Christopher C. Walker

CHRISTOPHER C. WALKER,

TOCK-RAISER and farmer, resides on Section 23, post-office, New Madison, O. Of the successful farmers of Darke county, Mr, C, C, Walker is probably the most extensive; he makes a specialty of fine Short-Horn cattle and Poland- China hogs. He was born in Baltimore county, Md., August 23, 1829, and brought to Darke county by his parents, Christopher and Hannah (Marshall) Walker. They first settled in Butler township, he remaining at home until after he became twenty-one years of age, receiving such an education as an attendance of two to three months in the year at the common schools of that day would afford. In 1851 he entered as equal partner in a store at Braffettsviile, and soon afterward his brother Daniel purchased the other half and they remained in business about seven years. He was united in marriage January 27, 1854, with Miss Mary C., daughter of Thomas C. and Nancy Brawlev, natives of Virginia, and pioneers of Darke county. Miss Mary was born in Harrison township October 20, 1834, and they first kept house in Braffettsviile. In 1858 Mr. Walker became dissatisfied with his store experience, sold out, and they removed to a farm near Braffettsviile; in 1862 he purchased and they removed to the farm upon which they now reside. From 1862 to 1866 he was engaged with his brothers Edwin and Daniel in buying and shipping hogs, but the decline in prices caused them to lose heavily and they abandoned it, and he has since devoted himself to farming and raising stock, the latter being a specialty/ During the year 1879 he erected a fine barn 60x48 feet, with an L 54x4° leet> ie whole conveniently arranged for the accommodation of stock, and in 1884 erected a fine brick-house equally corresponding to the barn; these fine buildings need only to be seen to be appreciated, as they are the best the writer ever saw on a farm. Mr. and Mrs. Walker are the parents of nine children, viz: Nellie, born April

29, 1855; Lon C.f born February 27, 1857; Minnie, born October

28, 1858; Douglas, born May 21, 1860; Thomas C., born

January 20, 1862, died August 7, 1862; Harry G., born June 29, 1863; Nancy B., born April 17, 1865, a daughter, born December 7, and died December 29, 1867, and Mary, born December 6,

1868; (yes, and all are good Democrats). Their fa mil) with two exceptions are grown to manhood and womanhood, and all but two are still under the parental roof. Mr. Walker now owns one hundred and eighty-five acres in Preble county and two hundred and fifty in Harrison township, besides the home farm of four hundred and sixty-one acres. His residence is situated on an eminence bordering the beautiful little valley of East Fork, a branch of the Whitewater river; this branch runs through a portion of the farm and affords excellent and abundant water for his stock. Mr. and Mrs. Walker are sociable, agreeable people, and highly respected citizens. We would especially mention Mr. Walker’s excellent breed of Short- Horn cattle. He has the reputation of being one of the most successful breeders in the United States, having bred and sold some of the finest and most successful specimens of the Short-Horn stock. Following are a few of the fine animals: First, the (Profitable) family, tracing to the imported

Beauty: Profitable 16th, Profitable 21st, and Profitable of New Madison 2d; Mayflower family, tracing to the imported cow Matilda; Red Rose family, tracing to imported- Rosemary; Rose of Sharon family, tracing to the imported Rose of Sharon. As early as I S 1 1 this breed of cattle was looked after and bred by the most practical and skillful breeders, and have been improved every year since that time until they are recognized the world over among cattle men as the finest of all the breeds. It should be looked upon with great pride by the citizens of Ohio, and more especially by the citizens of Darke county, that Mr. Walker is an Ohio man. The Rose of Sharon Short-Horn stock, (of which he is a breeder of American tame, ) are beauties to look upon. Some of this stock bred by him have been exhibited at all the famous stock shows and fairs in the United States, and he has won more first and sweepstake prizes than any other Ohio breeder of the Short-Horn family. The bulls at the head of the herd now in his possession, are as follows: Adam Sharon 3d and Sycamore

Thorndale, both pure Rose of Sharon. Piease notice in the accompanying engraving the following: Red Rose of Sharon 9th,

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

Mr. Walker is also an extensive breeder of Poland-China hogs, having bred and sold and now owns some of the most famous stock of that family in the United States. The stock now owned by him are the productions of the boar World

Beater, one of the most famous hogs ever bred, and the worldfamous sow Duchess ist, sired by World Beater. This sow, bred and owned by Mr. Walker, was the most famous sow the world has ever known, she having bred him nine letters of pigs, reaching the number of sixty nine; the sales of sixty-two head of these realizing $2960. If you are interested in hog breeding you should not fail to see Mr. Walker’s famous herd.

As printed in A pictorial outline history of Darke County, Ohio with portraits and biography of prominent citizens of the county, county and ex-county officials, attorneys at law, city officials, bankers, capitalist (1889). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.