Stephenson County
Biographies
WILLIAM WALTON
William Walton, the leading dry-goods
merchant of Freeport, occupies Nos. 104
and 106 Stephenson street, where he has
been located for the last thirty years, and by his
thrift and energy has placed himself in the front
rank of the representative men of Stephenson
County. He is a native of Birmingham, England,
where he was reared and received a common-school
education, and began his mercantile experience
early in life in the capacity of clerk. In 1855,
after reaching manhood, he emigrated to the United
States, and after a brief sojourn in New York City
proceeded to Chicago. From there, in the fall of
1858, he came to the city of Freeport and established himself in trade in a modest manner at No.
88 Stephenson street. By strict application to
business and upright dealing he soon secured a
good class of customers, and his progress since that
time has been steadily onward. In due time he
was obliged to enlarge his facilities, and in 1877
removed to the building which he now occupies.
This is a large double brick, three stories in height,
all occupied by Mr. Walton, and thoroughly
packed with a valuable and finely assorted stock of
dry-goods. The first floor is utilized as the retail
department, the second, which is 155 feet deep, is
used for carpets, cloaks and house furnishing goods,
of which he has a large stock, and the third floor
is devoted to the manufacture of ladies' cloaks and
men's clothing. The latter branch especially includes a large and varied assortment The entire
business moves on with clock-like precision, giving
ample evidence of intelligent supervision. Mr.
Walton gives employment to a large force of
clerks, and as will be seen is an important factor
among the trade interests of Livingston County.
Mr. Walton, in 1887, added to his already commodious quarters by putting up an addition which
he uses for displaying a special class of goods, including silks, velvets and black dress goods. The
different departments are so admirably arranged
that the proprietor can have a complete oversight
of what is going on, and his employees are of first-
class ability, and are paid accordingly. His long
experience in the business and his extensive acquaintance in the city and county have given him
the advantage of being-able to determine what the
public requires, and this has resulted in the most
satisfactory returns. Although having upon his
hands great interests, Mr. Walton has always signalized himself as a public-spirited man who has
contributed liberally and cheerfully to those enterprises calculated for the progress and welfare of
the city. His capital, employed in putting up
tenement houses for the accommodation of a steadily
increasing population, brings him a fair rate of
interest. In manner he is retiring and unobtrusive,
and although keeping himself well posted upon
matters of general interest, meddles little with
politics or the various other questions which agitate the country. Mr. Walton is unmarried.
Contributed by Christine Walters
Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson County, Ill. (1888)
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