Biography - Joel T. Walker
JOEL T. WALKER. The name at the head of this sketch is that of one of
the firm of Walker & Co., who are dealers in grain and owners of the
Moweaqua elevator, which has the capacity for storing six thousand bushels.
They have besides cribs for sixty thousand bushels of corn and fifty
thousand bushels of oats. Mr. Walker has had the management of the elevator
for the past three years. Under the present management the firm buy and sell
from two to four thousand bushels annually. They deal chiefly in corn, and
their business in this direction is the largest of any in the county. Our
subject brings to it a judgment and executive ability that could not fail of
success.
Prior to coming to this place, Mr. Walker engaged in business at Lawrence,
Kan., dealing largely in grain and live-stock, he came to this county in
June, 1888. Our subject was born in Madison County, Ill., October 13, 1835.
He was only three years of age when his parents, Edwin and Rebecca (Chance)
Walker, removed to Lebanon, St. Clair County, where he was reared and
educated. There he was married to Miss Eliza Alexander. She was born and
reared in our subject's adopted county, and her parents David and Mary
(Thomas) Alexander were early settlers there. Her father, Mr. Alexander,
went there from Pennsylvania when quite young. His wife was a native of the
county and a sister of Col. John Thomas, who is yet a resident of
Belleville, having attained an honorable old age.
After marriage, our subject and his wife lived in St. Lawrence County on a
farm for a period of three years, and then moved to Macon County, settling
in Pine Mound Township, at a very early day on an unbroken farm which was a
part of the railroad lands of that state. By unceasing efforts they improved
it and made a fine place on which they lived for some years. Later they
purchased a farm near the present village of Walker (so named in honor of
our subject). This place they also improved but sold on going to Kansas, in
August, 1873. While in Kansas he spent some months of each year in the
mining districts of Breckenridge, Colo. On leaving Kansas he came to this
place where he has since been a resident.
Since Mr. Walker's advent in Moweaqua he has been President of the Village
Board for one year and is ex-Mayor also of the town. While in Kansas he was
Probate Judge in Anderson County for one term, less a year, at which time he
resigned to go to Lawrence County, Kan. While in Macon County, he was for
four years Supervisor of Macon Township. His first vote after reaching his
majority was cast for President Lincoln and since that time he has been an
active and ardent Republican.
Mr. Walker met with a bereavement in the loss of his first wife who died in
Macon County, in June 1863, being at the time only twenty-seven years of
age. She left three children, Lawson L., Bertha and Mary E. Lawson is now
engaged in business with his father, and the same traits that have made his
father successful are apparent in the son. Bertha is the wife of Henry
Nougle and living in Blue Moundville, Macon County. Mary E. is the wife of
Wesley Langley. They reside in Lawrence, Kan.
Mr. Walker was a second time married. The lady whom he prevailed upon to
become the mistress of his home was Mrs. Amelia A. Patton, nee Mason, a
native of Lowell, Washington County, Ohio. She came West when a young lady,
as a teacher but was soon married to William Patton in Iowa. Mr. and Mrs.
Walker are religiously inclined, Mr. Walker being a member of the Methodist
Church and his wife, a Baptist. They are both united however, in their
sympathy for everything that relates to the well being of their fellow-men.
They are one, also, in their love for home and home enjoyments.
Mr. Walker's mother is still living, making her home with her son Elijah in
Mason County; she was born in March 1812. Her husband's natal year was 1819.
He lived until 1849. Our subject is one of four children; John W., Elijah,
Edwin and Joel T.
Extracted 11 Jan 2018 by Norma Hass from 1891 Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties Illinois, pages 334-337.
