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Below is a family biography included in Portrait and Biographical Album of Greene and Clark Counties, Ohio published by Chapman Bros., in 1890.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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THOMAS C. WALKER. This name will be remembered by many of the earlier residents of Jefferson Township, Greene County, as that of one of its most worthy citizens — one who built up for himself a good home in their midst and identified himself with the various interests of the people around him. He was born May 30, 1817, in Highland County, this State, and departed this life at his homestead in Jefferson Township, May 11, 1883.

Mr. Walker was the youngest child of his parents whose family consisted of ten children. The father, John Walker, was a native of old Virginia and of substantial Scotch ancestry. He was reared in his native county where later he was married and settled until after the birth of all his children, with the exception of Thomas C. He then determined upon a change of residence and accordingly emigrated to this State, locating in Highland County, where he died full of years and honors at an advanced age. The mother, who bore the maiden name of Sarah Crawford, spent her last years in Ohio.

The subject of this notice remained a member of his father’s household during his childhood and youth, becoming familiar with farming pursuits. Upon approaching manhood, with the natural desire of youth for change, he left home and repairing to Hillsboro, he commenced an apprenticeship at the tailor’s trade. He followed this a number of years and then on account of failing health found that he must change his occupation and accordingly resumed the farming pursuits to which he had been reared. He resided a few years in his native county and then removed to Ross County. He sojourned in the latter a few years, then selling his farm property, removed to Greene County and commenced the improvement of the farm where he spent the balance of his life and where his widow still resides.

Soon after reaching his majority, Thomas C. Walker was joined in wedlock with Miss Mary Carothers, in November, 1842, the wedding taking place at the bride’s home in Highland, Ohio. Mrs. Walker was born November 3, 1815, in Washington County, Pa., and is the daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Bothwell) Carothers. The latter were natives of Virginia, belonging to the F. F. V’s and like the Walker family traced their ancestry to Scotland. After the birth of two children Thomas Carothers and his wife removed from Virginia to Washington County, Pa., where they resided a number of years and where the mother died about 1820. She was cut down in her prime at the early age of thirty years and when her daughter Mary was a child of five. Her father, Thomas Carothers served in the war of 1812, and subsequently became a prominent man in his community; he spent his last years in Ross County.

Thomas Carothers after the death of his wife removed with his family to Hillsboro, this State, where he established a tannery which he conducted for a number of years. Then removing to Ross County he engaged in farming, purchasing land in the vicinity of Greenfield. There his death took place in 1855, when he was about seventy-five years old. He also served as a soldier in the War of 1812. He was a man of decided ideas and one who was looked up to in his community. In religion he was a stanch Presbyterian. He was proud of his antecedents as he had reason to be and was able to trace his ancestors to the French Huguenots who fled to America on account of religious persecution. To him and his estimable wife there was born a family of seven children, three sons and four daughters, one of whom died young but the others lived to mature years and two are yet living, these being Mrs. Walker and her sister, Catherine, Mrs. Dyer, of Monticello, Ill.; the latter is now eighty-one years old.

Mrs. Walker preserves with religions care various family relics, among them an old family Bible, belonging to her husband’s father, and part of a sun dial which was the property of her maternal grandfather. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Walker remained residents of Highland County for a number of years where Mr. Walker improved a farm. In Jefferson County they settled upon a tract of one hundred and fifty acres and where Mr. Walker labored faithfully, tilling the soil and effecting one improvement after another and at his death left his family in comfortable circumstances.

To Mr. and Mrs. Walker there was born a family of five children, one of whom, Thomas, Jr., died when three years old. The survivors are recorded as follows: James L. married Miss Mary Hyslett and they are residents of Jamestown; Sally J., Martha Ann and John D. remain with their mother, assisting in the farm work and the management of the homestead. Mr. Walker in politics was a stanch adherent of the Democratic party and his religious views coincide with the doctrines of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was careful and conscientious in the transaction of business and gave substantial aid to the various enterprises calculated for the advancement of the people around him. He was one of the pillars of the church in which he had officiated as Class-Leader for some years. The family holds a good position in the community and is looked upon as forming a portion of its reliable element.

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This family biography is one of the many biographies included in Portrait and Biographical Album of Greene and Clark Counties, Ohio published by Chapman Bros., in 1890. 

View additional Greene County, Ohio family biographies here: Greene County, Ohio Biographies

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