The Walker Families of Stark County, Ohio

WALTER R. WALKER, stone-mason, Minerva; born on the Battle-ground of Brandywine, Chester Co., Penn., Oct. 12, 1810; son of Jacob and Rachel (Craig) Walker, natives of Pennsylvania. His grand-father was John Walker, native of Ireland. Mr. Walker moved to Ohio in 1833. He located in Paris Tp., Sec. 24, and purchased 60 acres. At 19 years of age, Mr. Walker began the mason's trade in Pennsylvania, farming a limited amount until his trade engaged a great deal of his attention. In 1847 he purchased 53 acres. In 1851 he added 40 acres more. To illustrate the endurance and energy of the subject of this sketch, it may be recorded that he made an overland trip on foot to Philadelphia, Reading and other eastern cities, but in the later days he has enjoyed this route by rail. Mr. Walker has not only improved the neighboring farms with buildings and stonework, but has left a standing monument of his skill, by putting himself up a durable stone residence, the most capacious stone dwelling in southern Stark Co. St. Valentine's day 1838, was appropriately celebrated by the union of Mr. Walter Walker and Miss Evalina Edwards. Of this union there were six children— Anna, Mrs. Thos. Newcomer, of Stark Co.; William, farmer and carpenter, Columbiana Co.; Hiram, farmer and saw-mill, Columbiana Co.; Lewis, running saw-mill in Columbiana Co.; Walter, farmer at home; Evalina, Mrs. John Lucas. Mrs. Evalina Walker died Sept. 23, 1871. Mr. Walker was re-married to Lydia Orr, March 13, 1873, no issue. In politics he was an " old line Whig," and a Republican since the birth of the party.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JACOB WALKER, farmer; P. O. Minerva. Among the descendants of the old and honorable families of Stark Co. is Jacob Walker, whose father was one of the leading men of the past generation of Stark Co. His grandfather, Jacob Walker, was a native of Ireland, born June 17, 1774, and a man of powerful endurance, making a journey in 1856 to Ohio, at the advanced age of 83, visiting among his grand-children. His father, Eli C. Walker, was born Oct. 2, 1808, in Chester Co., Penn., moved to Ohio in 1840, and located in Paris Tp., where he reared a family of nine children. His mother, Elizabeth (Barbary) Walker was a fit holp-inent for so earnest a husband, and shared in the many hardships of early days. The subject of this sketch was the first of the family born in Ohio, which event transpired Feb. 2, 1843. His father having died Sept. 28, 186?, Jacob remained on the homestead with his mother, and farmer the place until it was sold, in 1865, when Jacob and Joseph purchased it, after which Jacob bought out his brother, making a farm of 100 acres of choice land, and Mr. Walker yet a young man. He united general stock-raising with his farming, in that way utilizing all his own products. Sept. 29, 1864, he was united in marriage to Miss Henrietta Miller, of Minerva, and has been best with six children: Frederick C, 16 years; Susannah E., John Charles M., Jacob H., Alonzo Cye, Ira A.; all minors, at home. Mr. and Mrs. Walker are members of the Reformed Church. In politics he has always voted the Republican ticket, casting his first vote for A. Lincoln.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

MATHIAS WALKER, livery; Louisville. Among the descendants of some of, the old settlers of Osnaburg Tp., is the subject of this biography, who is a son of Mathias and Elizabeth (Baughman) Walker. Mathias Walker, Sr., is a native of Somerset Co., Penn., and was born April 29, 1810.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

J. M. WALKER, stock-raiser and farmer; P. 0. Marlborough; was born in Columbiana Co., Ohio, July 28, 1841. He is a son of Thomas and Mary (Huifman) Walker, and grandson of Thomas Walker, and is of Irish- German descent. His father was a native of Pa., but came to Ohio in 1821, where for a number of years he pursued the occupation of stone-mason and farmer, in Columbiana Co. He first married a Miss Battershell, liy whom he had three children, only one — William— is yet living. His second and last wife was the mother of our subject; Mrs. Mary (Huffman) Miner, daughter of John Huffman and widow of John Miner. By Mr. Miner Mrs. Walker had three children, only one of whom, John, is yet living. To the union of Mr. Walker and Mrs. Miner there were born three children — J. M., Thomas J. and one that died in infancy. Thomas married a Miss Lamb, and resides in Elkhart, Indiana. Mr. Walker died in Portage Co., in November, 1841, and Mrs. Walker died in May, 18G4. J. M. Walker was reared on a farm, and farming has ever since been his chosen occupation. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Co. A., ist Ohio Light Artillery, commanded by Captain W. F. '.Goodspeed, and was discharged at Cleveland in July, 18G5. In September, 1862, while at Mumfordsville, Kentucky, on detached duty, he was captured, paroled, and afterwards sent home, where he was finally exchanged, and the February following joined his company at Murfreesboro, Tenn. He was an active participant in the battles of Liberty Gap, Chickamauga, and all the battles of the Atlanta campaign, and afterwards at Nashville. At the close of the war he returned home, and November 23, 1865, married Miss Celestine Bloomtield, daughter of Lewis M. Bloomfield, appropriate mention of whom is made elsewhere in this work. To this marriage there were born two children — Zoraand Bertha. After his marriage Mr. Walker farmer two years in Portage Co., and in 1862 purchased his present farm of 72 acres, on which he immediately moved, and where he has resided to the present. He is an enterprising and go-ahead man. Is a Republican in politics and an excellent citizen.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.