Walker, Samuel Barnum

The following data is extracted from Racine, Belle City of the lakes, and Racine County, Wisconsin : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement.

Samuel Barnum Walker, who is engaged in general farming on section 19, Mount Pleasant Township, has an excellent tract of land and the soil, naturally rich and productive, readily responds to the care and labor bestowed upon it. For a long period he has made dairying an important feature of his business and in this connection has become widely known. He was born in Leavittsburg, Trumbull County, Ohio, June 20, 1861, a son of John B. and Ellen (Whiteley) Walker, both of whom were natives of England. They came to the United States in 1842 and settled at Elgin, Illinois, where they were married. In 1847 they removed to Ohio and remained residents of that state until 1878, when they came to Racine County, where they lived with their son, Samuel B. Later, however, they returned to Ohio and in that state passed away. The father was a woolen manufacturer. His political endorsement was given to the Republican Party and his religious faith was that of the Episcopal Church. In his family were seven children: Eli B.; Charles; Frank and Frankie, both deceased; William A., living in Racine; Mary E., of Youngstown, Ohio; and Samuel Barnum.

The last named devoted his youth to the acquirement of a common school education and to assisting his father. He learned the woolen manufacturing trade in the mills of Ohio, where he was employed until he was about eighteen years old. He then left home and came to Racine County, arriving here in 1878. For four years he was employed by R. M. Walker, after which he rented eighty acres of land in Mount Pleasant and carried on farming for four years. Still later he rented another farm for one year and he afterward spent two years in the position of foreman on the Isaac Elders farm, comprising three hundred and twenty acres of land in Mount Pleasant Township. About that time Mr. Walker was married and went to Findlay, Ohio, where he took charge of a veneer factory for his brother, the business being conducted under the name of the Racine Refrigerator Company. Later he returned to this County and purchased ten acres of land. At the present time he is engaged in the cultivation of an excellent tract of ninety acres. He started a dairy and has since engaged in the milk business, continuing in active connection therewith for a quarter of a century. For fourteen years he peddled milk himself and he still keeps cows but does not engage as extensively as formerly in the milk trade.

It was in 1890 that Mr. Walker was united in marriage to Miss Alice Davis, a daughter of David Davis, who was one of the early settlers of Racine County, arriving here in 1842. Mr. and Mrs. Walker have become the parents of four children: David, who married Ruth Cheeseman, of Mount Pleasant; Charles and William Allan, both of whom are attending the State University at Madison; and Samuel Burton, who is a student in the high school at Racine.

Fraternally Mr. Walker is connected with the Modern Woodmen at Corliss and in his political views he is a republican, yet does not consider himself bound by party ties and at local elections votes for the best man. He has been town supervisor for two years and has recently been re-elected. He has also been clerk of the school board and for twenty-five years served as roadmaster. He belongs to the Freewill Baptist church at Mygatts Corners and he manifests a deep interest in all that pertains to the moral progress of his community. When he first came to Racine County he had a capital of but a dollar and a quarter and was in debt. He worked for two months for five dollars per month but since that time success has crowned his labors, for he has been diligent and persistent, energetic and honorable and these qualities never fail to reap their just reward.

Source: Racine, Belle City of the lakes, and Racine County, Wisconsin : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement

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