Of those whose names are inscribed upon the roll of Scott County's prominent men, none deserves more honorable mention than he whose biography is briefly given in this sketch. Through many years of active life he was closely identified with various public interests and the impress of his personality is indelibly stamped upon numerous enterprises.
Beginning life under adverse circumstances, he boldly and persist ently pushed his way onward and upward, allowing no obstacle to check his progress, and by force of character and persistent effort he left a record of which his descendants may well be proud. John W. Walker first saw the light of day, July 29, 1821, in Beaver County, Pennsylvania . His parents were Isaac and Eliza J. (Reno) Walker, the former a native of New Hampshire, and the latter of Pennsylvania. They were married in Beaver County in 1820, and became the parents of eight children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the eldest. He received only a common school education, after which he learned the carpenter and joiner's trade, serving his apprenticeship with his father. When twenty years of age he started out to fight the battle of life on his own account, and went to Natchez, Mississippi, where he secured employment, and worked at his trade until the breaking out of the Mexican War. Having a taste for military life, and being desirous of seeing more of the world, he enlisted in the Seventh United States Infantry, Company D, and served under Generals Taylor and Scott, first as private. He was soon promoted, however, to first sergeant of the company, and participated in all the engagements of the regiment, the most noted battles being at Palo Alto, Monterey, Vera Cruz, Cerro Gordo, Contreras and the taking of the City of Mexico. The regiment was known as the “ Bloody Seventh , ” and never lost its flag in any engagement. Mr. Walker was the only surviving Mexican War soldier in Princeton Township, and one of the very few in Scott County.
He returned to St. Louis in 1849, where he received an honorable discharge, and from there went to Mason County, Illinois.
January 1, 1851, Mr. Walker was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Ringehouse, whose ancestors were natives of Germany. Of this union nine children were born: Elizabeth married William Blood, now deceased (he was a soldier in the late war); Lewis R. married Miss Theresea Schloeffel; Katie married William Henry; William R. married Miss Kate Vueman; Josie married Charles Williams; Hettie married John Green; John L. married Miss Emma R. Womert; Melvina married Charles Kerby.
In 1856 Mr. Walker came to Princeton, although not with the intention at that time of making it his future home. He was engaged in the erection of saw-mills in different parts of the Northwest and took a contract from a Mr. Forsythe to erect a mill in Princeton. Being favorably impressed with the location of the town and its surroundings, he purchased property and lived here up to the time of his death, July 9, 1895. In the latter part of the "fifties” he formed a partnership with a Mr. Patterson under the firm name of Walker & Patterson and erected a planing-mill in Princeton, which they operated for several years. In 1876 Mr. Walker, having become the owner of the mill, converted it into a flouring-mill, which he christened the Princeton Star Mills. In October, 1883, the plant, which was uninsured, was destroyed by fire, and the owner suffered a heavy loss.
For more than thirty years Mr. Walker operated the Princeton ferry in connection with his other business, and constructed and operated the first steam ferry boat at Princeton. At the beginning of the late war, having had military experience, he organized and drilled a company of troops in Princeton, which was known as the Princeton City Guards. Of this company he served as captain, receiving his com mission from the old war Governor, Samuel J. Kirkwood, in July of 1861. It was later incorporated into the Third Iowa State Militia, and at the close of the war Captain Walker was tendered the colonelcy of the regiment, but declined the honor. The following is a copy of a letter which was written him by the acting adjutant- general from Davenport, bearing on this subject:
STATE OF IOWA.
Adjutant-General's Office,
Davenport, Iowa, January 19, 1865. Colonel J. W. Walker,
Third Regiment Scott County Militia, Princeton, Iowa.
Dear Sir: Yours of the fourteenth instant received. In reply I have the honor to inform you that your commission as colonel of the above regiment was issued and forwarded to the company commissioner (Colonel James Thorington) on or about the twelfth instant, who will send it to you upon application, if he has not already done so. Your quartermaster and adjutant are not appointed from the line officers, but you will recommend whoever you choose, and their commission will be issued. In all cases where vacancies occur (by promotion or other wise) the commanding officer of this company orders a new election and reports proceedings to this department.
Yours truly,
FRAS H. IMPEE,
Acting Adjutant-General.
On the maternal side, Captain Walker was a lineal descendant of Francis Phillip Renault, and was one of the heirs to an estate which it is claimed is entitled to landed interests in Illinois and elsewhere. A body of land three leagues or nine miles wide, including the City of Peoria, Illinois, extending to the Mississippi river, and another tract of land in the American bottoms, opposite St. Louis, and on which East St. Louis is now located, are possessions to which the heirs of this estate have asserted their claim.
June 26, 1886, Mr. Walker's first wife died, and he was married a year later to Miss Addie Saunders. Politically he was identified with the Greenback party for many years and was a strong supporter of the movement to restore a bimetallic currency.
BIOGRAPHIES