John K. Waller

WALLER, KING, GARDNER, WARD, DYE, GROVES, KING

Posted By: Fran Hunt, Volunteer
Date: 10/3/2001 at 07:30:21

From the Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties - 1890
JOHN K. WALLER
John K. Waller, grocer and proprietor of a restaurant and public hall in Milton is numbered among the pioneers of Van Buren County of 1845. He was born in Sussex County Delaware, March 26, 1826, and is a son of William and Mary King Waller, who were also natives of Delaware and of Scotch descent.
When the subject of this sketch was seven years of age he removed with his parents from the state of his nativity, and journeying westward, settled in Versailles, Marion County, Ohio, where he grew to manhood, receiving such educational advantages as the common schools of that day afforded. In 1845 the family immigrated to Iowa making the journey by team, and arrived in Van Buren County on September 28. Our subject settled in Chequest Township, where he engaged in farming until the spring of 1849, when he was employed on board a steamboat on the Mississippi River, to which pursuit he devoted his energies for two years, or until the spring of 1851, when he crossed the plains to California with mule teams. He was engaged in mining in the gold fields of the Pacific Coast form July 6, 1851 until August 18 1855, when he returned to his home by the way of the Isthmus of Panama and New York. His father died of cholera on September 28, 1855, and John K. took charge of the farm in Chequest Township, belonging to the estate, which he operated from the spring of 1856 until 1864. On September 21 1863, he was united in marriage with Miss Lucinda Gardner, a native of Rush County, Indiana and a daughter of Aaron and Clarissa Gardner. Two children, a son and a daughter, have been born of their union—Clara, who is now the wife of John W. Ward, a resident of Grandview, Douglas County, South Dakota; and William Clay, who married Miss Alice Dye and is a resident of Isabel Kansas.
In the spring of 1864 Mr. Waller removed to Montana Territory with his family and at Virginia City, Helena and other points engaged in mining. In May 1866, he returned to Iowa and soon afterward he entered the service of the Chicago & Rock Island Railroad Company as local agent at Summit, Van Buren County, where he continued for three years. His next vocation was the grocery business, in which he embarked in Bloomfield, Davis County, carrying on operations in that line until 1874, when he went to the Black Hills. After one summer spent in that mining region without satisfactory results, he returned to Van Buren County Iowa, locating in Milton, Where he has since been engaged in the grocery business. He is also proprietor of a restaurant and public hall.
On March 11, 1880, in this city, Mr. Waller was united in marriage with Mrs. Emma Ruth Groves, widow of John Groves, and a daughter of William King. The lady was born in Sussex County Delaware, and in 1841 came with her parents to Van Buren County, where she has since made her home. In politics, Mr. Waller is a Democrat, and socially is a member of Aurora Lodge, No. 50, A.F. & A.M., also of Jackson Lodge, No. 25, K.P., both of Milton. He is recognized as one of the enterprising businessmen of that place and is highly esteemed by his fellow citizens.
I am not related, and am posting this biography for those who may find this person in their family history.