My Genealogy Hound

JOSEPH M. WALTER. Among the brave defenders of our country during the late civil war was Joseph M. Walter, a son of Joseph and Susan B. (Coates) Walter, who was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May 26, 1842. The Walter family is of German descent, one of its members, Joseph Walter, Sr. (great-grandfather), having emigrated from that empire to Pennsylvania, and bought a farm in what is now the heart of Philadelphia. His son, Joseph Walter, Jr., was born on his father’s farm in Philadelphia county, owned a farm in the same locality, but afterward sold it. He was an old-time whig and left a family of six children, three sons and three daughters. Joseph Walter, 3d, was born in Philadelphia in 1810, and died there in 1864. He was a copper and steel-plate printer by trade, and for years was in the employ of the United States government as printer of bank notes, in the treasury department at Washington, and at the time of his death had charge of the hydraulic presses. He was a member of the Universalist church, in politics a whig, and a member of the home guards. He married and had eight children: Anna, wife of Harry B. Steele, of Harrisburg; Hannah; Harry, who has not been heard from for twenty-six years; Joseph M.; Florence; Mary, wife of George W. Barber, of Philadelphia; Sarah and Susan.

Joseph M. Walter, after attending the public schools of Philadelphia, learned the trade of a printer, which he followed for a short time, but in 1879 he left it to become a pension agent. In April, 1889, he removed to Jamestown, New York, and formed a partnership with A. H. Stafford, and engaged in business. On April 17, 1861, Joseph M. Walter enlisted in Co. A, 26th regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, for three months service, and was in the scrimmage in Alexandria, wherein Colonel Ellsworth met his death. In May, 1862, he enlisted at Brandywine in a Pennsylvania regiment, for a period of three years, but was promoted to the rank of a corporal, and was afterward appointed clerk in the quartermaster’s department. He participated in the Seven Days fight, and in the battles of Williamsburg, Malvern Hill, Bristoe Station, Fredericksburg and in the second battle of Bull Run, beside numerous petty skirmishes. He was discharged September 2, 1864.

Joseph M. Walter is an attendant of the Methodist Episcopal church, a republican in politics, and a member of Post No. 285, G. A. R., holding the honorable position of post adjutant.