ROBERT F. WALKER, a prominent farmer of Pottawattamie County, descended from an old American family of English origin. His grandfather, Martin Walker, was from Maryland, and settled in Harrison County, Ohio, where he was among the early settlers. His son, Ephraim Walker, was married in that state to Mary Ann Rearadon and they were the parents of four children who lived to maturity: John, Jessie, Martin and Robert F. The father was a mason and bricklayer by trade and died in Harrison County, Ohio, at the age of sixty-five years. Both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His first wife died, and he was married to Mary LaPort, and they had three children: William, Ephraim and Mary. Mr. Walker was a well-to-do man, and had three sons in our great civil war: Jessie, in Company I, Seventeenth Illinois Infantry, who was in the battles of Fort Donelson and Shiloh and many others. He served all through the war, and was re-enlisted as a veteran. Martin was in Company E, third Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and died at Raleigh, Missouri, after a service of six months. The father was a stanch Union man.

Robert F. Walker, the subject of this sketch, was born in Cadiz, Ohio, February 16, 1841, and learned the trade of bricklaying and plastering in early life. In 1862, at the age of twenty-one years he enlisted in Company C, Ninety-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served until June 1, 1865, or until the close of the war. He was in the battles of Perryville, Kentucky, Chattanooga, Chickamauga, Jonesborough, Evansborough, Bentonville, Kenesaw Mountain, and was with Sherman at Atlanta and through to the sea, and was also in a great many skirmishes. He was present at the great return march to Washington, and was mustered out at that place June 1, and honorably discharged at Cleveland, Ohio, June 10, 1865.

After his marriage in 1865, Mr. Walker came with his wife to Big Grove (now called Oakland), where he remained until the fall of 1867. In 1868 he settled on 160 acres of wild land in this county, which assisted by his faithful wife, he converted into a fine farm. He takes an active interest in the schools of his district. He is a member of the G.A.R., William Layton Post, Oakland. Mr. Walker is one of the pioneers of this part of Pottawattamie County. When he came to his farm the township was but thinly settled, and the Indians visited him several times, and often took dinner with him. As a citizen he has done his share in building up his township and county, and as a pioneer he stands high, and is well known for honesty and industry.

May 8, 1866, he was married to Susan LaPort, daughter of John L. and Melinda (Harrison) LaPort. The father was of French descent, and was the grandson of Ephraim LaPort, who came from France before the Revolutionary War and settled in Ohio. His son, Abraham LaPort, the grandfather of Mrs. Walker, participated in the war of the Revolution, and also that of 1812. He was a farmer of Harrison County, Ohio, and was the father of ten children, viz.: Baser E., Abraham, Isaac, Susan, Barbara E., Ephraim, John, Samuel, William and Charles. The father lived to the great age of ninety-five years, and his father lived to be over ninety years old. Mr. LaPort was a member of the Christian Church, and was a substantial farmer. He was a man of sterling character, and was much respected by the old pioneers. He was familiar with the Indians, and used often to accompany them on their hunting expeditions. His sons were soldiers in the War of 1812. John L. LaPort, the father of Mrs. Walker, was a carpenter of Logan County, Ohio, and was married in that state to Melinda Harrison, daughter of Ephraim Harrison, a full cousin of General Harrison of Tippecanoe fame. They were the parents of ten children, namely: Margaret, Mary, Charles, Frank, Eleanor, Emily, Jane and Eliza (twins) Miller and Susan. The father moved to Knightstown, Hancock County, Indiana, where he lived until his death, which occurred at the age of sixty years. Both he and his wife were members of the Christian Church in which he was an elder for many years. He was much respected by his fellow townsmen and served as Justice of the Peace for many years.

Mr. and Mrs. Walker have had five children, viz.: Mabel, now the wife of Emerson Fletcher, a farmer of Valley Township; Martin, who died at the age of nineteen; Ephraim, Eva, June, and an adopted son, named Claudie. Mrs. Walker is a member of the Christian Church.