In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1903) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1812
From History of St. Clair County, Michigan, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources, its war record, biographical sketches, the whole preceded by a history of Michigan (1883), Biographical memoirs of St. Clair County, Michigan to which is appended a comprehensive compendium of national biography; memoirs of eminent men and women in the United States (1903)
JUDGE DEWITT C. WALKER, attorney at law, was born in Vermont in the year 1812, He graduated at Middlebury College. He studied law at Yale Law School, under Dewitt Dagget and Judge Dagget, and graduated in 1836. He then came to Romeo, Macomb Co., Mich., where he settled and began the practice of law, and continued twenty years; and in the meantime was Prosecuting Attorney two years. He was then elected a Representative one year; and was elected for two years to represent Macomb, St. Clair, Sanilac, Huron, Saginaw, Mackinaw and all of the Upper Peninsula in the Senate of the State; then in 1844 was reelected to the House for one year; was Regent of the State University of Michigan, in 1845; was a member of the House again in 1846; was a member of the Constitutional Convention, in 1850, that framed the present Constitution of the State of Michigan; was elected Judge of the Probate Court in 1862 for four years. He laid out and platted the town of Capac in 1857, having settled here in 1856. He donated the grounds for three churches in Capac, and was President of the first Council of the village of Capac, and is also President at the present writing, and has been for a greater portion of the time since the organization of the village. Judge Walker was, in 1846, mainly instrumental in securing the passage of a bill at the time of the sale by the State of its public railroad property, whereby the State is now annually benefited by the handsome sum of half a million of dollars, which will be augmental from year to year as the resources of the State become developed. He was also Chairman of the Educational Committee of five in 1850, who introduced the bill by which the present admirable system of free schools was secured to the State. Judge Walker being one of the representative men of the times, and possessed of those rare perceptive faculties, coupled with able executive abilities, has secured to himself in an honorable manner large possessions. Was at one time quite extensively engaged in milling and manufacturing in this county. In 1856, he built a saw and grist mill, which in 1866, were completely destroyed by fire, without any insurance. In 1837, he was married to Miss Adeline Ketchum, of Vermont, by whom he had seven children, five of whom are now living — Adelaide, Bernard, Dewitt, Lewis, Carrie and Byron; Frank and James, deceased. He lost his wife in 1872.
As printed in History of St. Clair County, Michigan, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources, its war record, biographical sketches, the whole preceded by a history of Michigan (1883). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
HON. DEWITT CLINTON WALKER.
Hon. Dewitt C. Walker was born at Clarendon, Vermont, July 17, 1812. He is a son of Lewis Walker, who was a well-todo farmer, born March 4, 1797. The father had a family of four children: Elmina Clarinda, born January 9, 1805, died January 28, 1836. August 24, 1826, she married Orrin Green, of Rutland, Vermont, who died soon after, leaving no children. Lewis Merritt, born February 24, 1808, was married to Adah Shepardson in 1829 and was the father of a family of seven children. He was a merchant and farmer in Clarendon, Vermont, and was prominent in the politics of the state. Sarah Marie was born March 23, 1810, and died June 24, 1843. J'y 3' 1835, she married George Tone, who died at an early day. Dewitt Clinton is the next in order of birth. He was married August 31, 1837, to Adeline Ketchum, of Sudbury, Vermont, who was the second daughter of Hon. Barnard Ketchum and born October
15, 181 1, and is now deceased. He is the father of eight children, Adelaide, born January 3, 1838; Barnard; Dewitt; Lewis, born June 18, 1846; Byron, born June 7, 1848; Caroline, born April i, 185 1; Frank, born December 15, 1853, and James Buchanan, born November 15, 1856.
At about the age of sixteen years, Dewitt C. Walker determined to obtain a liberal education, but his parents, wishing to keep both their sons at home upon the old homestead, were opposed to it and would not accede to his wishes or aid him in his desires for several years. They, however, gave him the facilities, as they did their other children, for securing a good academic education. Unknown to his parents he commenced the study of Greek and Latin while at the Castleton Academy, and made sufficient progress to enable him to pursue them without an instructor. On learning that he was engaged in such studies, his father took him from school and told him he had better learn the art of farming. He submitted to this cheerfully and continued to labor on the farm for some time, but also continued to pursue his studies as opportunity offered. During the winters he taught school, carefully saving the proceeds of his labor. In August, 1829, on the day which witnessed the close of the having season, his father gave his workmen an extra treat, which was then usual upon such occasions. Calling them together for this purpose, he foiuid that his son was absent, and upon inquiring where he was, he was told that he was in his room studying Latin. The son was sent for and upon being asked what good he supposed the Latin would ever do him, his reply was, 'T thought I could prepare myself to enter college by the time I am twenty-one years old." The father
As printed in Biographical memoirs of St. Clair County, Michigan to which is appended a comprehensive compendium of national biography; memoirs of eminent men and women in the United States (1903). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: Dewitt Clinton James Buchanan
The printed record stops around 1883. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.