Henry Walker

WALKER, SHELLADAY, FAIRALL

Posted By: Linda Linn (email)
Date: 8/11/2008 at 20:25:29

Henry Walker

HENRY WALKER DIED TODAY
Man of Forty Accidents Finally Meets Death
River Junction Pioneer Passes Away After an Illness of About Two Weeks --
Hale and Hearty. Henry Walker of River Junction is dead.
His final hour came at the University hospital at 7 o'clock this morning after an illness of about two weeks. He had been confined to the hospital for about ten days.
Henry Walker was one of the best known men in Johnson County and his remarkable life's history was filled with series after series of accidents. No less than forty times he has faced death or serious injury and in each instance has recovered to tell the story of what happened and patiently await the next accident.
The deceased was one of Johnson County's most noted characters. As a pioneer in the life of the community he has furnished its history with some of the most remarkable incidents that have ever happened here. His 82 years life included and active participation in the famous California gold rush of 1849, together with a continuous residence of over sixty years in this community.
Mr. Walker, the deceased, was immensely wealthy. An active participation in the commercial life of the time had brought over 1200 acres of rich Iowa soil to his ownership in the vicinity of River Junction in addition to envied realty holdings in River junction itself.
The deceased leaves a daughter, Mrs. Mary Shellady to mourn his death, together with seven grand children and four great grand children. Mrs. Will Fairall, deceased was also a daughter of Mr. Walker.
The funeral will be held at River Junction tomorrow morning at 10:30 o'clock, interment being made at the Walker cemetery. Henry W. Walker came to Iowa in the year 1839 and settled on the farm near River Junction which now forms the nucleus to his extensive holdings. Samuel, James and Joseph Walker preceded him to Iowa by two years, coming to this state in 1837. Samuel, in company with Phil Clark and Eli Myers, the first white settlers in Johnson County.