My Genealogy Hound

JOHN S. WALKER. The first of the Walker family to settle in this county was Samuel, with his wife, Elizabeth (Springer) Walker. They were natives of Wilmington, Del., and assisted in bringing the first printing press west of the Alleghenies, which was used in the office of the Pittsburgh Gazette. Their eldest son was Maj. John, who was a youth of seventeen years when he came with them to this borough, where he spent the remainder of his life, and died at the age of eighty-six years. He was a boat-builder, and constructed many of the first boats used on the river. He built the pirogues used in the Lewis and Clarke expedition to the northwest, and also the first steamboat built west of the Allegheny mountains. He also was engaged in hotel-keeping for many years. His wife was Diana, daughter of Robert and Mary (Davidson) Craighead; the former was born in Virginia, the latter in this borough. John Walker participated in the war of 1812, and gained the rank of major. His family consisted of three sons and five daughters, only two of whom are living: John, of Denver, Col., and Maj. Robert C. Walker, of Helena, Montana, who married a sister of Hon. James G. Blaine The deceased are Samuel, Mary (Mrs. Solomon Speers), of Belle Vernon; Matilda (Mrs. William K. Van Kirk), of this borough; Diana (Mrs. Samuel Frew), Sarah (Mrs. William Penniman) and Julia B. (Mrs. John McDonough). Samuel, the eldest son of Maj. John Walker, was born in 1798, in this town, and engaged in mercantile business, and also built many boats (over three hundred), among the number being the celebrated J. M. White. He was also the first postmaster in Elizabeth. In 1819 he was married to Nancy, daughter of Noah and Nancy (Frey) Speer, of Belle Vernon, and in 1869 they celebrated their golden wedding. They reared ten children, seven of whom are living: Lucinda (Mrs. R. P. Voorhees), of California; William B., of Missouri; Diana (Mrs. Gen. Ekin), of Louisville, Ky.; Noah of Colorado, Tex.; Samuel, Jr., a merchant of this borough; Nancy L. (Mrs. Pope), of Macon City, Mo.; Mary (Mrs. Barnes) of East End. The deceased are Thomas P., James S. and John S., all of whom were natives of this borough. Mr. Walker died in 1876.

John S. Walker, a son of Samuel, Sr., was born in the Mansion House, of Elizabeth Sept. 30, 1829. He was reared here, and educated at the public schools. He was a merchant here until 1857, when he removed to Minneapolis, Minn., engaged in the boot and shoe business, and there remained until his death, in 1874. He was treasurer of Hennepin county, Minn., two terms. He was married, in 1850, to Angeline G., daughter of William K. and Matilda (Walker) Van Kirk. They have one son, by adoption — Albert J., an attorney at law in the law-office of Miller & McBride, of Pittsburgh. John S. was a member of the Masonic fraternity, I. O. O. F. and K. of P., and his funeral was conducted by these societies. After his death his widow and son returned here, where they have since resided.