My Genealogy Hound

Joseph J. Walker, circuit clerk and ex-officio county clerk and recorder, of Jackson County, was born in Christian County, Ky., on November 12, 1843. His parents were Joseph and Delila A. (Coffman) Walker, of Logan County, Ky., and of Scotch and Dutch descent. The Walker family were among the early settlers of Kentucky, and the grandfather, in his younger days, was an associate of Daniel Boone. The father was left an orphan when quite small, and was reared on a farm, but upon reaching maturity, he branched out for himself and entered into commercial life, at Chillicothe, Mo., where he remained several years. He next resided in Greene County, Ill., where he died in 1871, the mother also dying in that county, in 1886. They were the parents of eight children, of whom six are yet living: William E., of Boone County, Ark.; George H., of Quincy, Ill.; Mary, widow of John Fitzsimmons, of Carrollton, Ill.; Joseph J., Phillip, deceased; John R., James V., and Emma, deceased. Joseph was reared in Kentucky until his fifteenth year, when he moved to Missouri with his parents, in which State he remained until the Civil War commenced. After that he went to Quincy, Ill., and from there to Atchison, Kas., then to Nebraska City and finally back to Quincy, Ill., where he resided until 1866, when he came to Jackson County, Ark., and located at Elgin. He here found employment as book keeper with a business house in that town and remained with the firm three years. He next commenced farming and continued at that until the fall of 1875, when he removed to Jacksonport, and again entered into mercantile life, continuing in that branch until 1883. He then entered the sheriff’s office as deputy, and continued in that capacity until the fall of 1884, when he was elected to his present office, and twice re-elected. Mr. Walker is one of the pioneers of this section, and a prominent and influential man in the community. He is a member of the Masonic Order and Knights of Honor, as well as the American Legion of Honor. He was married August 3, 1869, to Miss Deborah B. Foushee, by whom he has had five children: Joseph, Owen, Emma, Mattie and Bessie, and with his wife he attends the Methodist Episcopal Church.