Walker Family
WALKER. The Walkers may justly be numbered with the old and substantial families of Pennsylvania, in many sections of which State its representatives may be found, and they follow the peaceful pursuits of agriculture as well as professional lives.
Benjamin Walker, grandfather of the members of this family of whom mention is to be made below, lived at Shelocta, Indiana Co., Pa., followed farming, and died there. He married Margaret Cunningham and seven children were born to them, namely: James and Benjamin, both of whom died at Shelocta, Indiana county; Alexander; Robert; Jane, Mrs. Walker; Margaret, who married David Johnson; and Mary, who married a Mr. McCullom.
Alexander Walker, son of Benjamin, was born in Indiana county, Pa., and followed farming. Later moving to Armstrong county he settled in Wayne township, near Dayton, where he acquired a farm of 166 acres. This land he improved and cultivated and on it spent the rest of his life, his death occurring in March, 1876. In politics he was a Republican, and served as supervisor of his township. He was a member and official of the United Presbyterian Church and was buried in the graveyard of that church near Dayton, Pa. His wife, Margaret (McFarland), was a daughter of William McFarland, who lived near Bryan, Armstrong county. Mr. and Mrs. Walker had the following children: Nancy Jane is the widow of John Morrow, who died during the Civil war; Margaret C. married R. C. Kinter, of Dayton, Pa.; Mary Ann married Dr. Joseph Sharp, who was a physician at Dayton for many years; Elizabeth A. married W. R. Speer and resides in Wayne township; Sarah A. married Samuel Lydic and resides in Indiana county; Alexander G. is mentioned below; Maria L. is the widow of Peter Lord and lives in Wayne township; William B. is mentioned below; Frances E. is the wife of James Wilson and lives at Dayton, Pa.; Amanda C. married William McMillian of Indiana county; Duffey G. died young.
ALEXANDER G. WALKER, son of Alexander and grandson of Benjamin Walker, was born March 3, 1847, on the old homestead in Wayne township, Armstrong co., Pa., where he still resides. He attended the township schools and later Dayton Academy, and for five years taught school very acceptably. He then spent about four years in Jefferson county, where he was engaged in lumbering, after which he returned to Armstrong county and purchased the part of the homestead where he has since lived. He has made substantial improvements here, having erected all the buildings now on the place. He follows farming and stock raising.
Mr. Walker was married to Rebecca C. Findley, a daughter of Archibald Findley, and they had three children: Findley A., who died when three years old; William A., and Bert. Mr. Walker's second marriage was to Mrs. Martha (Heasley) Klingensmith, a daughter of Reuben Heasley and the widow of Laban Klingensmith, who was a son of Henry Klingensmith. Mr. Walker has six children by his second marriage, namely: Harry, Arlie, Margaret, Lewis, Elder and Fannie. The family belongs to the United Presbyterian church, in which Mr. Walker has been an elder for many years. He has long been influential in politics and on the Republican ticket was elected auditor of Armstrong county, which office he held for two terms, six years; he has served also as a member of the township school board, of which body he was president for some time and is now treasurer, and he has been township supervisor. He is one of Wayne township's representative men.
WILLIAM. B. WALKER, M. D., physician and surgeon at Dayton, Pa., was born April 16, 1851, on the old Walker homestead in Wayne township, son of Alexander and grandson of Benjamin Walker. In boyhood he attended the township schools and later the Dayton Union Academy, where he graduated in 1872. He then spent one year as a school teacher, during this time reading medicine in the office of Dr. J. W. Sharp, at Dayton, with whom he resided, after which he entered the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery, where he was graduated in 1876. The young physician then enjoyed a period of travel through the West, after which he located at Clarksburg, Indiana Co., Pa., and practiced there for twenty-six years. In 1909 he returned to his old home surroundings and established himself in his profession at Dayton, finding a ready welcome both personally and professionally. He is recognized as one of the most successful and skillful practitioners in this section of the State.
Dr. Walker married Ida Rosborough, and the following children were born to them: Clode, who lives at Pittsburgh, Pa.; Clair, who is a resident of Clarksburg, Pa.; Alfred, of Dallas, Texas; Carrie, who married a Mr. Brown, of Clarksburg; Edith, Mrs. W. Lidick; and Flora B., Melvin, Bessie and Grace, at home. By his second marriage to Mrs. Jennie Hosack, Dr. Walker has one daughter, Grace. In politics Dr. Walker, like other members of his family, is a stanch Republican . He has served as councilman of the borough and in the fall of 1911 was elected a member of the school board. All public-spirited movements relating to the general welfare have his hearty support, and he is a stockholder in the Dayton Normal Institute and the Dayton fair Association. He is a valued member of the medical bodies in both Armstrong and Indiana counties. Dr. and Mrs. Walker are members of the United Presbyterian Church.
Source: Pages 818-820, Armstrong County, Pa., Her People, Past and Present, J.H. Beers & Co., 1914
Transcribed October 1998 by James R Hindman for the Armstrong County Beers Project
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