Crandall C. Walker

WALKER, NELSON, FRY

Posted By: Fran Hunt, Volunteer
Date: 10/3/2001 at 21:08:51

From the Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties – 1890
CRANDALL C. WALKER
Crandall C. Walker, auditor of Van Buren County Iowa, and a resident of Keosauqua, was born in Mercer County Pennsylvania, November 8, 1849, and is a son of Harvey and Anna M. Nelson Walker. In 1854, when our subject was but five years of age, the family emigrated to Knox County Illinois and three years later made a settlement in Bourbon County Kansas but at the time of the border warfare, were forced to leave the state, on account of the radical abolition principles, which Mr. Walker entertained. He and his family afterwards became residents of Jefferson County Kansas and when the War for the Union broke out, anxious to aid his country in the preservation of the Union, he enlisted in the famous Graybeard Regiment of Kansas. Mr. Walker was personally acquainted with Jim Lane and John Brown, two of the most noted characters connected with the early history of the late war. He has lived to see the entire abolishment of slavery with scarcely even a trace of its existence remaining and yet makes his home in Jefferson County, where he and his wife are widely known. In their family were eleven children, namely: Crandall C., Claudius D., Marion D., Marvin L., Olina, Ellis F., Schuyler R., Mitchell H., Roland, deceased Annie and Willie. Mr. Walker is a man of the strictest integrity and uprightness who can not be induced to swerve from the path of duty, and his life makes an impress upon the character of all those with whom he comes in contact. The principles of the Whig Party received his support in his early life, but afterward, he became identified with the Abolitionists, and is now a stanch supporter of the Republican Party.
Crandall C. Walker, whose name heads this sketch acquired his early education in the pioneer schools of Kansas, after which he attended Baker’s University in Baldwin City Kansas but before completing the course, failing strength forced him to abandon his studies. The next three years he spent in the southern part of the State for the purpose of regaining his health, after which he came to Iowa in 1874. It was his intention to further prosecute his studies in Mt Pleasant, but his exchequer becoming somewhat exhausted; it was necessary to replenish it, before he could carry out his plans. In the winter of 1875-76 he was a student in Knox College of Galesburg Illinois and during the succeeding twelve years he devoted his attention to school teaching in Van Buren County Iowa and in Illinois and Kansas.
In 1877, in Winchester, Van Buren county Iowa, Mr. Walker was united in marriage with Miss Flora D. Fry, daughter of A.A. Fry, of that place. He then embarked in farming and in connection with his father-in-law, owned the first draft horse in the county, since which time he has made a business of breeding horses. In 1889, he was elected to the office of County Auditor, by the Republican Party, of which he has ever been a stalwart advocate. He has been a resident of Keosauqua since 1881.
Mr. and Mrs. Walker are the parent so of three children—Ethel, Florence and Vedah, and also lost one in infancy. Their church relationship is with the Methodist Episcopal, of which they are faithful members. As an educator, stock raiser and public officer, he has been successful and is regarded as a representative and worthy citizen of the county.
I am not related, and am only copying this for the information of those who might find this person in their family.