Walton, William bio

WILLIAM WALTON
Biography

transcribed by Sheryl McClure

from Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties, Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1890

WILLIAM WALTON is the owner and occupant of a fine farm in Haddam township, Washington County, three miles from Haddam City. It comprises 160 acres located on section 32 and is well watered by Mill Creek and Davis Branch. The farm is neatly fenced and is supplied with all necessary buildings. There is an excellent orchard on the estate, and ninety five acres are under the plow.

James Walton, the father of our subject, was a native of the Buckeye State. He removed to Illinois at an early day, and settled in Peoria County, near Elmwood. He entered land there. and liven upon it until 1865, when he removed to Iowa. He located in Belmont Township, Warren County, near Milo, where he had purchased 160 acres of land. There he departed this life in 1868, His political adherence was given to the Democratic party. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Harriet Bivins, was born in Ohio and died in Illinois in 1860. The family comprised five children. viz: J. F., now a resident of Haddam Township; Maggie, now Mrs. Graham, of Warren County, Iowa; John S. and Melissa, now deceased, and our subject.

The gentleman of whom we write was born near Elmwood, Peoria County, Ill., Feb. 8, 1855. He was reared upon the farm. The school was two miles distant and his attendance during early boyhood was necessarily limited. His father was a poor man, and for some years life was a struggle to the family. Our subject was obliged to go to work when eight years old, and his entire school life would not exceed twelve months. He was ten years old when the family removed to Iowa. The journey was made by team, and they crossed the Mississippi River on the ice at Burlington. Iowa. Our subject remained with his father until the death of the latter, when he went to work for a step-brother. At the age of fourteen he began working out by the month and continued so employed until nineteen years old. In 1873 he was married, and the following spring carne West by team. He crossed the Missouri River at Nebraska City, and came on to this county. He selected land in Grant Township. and field a homestead claim for 160 acres. He made improvements upon the place and there lived until 1877, when he traded his claim for eighty acres of the place he now occupies. There were no improvements upon the eighty when he obtained it, and he broke the soil and erected some necessary buildings. For several years a log house was the family residence. Later he built a better dwelling, which was burned, and he subsequently rebuilt it and erected other buildings than he previously had, soon after settlement upon the place he bought eighty acres adjoining, the whole comprising his present estate. He is engaged in farming and stock-raising, his principal crop, being corn. He raises graded Poland-China hogs, of which he ships one car-load per year. Be also sells a car-load of cattle, which are fattened by feeding. He keeps ten head of horses, two teams being used upon the place.

The wife of Mr. Walton, with whom he was united in marriage at the residence of Dillon Hayworth, near Indianola. Iowa, bore the maiden name of Mary E. Hayworth. Her parents, George and Mary (Hicks) Hayworth, are old settlers of Iowa and still reside on their homestead there. Their mother is a native of the Hoosier state. Mrs. Walton was born in Warren County. Iowa, and has borne her husband four children: Myrtle, Hattie, Frank and Lizzie.

Mr. Walton has by honesty and industry acquired his comfortable estate, and by keen observation and native wit has gained a considerable degree of the knowledge which was denied him in the school-room. He is well liked by neighbors and fellow-citizens and regarded as one who is interested in everything which will benefit the county. He gave the right of way through his place to the railroad company, and was quite instrumental in the building of the Friends' Church at Mill Creek. He is a member and director of the Haddam Percheron Horse Company. He has been school Clerk three terms, and is now acting as Director of the school Board. The Republican party gains his vote, and he has been a delegate to its conventions. He belongs to the Society of Friends and superintendent of the country school at Mill Creek. He has been an active worker for the cause of right living Christianity. Personally he is a well built man, standing over six feet in height and of proportionate breadth and frame.

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