Oliver D. Walker

As printed in 1905

OLIVER D. WALKER, M. D.

Prof. Oliver D. Walker, engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery at Keokuk, has attained high standing as a representative of the profession because of his excellent qualifications and his devotion to the duties which devolve upon him in this connection. He was born in Emiwria, Kansas, December 3, 1860, the son of George Morton and Zipporah (Maxwell) Walker. His father, who was by profession a civil engineer, was born in Western Pennsylvania.

in early life removed to Washington,

Iowa. Later he located at the present site of Emporia, Kansas, which city he himself platted and surveyed. His eldest son. John M., was the first white child born in the city. George Morton Walker became an extensive property holder, and remained at Emporia until the beginning of the Civil W'ar, when he sent his family back to Iowa, and volunteered for the service of his country. He went to the front as a lieutenant in the Eleventh Kansas Cavalry, with which he served for more than four years. Some time after the close of the war he removed to Lawrence, Kansas, and there he gave increased attention to civil engineering, he having located and surveyed the entire route of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway, from Junction City to Dennison, Texas. Since then he has given his time exclusively to locating and Iniilding railroads, and at present he is an engineer for the Kansas City Belt Railway, with his home at Kansas City, Missouri. The mother of our subject is a sister of Dr. Thomas Maxwell, of Keokuk, and an account of her genealogy will be found in the review of his life which appears elsewhere in this volume.

Dr. Walker made it his first care in life to secure a thorough schooling and education, and with that object in view entered the University of Kansas at Lawrence. He was-graduated from that institution with the class of '83, earning the degree of Bachelor of Science, and having determined to devote himself to the practice of medicine, began reading soon after in the office of Dr. T. J. Maxwell. In 18S4 he matriculated in the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk, and was graduated in 1886. On his graduation he began the practice of his profession in Lawrence. Kansas, remaining there for a year and a half, then locating at Keokuk, where for two years he was associated in practice with Dr. Maxwell. During this period he also acted as demonstrator (if anatomy in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, for the purpose of perfecting his own knowledge of anatomy. In 1R89 he was elected to the chair of chemistry in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, I)ut before the beginning of that year's session received a government appointment in connection with the Indian service as physician in charge at Haskell Institute near Lawrence. Kansas, and occupied that post four years. In 1893 he resigned in order to associate himself with Dr. Maxwell under the firm style of Maxwell & Walker, this partnership continuing for four years. During that lime he was engaged in general practice and the practice of surgery, and also had charge of the surgical clinic at St. Joseph's Hospital at Keokuk. He took a post-graduate course in 1894 at New York Polyclinic Institute. Since 1897 he has been engaged in general practice in Keokuk, and gives special attention to nervous diseases.

In 1894 Dr. Walker was elected to the chair of physiology and nervous diseases in Keokuk Medical College, which he held un-

56 till the consolidation of the two medical schools of Keokuk, and also later in the consolidated school. He was secretary of Keokuk Medical College and the College of Physicians and Surgeons from 1897 till 1903, when he resigned on finding that there was danger of his official duties interfering with his private practice. At the present time he has charge of the neurological clinic at St. Joseph's Hospital.

Dr. Walker is in close touch with all progressive tendencies in the work of his profession. He is a member of Keokuk. Lee County, Eastern Imva. and Iowa State Medical Societies and of the.Vmerican Medical Association, and is a member and the secretary of the board of pension examiners. He also holds a directorship in the Lee County Building and Loan Association. Religiously he is a member of the Congregational church, and was a director and secretary of the board of directors of the Young Men's Christian Association at the time of the erection of the magnificent building now occupied by that society. In his fraternal affiliations he is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Greek society of BetJTheta Pi.

Professor Walker was united in marriage to Miss Mary L. Simpson, of Lawrence. Kansas, and they have two daughters, Genevieve and Margaret. The family home is a Ijeautiful residence erected liy the Doctor at Xo. 528 Morgan street. Doctor Walker takes rank as one of the foremost practitioners of Lee county. He has continually broadened his knowledge of reading and original investigation, and few men of his profession in this section have made more thorough preparation for their task. He is well equipped for his work of alleviating human suffering.

As printed in Biographical review of Lee County, Iowa; (1905). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.