My Genealogy Hound

William S. Walls, a well known produce, grain and live stock dealer of Davisburg, and the owner of a fine farm of 244 acres in section 18, Springfield township, Oakland County, was born in this township, June 24, 1836. He is a son of James and Jessie (Cramm) Walls, natives of Scotland, and a grandson of Colin Walls, who was the father of four children: Andrew, William, Jane and James.

James Walls was born in 1798 and came to Michigan, a poor man, in 1836. He acquired 170 acres of land which he put under fine cultivation, lived frugally and accumulated large means. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church and a man of the highest integrity. During a long life which closed at the age of 92 years he made two trips to visit his native land, for which he always retained the greatest of patriotic affection. In politics he supported the Democratic party. James Walls and his wife were the parents of three children, namely: Colin, a farmer of Springfield township, Oakland County; William S., of this sketch; and Caroline, who is the wife of William Walls, of West Bloomfield township, Oakland County, who bore the same name but was no relative.

William S. Walls was reared on his father’s farm and attended the district schools until the age of 15 years, when he made a trip to the far West in 1852, and worked at gold mining in California, mainly in Nevada County, remaining seven years, during this time sending his father a present of $1,900. For three years he worked over the State for the California Stage Company as a driver, but returned to Michigan in August, 1859. Until 1863 he remained on the farm, working for his father and then removed to Durham County, Canada, and operated a farm at New Castle for his father for six years. He then moved to Clarkston, Oakland County, and went into the grain business and has been interested in grain and live stock ever since. He is now located at Davisburg, where he handles all kinds of produce and deals very extensively in hay. Mr. Walls owns two farms, consisting of 244 acres in section 18, the same being operated by his son, Fred W., who is president of the Holly Milling Company.

Mr. Walls is one of the leading Democrats of the township and was its first Democratic supervisor, being elected in 1891 and re-elected in 1892. He has served three terms as highway commissioner and has given great satisfaction to the taxpayers. Fraternally Mr. Walls is a Mason and for 20 years has been a member of Austin Lodge, No. 48, F. & A. M.

Mr. Walls was married to Sarah Smedley, who was born in the State of New York, and a family of seven children were born to them, as follows: Mrs. Anna Davis, of Detroit, who has one child, Arthur; Mrs. Carrie Young, of Dell Roy, Ohio, who has two children; Frederick W., of Davisburg, Oakland County; Edward, of Detroit; Mrs. Maggie Johnson, of Detroit; Mrs. Mabel Austin of Tuscola County, Michigan; and Willard, who lives at home.