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Walker Brothers' livery stable was was opened by them in the spring of 1881, on the corner of Second and Chest- nut streets, where they still are in business. In 1884, they erected on this lot, a fine large building, 50x140 feet in ground area, two stories high, which they occupy themselves. This structure cost about $3,000 They use about twenty-seven head of horses, and have a large turnout of excellent buggies, carriages, etc. They are, also, proprietors of the omnibus line, which they put on in March, 1881.

Arthur and Job Walker, of the firm of Walker Brothers, are sons of Henry and Mary (Hines) Walker. Their father had been a justice of the peace in Canton Illinois, and in business was a contractor and builder, but afterwards dropped this to confine his entire attention to the practice of the law. He died August 18, 1861. Arthur Walker was born in Canton, Illinois, August 15, 1854. He spent his early life there, receiving the educational advantages afforded by the local schools there. He then began the study of law in the office of his brother, Meredith, and in 1871, he attended the law department of the Ann Arbor, Michigan university. He then continued his legal studies with his brother, and at the June term of the Illinois supreme court, in 1875, he was admitted to the bar, and commenced the practice of law the same year. He continued in this profession until some time in 1877, when, developing a taste for business pursuits, he went to Denver, Colorado, and started in the livery business. The undertaking proved successful, and early in 1881, finding an opening in Atlantic, he removed here with his brother to embark in the livery business, and make a permanent location. How well they have succeeded, their well-known progress since coming here will tell. Arthur was married in Illinois, in 1880, to Estella M. Edmiston, of Canton.

Job Walker, of the same firm, is a native of LaPorte, Indiana, and was born February 9, 1838. When he was two years of age, his parents removed to Canton, Fulton county, Illinois, where his father was in business as before stated. On arriving at suitable age, and having acquired the necessary qualifications, he commenced attendance at Lombard university, and was within one year of completing the scientific course, when his father died. This occurrence threw upon him the responsibilities of the family and the care of the property, and he accordingly quitted college, and went to work on the farm, which was part of his father's possessions. While at home, he was chosen treasurer of Fulton county, and served the people four years in that capacity. He remained in that county till 1877, when he came to Atlantic, and engaged in the lumber business. After two years here, he went to Denver, and after being engaged in the livery business there till 1881, he came back to Atlantic with his brother, and embarked in the same business here. He was married in 1872, to Miss Crosler, a daughter of Jacob Crosler.

The Walker Brothers are among Atlantic's most wide-awake business men, and are courteous, affable gentlemen. They are all quite large owners of city and county property, and to-day the owners of the finest livery in Cass county.

The livery stable of Slater and Eller was commenced by them in 1883, and is in a building twenty-eight by eighty, with a carriage house fifty by fifty feet in addition. They have about twenty-four head of horses.

In the fall of 1883, L. B. Mapes engaged in the livery business on the corner of Third and Walnut streets, where he is now located. The building was erected in 1878, by R. M. Pearson. It is a story and a half, frame structure, fifty by one hundred and thirty feet in ground area, and cost $1,800. Mr. Pearson operated the barn until the spring of 1881, when he disposed of it to E. O. Hoyt, who afterward sold it to the present owner.

Park livery barn, operated by Porter and Yearick, was erected in the fall of 1883, and is thirty by eighty feet in dimension, two stories high, with an L, seventy by sixteen feet, one story high.

J. A. Hayden, one of the business men of Atlantic, is a photographer, and has his studio on the southwest corner of Chestnut and Fourth streets. In this branch of business Mr. Hayden succeeded T. J. Luccock, commencing the trade in August, 1880. The subject of this sketch was born in Ohio, but when a child, removed with his parents to Mt. Vernon, Iowa. He began learning his business in the fall of 1874, in the photographic art rooms of M. H. Eberhart, at Mt. Vernon, and was subsequently employed in DesMoines and elsewhere, previous to coming to Atlantic in the spring of 1878. Mr. Hayden is a skillful artist, and as such, has gained a high reputation, and established a lucrative business. He was married in 1882, to Estelle Winslow, daughter of J. W. Winslow, of the city of Atlantic.

Joshua L. Smith is a native of Yates county, New York, and was born on the 18th day of June, 1825. While Joshua was quite a small boy his parents removed to Steuben county. New York, where he grew to manhood and received a district school education. In 1848 he went to Kentucky, first engaging in the sale of the Seth Thomas' clocks, but afterwards embarking in mercantile business in Louisville, under the firm name of Smith and Winchester. Their sales being mostly in the South, they abandoned the business at the breaking out of the war, and Mr. Smith entered the army as Sutler of the Twenty-first Kentucky Volunteer Infantry, under General Rosecrans. In 1852 he was married, in Kentucky, to Eliza Ann Richardson, a native of that State. By this marriage they have eight children--Allen R., who is in the stock business in Custer county, Dakota; Clara, the wife of George W. Felt, of Cass county; Minnie, the wife of Albert Gravely, of the firm of Smith and Gravely, of Atlantic; George W., who is railroading in Mexico; Edward W., station agent of Va., E. T. & G. R. R., in Alabama; Lutie, Logan and Fannie. In September, 1864, Mr. Smith removed to Cass county, Iowa, and located on section 14, in Turkey Grove, now Atlantic township, where he followed farming nineteen years. In the spring of 1883 he moved into Atlantic, and is now engaged in running a feed store. Mrs. Smith and her two eldest daughters are members of the Congregational church. Mr. S. has been justice of the peace for fourteen years and has also held other local offices. The county was mostly composed of wild prairies when he arrived, but he has lived to see the wonderful changes have been wrought. He made hay for two years on the land on which the city of Atlantic now stands. When he first came to the county he used to haul his surplus wheat to Des Moines, taking four days to make the round trip. He came to the county in company with two brothers--H. G. and Simeon, the trip taking fourteen days.

W. H. Kerrick was born in Franklin county, Indiana, on the 29th day of June, 1842. He is a son of Albert and Charlotte (Sparks) Kerrick, the former a native of Virginia and the latter a native of Ohio. They settled in Indiana, in 1830, where they remained until 1856, when they removed to Polk county, Iowa. Mr. Kerrick was a carpenter by trade, which he followed for many years. W. H. Kerrick came to Iowa when fourteen years of age and in February, 1862, enlisted in the Fifteenth U. S. Infantry and took part in the battles of Missionary Ridge, Stone River, Resaca, Peach Tree Creek, Georgia, seige [sic siege] of Atlanta, besides several skirmishes. He was wounded at Marietta, Georgia, July 4, 1864, and at Atlanta, Georgia, August 7, 1864. He was discharged February, 1865. After the war he was married in Madison county, Iowa, in November, 1865, to Mary Mann. They have five children--William O., Frederick, Myrtle, Charlotte, and Blanche. Mr. Kerrick is a Master Mason and a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He came to Cass county in 1877, and to Atlantic in 1879, where be has followed his trade most of the time, that of carpentering.

William A. Archer was born in Stark county, Ohio, December 14, 1847, and is a son of Henry and Anna (Long) Archer, who were the parents of three sons and two daughters, all living. In 1853 they removed to Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, and afterward returned to Ohio, where Mr. Archer's father died in 1883, and his mother in 1884. When sixteen years of age he was an apprentice for three years at Canton, Ohio, under Stebbins and Werts. In 1871 he came to Iowa, where he followed his trade, painting, in various places. He was married at Monticello, Jones county, Iowa, to Louisa Young, a daughter of John Young. In 1876 Mr. Archer came to Atlantic, where he has since followed his trade, and is considered one of the best painters of Atlantic. He is a Master Mason, of Pymosa Lodge, No. 271, and is secretary of Atlantic Lodge, No. 175, L O. O. F. Mr. and Mrs. Archer are the parents of one child--Mabel.

B. S. Willcock, proprietor of the Exchange billiard rooms, is a native of Cornwall, England, born in 1834. When about fifteen years of age, he came to this country with his father and family. They settled at Cleveland, Ohio, where his father resided until his death. The subject of this sketch learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for twenty-eight years. He resided for ten years at Duluth, Minnesota, and came from that city to Atlantic in 1871. He followed his trade here seven years. He kept the first temperance hall in this city. His present establishment is located on Fourth street, between Poplar and Chestnut. His rooms are pleasant and well furnished, and contain ten billiard and pool tables. This is known as the "Temperance Billiard Hall," and was opened by Mr. Willcock in 1881. His wife was formerly Lucinda King, a native of Wisconsin. They have five children--Carrie J., who was born in Superior City, Wisconsin; Clifford, Myrtle A. and Colonel B. The three last named were born in the city of Atlantic.

Frank Cox, road master on the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific railroad, was born on the 22d day of April, 1831, in Lower Canada, where he received a common school education. In 1849 he emigrated to Racine county, Wisconsin. In the fall of 1850, he returned to Canada, and remained till 1854, when he removed to West Springfield, Massachusetts, and worked in a cotton factory until the fall of 1861, when he went to the new town of Lucknow, in Canada West, and worked in a saw-mill until February, 1864, then returning to Massachusetts and working in the factory until June. He then commenced work on the Boston and Albany railroad, and in the same fall went to Pittsfield, Massachusetts, to take charge of the repairs on a section of road. In July, 1868, he went West to DesMoines, this State, where he was employed on the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific railroad as assistant road master, helping to build the road from Dexter to Council Bluffs, laying the track into what is now the city of Atlantic in December, 1868, and into Council Bluffs in April, 1869. In 1872 he was appointed to his present position. He has under his immediate charge from 200 to 250 men. Mr. Cox has been identified with the road since its construction, and his division is between Stuart and Council Bluffs, including also five branches, having in all 185 miles of road under his supervision. He was married, in Holyoke, Massachusetts, to Fannie F. Gardner, who died in this county on the 12th day of April, 1870. By this union there were four children, two of whom are still living--Frank L. and Charles A. He was again married, to Sarah A. Norris, a native of Pennsylvania, by whom he has had two children--Roye N. and Fannie L. Mr. Cox is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Knights of Pythias. He is a staunch Republican in politics.

Transcribed by Cheryl Siebrass, March, 2022 from: "History of Cass County, Together with Sketches of Its Towns, Villages and Townships, Educational, Civil, Military and Political History: Portraits of Prominent Persons, and Biographies of Old Settlers and Representative Citizens", published in 1884, Springfield, Ill: Continental Historical Co., pp. 873-877.