Walker, Richard (1841-1892)

WALKER

Posted By: Volunteer (email)
Date: 3/28/2010 at 01:57:26

Richard Walker
Nov 28, 1841 - Aug 19, 1892

Richard Walker, deceased, who for many years resided in Pottawattamie county, where he successfully carried on general agricultural pursuits, was born in Hanover, New Hampshire, November 28, 1841. His father, the Hon. Richard Walker, was a native of Bradford, Massachusetts, born in 1810, and in 1818 he became a resident of Hanover, New Hampshire. On the 8th of March, 1837, he married Mary C. Swett, daughter of Stockwell Swett, who served as a general in the Revolutionary war. In 1842 they removed to East Lebanon, where they spent their remaining days, the father passing away July 28, 1890. He was a prominent and influential resident of his community, leaving the impress of his individuality upon public thought and action, his county and his commonwealth benefiting by his efforts in their behalf. He served for two terms in the state legislature and his brother David was also a member of the general assembly of New Hampshire at the same time and twice served as select man. Mrs. Richard Walker, the mother of our subject, was born October 20, 1810, at Hanover, New Hampshire, and died at Lebanon, that state, on the 22d of April, 1892.

They were the parents of three children: William G., who died at the age of twenty-two years; Richard, of this review; and Kate M., the wife of Hon. Lyman Whipple, a contractor and builder of Lebanon, New Hampshire, who for two terms represented his district in the state legislature.

Richard Walker, whose name introduces this record, resided at the place of his birth until about thirty-one years of age, and after acquiring a common school education he continued his studies in the New London Academy. He resided on the farm with his father until his marriage and was engaged in sheep-raising, which was the principal feature of his farming interests in New England. In 1872 he made his way westward to Dover, Bureau county, Illinois, and was there married to Miss Shuah B. Pierce, who was born in Dover on the 1st of March, 1852, a daughter of Caleb and Martha (Paddleford) Pierce. With his bride Mr. Walker returned to New Hampshire, where he spent one year on a farm, and then again went to Dover, Illinois. Soon afterward he bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, upon which he resided until his removal from Illinois to Iowa in March, 1880. He was living here at the time of the big cyclone, which occurred in June following his arrival. He bought a farm six miles east of Carson, in Center township, comprising one hundred and sixty acres of land, on which he erected a new residence and made many modern and substantial improvements. There he resided up to the time of his death, devoting his energies untiringly to agricultural pursuits, with the result that his farm became a productive and valuable property.
As the years passed three children were added to the Walker household. Wyllis Pierce resides upon the old home farm belonging to Mrs. Walker, now comprising two hundred and eighty acres of land.

There is also a farm of eighty acres in Grove township which Mrs. Walker has purchased since her husband's death. There are two dwellings on his farm and two sons reside in them. Richard Reno is also living on the old home place. Leon De Forest is with his mother, attending school. The eldest son, Wyllis, was married at Oakland March 18. 1897, to Lula A. Purdy, and they have two children--Shuah Isabel, born July 13, 1898; and Richard Wallace, born in November, 1901.

Richard Reno Walker was married September 4, 1904, at Tekamah, Nebraska, to Mary Frances McPherson, who was graduated from the Woman's Christian Association hospital of Council Bluffs in November, 1900. They have two children-Robert Reno, born July 8, 1905; and Kathryn Alice, born October 16, 1906. Mr. and Mrs. Walker lost their only daughter, Martha, when four years of age. The death of the husband and father occurred August 19, 1892.
Mr. Walker was a stanch republican in politics but manifested only a citizen's interest in the political situation of town and country, never desiring or seeking office as a reward for party fealty. He was a man of domestic taste, devoted to the welfare of his wife and family, and he also held friendship inviolable, so that many who knew him mourned his loss. For twenty-one years he was a faithful member of the Odd Fellows society and he was ever loyal to the trust reposed in him and equally faithful to the principles which guided his life and shaped his conduct. While he did not seek to figure prominently in public affairs, he was known as one whose influence could ever be counted upon to further the general good. During the past three years Mrs. Walker has resided in Carson, where she has an attractive home and many friends