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James Walker, farmer, post-office: River Junction; was born in Portage county, OH, March 3, 1816, where he spent his early life. In the fall of 1837 he came with his brothers, Joseph and Samuel, to Johnson County, and settled in Pleasant Valley Township, where they staked out their claims and each improved farms. The subject of our sketch lived there about eight years, then came to Fremont township, where he has since resided and owns 200 acres of land, all well improved. He was married May 2, 1858 to Mary Fountain, daughter of John and Hannah Fountain. They have eight children: Henry, Jane E., now Mrs. Jerry Canott, John, Joseph, Ella, James, Daniel and Charlie. Source: History of Johnson Co, IA 1836-1882, Page 945. [Source: History of Johnson County Iowa, Google Books The very first settlements in Johnson county were made within the bounds of the territory now called Pleasant Valley township. The old trading houses were here, and many of the first comers in 1S37 took claims in this township. • See Chapter IV, Part 2, and Chapter II, Part 2, for many early events which transpired in this township. The Walker brothers settled here in 1837; Samuel and James arrived in May, along with Eli Myers, Philip Clark, Wm. Wilson and Eli Sum my. In August of the same year Joseph Walker arrived. These. brothers were from Portage county, Ohio. They all took claims partly in section 25, and partly in section 36; from this fact originated the joke on them—"these Walkers straddle the line." The first school house was a log one, built by the neighbors clubbing together and doing all the work themselves. It stood on the banks of Buck creek, on James Walker's claim, which was the southwest quarter of section 36. It was very near the line of Fremont township, and was the same one referred to in the history of that township, which see in another place, where the house is more fully described. Jerry Stover taught the first school. It was called the Walker school house. [Source;History of Johnson County Iowa, Google Books Samuel and James Walker came also early in the spring, and Joseph Walker and another brother late in the same year. The Walker brothers made claims where Joseph now lives and to the south and west, including many farms now owned by other parties. I should have said that Myers and Clark each brought with them a young man, Eli Summery and William Wilson. The former returned to Indiana in the fall of 1S37, and Wilson remained. The foregoing is the precise order in which white men came to Johnson county. The writer [HON. HENRY FELKNER] came next, very soon after the two Walker brothers.
The order of earliest arrivals in 1837 was as follows: Early in May—Eli Myers, Philip Clark, Samuel Waller [probably Walker], James Walker, Wm. Wilson and Eli Summy. Later in same month came Henry Felkner, S. C. Trowbridge, Pleasant Harris and his nephew, Wm. Massey, the latter having his wife along, who was sister to the Judge's daughter-in-law, Mrs. Jonathan Harris, and likewise to the Hamilton brothers, all of whom came later....August—Judge Harris had gone back east, but returned this month with his wife and family, and was also accompanied this time by his son Jonathan Harris, wife and child, and his son-in-law, Isaac N. Lesh and wife. Joseph Walker, brother to the two Walkers, who came in May, arrived during this month. Samuel Bumgardner, one of Trowbridge's traveling companions, also came; and likewise Andrew D. Stephen.
HENRY WALKER, farmer, post-office, River Junction; was born in Portage county, Ohio, March 9, 1829, and is a son of James and Sarah (Barnett) Walker, who came to Pleasant Valley, this county in 1841. The subject of our sketch was the youngest of nine children, five boys and four girls. He was reared on a farm, and early became accustomed to the hardships of pioneer life. In 1849 he took the gold fever and went to California with the company from Iowa City, being about six months on the road, driving four yoke of oxen to one wagon. He remained on the western slope four years, and followed mining, then started home with $2,600. He then bought 220 acres of land in section 12, where he now resides, and has, by industry and economy, been enabled to purchase more land, and now owns about one thousand acre?, and has a fine brick residence and a very pleasant home. He was married March 14, 1854, to Harriet McConias, a native of Ohio, she dying January 7,1878. By this marriage there are two children: Laura, now Mrs. William Fairall and Mary, now Mrs. Charley Shelledy. He was again married May 15, 1880, to Miss Martha Sweet, daughter of David and Lydia Sweet, who came to Fremont township in 1838. He raises and also buys considerable stock, feeding during the winter, and, generally ships his own stock to market, and is one of the most enterprising farmers in this part of the county. |
