Walter P. Headley was born November 3, 1815, on a farm in Greene County, Pennsylvania. His parents were John and, Eliza (Huffman) Headley. He was educated in the common schools and began teaching when he was seventeen years old. He taught one term and in 1865 decided to come west, where he would stand better chances to obtain employment. Coming to Scott County he taught here five or six terms of school during winters and worked by the day or month on farms in summer until he had accumulated about eight hundred dollars. He then formed a partnership with J. S. Smith, under the firm name of Smith & Headley, and embarked in the drygoods business in Le Claire, in 1870. The firm existed about ten years, when Mr. Headley bought the interest of his partner and since then has operated the business on his own account, becoming recognized as one of the prominent merchants of the County.
On December 31, 1872, Mr. Headley was united in marriage to Miss Sarah, daughter of Hon. Laurel and Mary Summers.
BIOGRAPHIES