. From all indications he died a natural death. The coroner’s jury returned the following verdict:

“We find that the deceased came to his death between three and seven o’clock a.m. Thursday, December 31, 1908. The body being found in the alley of the large barn at the home of the deceased located near Raleigh, Iowa, and by evidence submitted to this jury it is our opinion that he came to his death by natural causes. We not believe he came to his death feloniously and that a crime has not been committed. M. M. Bendixen, W. E. Irland, J. H. Martin, Jurors”

Orin E. Walker was born March 27, 1868, at Virgil, Ill., and came to Spencer, Iowa, in 1885 and a few years ago moved to this county. Mrs. Walker died three years ago leaving six small children and these all survive Mr. Walker. He left $7,000 life insurance, $5,000 to the children and $2,000 payable to his aged father.

Funeral services were held in the Presbyterian church Sunday afternoon in charge of the Woodmen lodge of which he was a member and his remains interred in Oak Hill cemetery. (Estherville Democrat, Estherville, IA, January 6, 1909)