Notes:

From the Biographical Annals:
But few men live beyond their 8th decade and fewer still attain that age with faculties unimpaired and a memory that records the events of the past. This gentleman whose name opens this sketch, a highly respected citizen of Rebersburg enjoys his distinction and he and his wife are celebrating 58 years of wedded life.
Our subject is the youngest in a family of 6 children and is the only survivor. His siblings are Catherine (Mrs. Jacob Snyder) whos died in Clinton County in her 94th year, John who died in Illinois, Daniel who died in Miles Twp at 82, Rebecca married George Neff and died in Sugar Valley, Mary married Benjamin Wieland and lived to 88 and died in Illinois.
In Jan 1840 William married Miss Polly Smull, the daughter of Henry & Elizabeth (Royer) Smull. The children of this union are Amanda (Mrs. Peter Kessler),Ira J of Stephenson County Ill Married Maria Peck, Jestie M who died at age 44, William T of Dakota Ill married Kate Zimmerman, Thomas who married Annie the daughter of Samuel & Elizabeth Loose, they own the family farm, Emma Mrs. A F Vonada of Coburn, Mary M Wife of J F Gartgoff of Coburn. Mrs. Walker departed this life in May 1897 aged 76 year. Mr. Walker is a Democrat and attended The Lutheran Church.


COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 296
William Walker. But few men live beyond their eighth decade, and fewer still attain that age with faculties unimpaired and a memory that records vividly the events of the past. The gentleman whose name opens this sketch, a highly respected citizen of Rebersburg, Centre county, enjoys this distinction, and he and his estimable wife, now seventy-six years of age, are spending the fifty-eighth year of wedded life, free from the ills which too often accompany advanced age.

Mr. Walker is a worthy representative of a prominent pioneer family, and was born in Brush Valley, Centre county, March 24, 1816, the son of John Walker, who died in 1858, at the age of eighty-six, and his wife, Mary M. (Gramley), who lived past the limit of three score and ten, dying in 1852. John Walker was a native of Northampton county, Penn., and came to this section about 1790, as a young man, finding employment at driving a team for the furnaces of Nittany Valley. He was the first of the family to come to Centre county, but later his brother Philip settled there and became prominent as a pioneer. Walker township being named in his honor.
John Walker's marriage took place in Brush Valley, where his wife's father, Francis Gramley, was a leading citizen. Soon after this event Mr. Walker returned to his old home, and spent a short time before settling permanently in Centre county. He chose agriculture as an occupation, and his first farm, in Brush Valley, is now. after the lapse of more than a century, still in the possession of the family, Thomas W. Walker, a son of our subject, owning and occupying it at present. John Walker also became the owner of a farm in Sugar Valley, and his industry and systematic and judicious management of his property gained him a substantial fortune.
He was a heavy-set man, and our subject resembles him greatly in build. His interest in public affairs, national and local, was keen, and his regard for the Democratic party was second only to that which he felt for his Church, the Lutheran. He and his wife were both devout followers of that faith, and he held office in the Church for many years. Their remains were laid to rest in the cemetery at Rebersburg.
Our subject was the youngest in a family of six children, and is the only survivor. Catherine (Mrs. Jacob Snyder) died in Clinton county in her ninety-fourth year; John, a farmer, died in Illinois; Daniel, who died in Miles township at the age of eighty-two, was one of the wealthy farmers of his time; Rebecca married George Neff, and died in Sugar Valley, Clinton county; and Mary married Benjamin Wheland, and lived to be more than eighty years of age, her death occurring in Illinois.
Mr. Walker, of this review, was educated according to the customs of the early day, attending school for a few weeks in the winter season in a small log house that stood on one corner of his father's farm. Threshing was then a winter occupation, and it was his duty to guide the horses as they tramped out the grain on the barn floor. Only when this annual task was completed could he secure an opportunity for study at school. His life was that of the typical pioneer farmer, with home-spun clothes, plain but abundant food, and plenty of work. He developed into a stout, healthy youth, and at sixteen could work beside any hired man, and "keep up " without difficulty. His liking for system in his work was early shown, and even when a boy his furrows when plowing were always straight. His father was not active in farm work, and the elder sons left home as they reached manhood, and thus much responsibilty fell to our subject, who at sixteen had practically assumed the management. In 1849 he bought the place, which contained about 165 acres. He was unusually successful financially, and at one time owned three large farms, one of 140 acres, being in Stephenson county 111. At present he owns 172 acres near Rebersburg, and several town lots aside from that upon which his handsome residence stands. This he bought in 1872 at a cost of $3,000, the lot covering five acres, and since that date he has resided there.
In January, 1840, Mr. Walker was married, in Miles township, to Miss Polly Srnull, who was born near Rebersburg in 1821, the daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Royer) Smull. The children of this union were Amanda (now Mrs. Peter Kessler, of Rebersburg); Ira J., a farmer of Stephenson county, 111., married Maria, daughter of Simon Peck; Jestie M., who died at the age of forty-four years, unmarried; Wilson T. , residing near Dacotah, 111., married Kate Zimmerman; Thomas W. , of Miles township, living on a farm which has been in the Walker family over one hundred years, married Annie, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Loose, of Rebersburg, Penn. ; Emma (now Mrs. A. F. Vonada, of Coburn); Mary M. (now Mrs. J. F. Garthoff, of Coburn). Mr. Walker is justly proud of his children, and has given nearly $5,000 to give them a start in life. The mother departed this life in May, 1897, aged seventy-six years.
Mr. Walker has always been prominent in local affairs, and has held various township offices. He is a Democrat, and votes regularly. having missed but one election since 1837. He and his wife are leading members of the Lutheran Church, in which he has served as deacon, elder and trustee. He is a liberal giver to the cause, and donated $400 when the church was built at Rebersburg.

Buried:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/76079369/william-walker

Section 1, Row 7, #39. Next to wife Mary M.

William married Mary Polly Smull in Jan 1840. Mary (daughter of Henry Smull and Elizabeth Royer) was born on 22 Dec 1821 in Pennsylvania; died on 11 May 1897; was buried in Saint Peters Lutheran and Reformed Cemetery, Rebersburg, Centre County, PA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Buried:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/76562431/amanda-kessler

Family/Spouse: Peter Kessler. Peter was born on 26 Sep 1834 in Clinton County, PA; died on 31 Mar 1908 in Miles Township, Centre County, PA; was buried on 3 Apr 1908 in Saint Peters Lutheran and Reformed Cemetery, Rebersburg, Centre County, PA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Residence: Stephenson County, IL

Notes:

Buried:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/164037850/ira-j_-walker

Plot Lindenwold Section - East Side - Row 2

Family/Spouse: Mariah Peck. Mariah was born on 11 Oct 1839 in Dauphin County, PA; died on 31 May 1920 in Freeport, Stephenson County, IL; was buried in Oakland Cemetery, Freeport, Stephenson County, IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Buried:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/76562065/chestie-a-walker

Plot: Section 1 row 8 plot 34

Inscription
dau. of William and Mary M.
45 years 1 month 19 days

Other Events:

• Residence: Dakota, Stephenson County, IL

Notes:

Buried:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/116044431/wilson-t-walker

Plot South End Front

Family/Spouse: Catharine Zimmerman. Catharine was born on 27 Jul 1857 in Dakota, Stephenson County, IL; died on 30 Mar 1937 in Dakota, Stephenson County, IL; was buried in Dakota Cemetery, Dakota, Stephenson County, IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Residence: Rebersburg, Centre County, PA

Notes:

Buried:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/76561781/thomas-w-walker

Section 1, Row 7, #35. Stone is likely for same Thomas W. Walker. No other way to confirm birth or death dates. Next to wife Annie and Thomas's parents William & Mary.

Family/Spouse: Annie Elizabeth Loose. Annie was born on 28 Sep 1851 in Pennsylvania; died on 03 Mar 1920 in Wilkinsburg, Allegheny County, PA; was buried on 5 Mar 1920 in Saint Peters Lutheran and Reformed Cemetery, Rebersburg, Centre County, PA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Residence: Coburn, Centre County, PA

Notes:

Buried:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/175502617/emma-j_-vonneida

Plot south E 352 2

Family/Spouse: Robert Franklin VonNelda. Robert was born on 20 Oct 1853 in Woodward, Centre County, PA; died on 24 Oct 1930 in Hershey, Dauphin County, PA; was buried on 28 Oct 1930 in Aulenbach's Cemetery, Mount Penn, Berks County, PA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Residence: Coburn, Centre County, PA

Notes:

Name:
Maggie M.

Buried:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/146649552/maggie-m_-garthoff

Family/Spouse: John F. Garthoff. John was born on 5 Jun 1863 in Bannerville, Snyder County, PA; died on 28 Nov 1935 in Beaver Springs, Snyder County, PA; was buried on 30 Nov 1935 in Zion Cemetery, Zion, Centre County, PA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]