My Genealogy Hound

JOHN C. WALKER, who resides in Flat Creek Township, Pettis County, and is employed as engineer in the Sedalia waterworks, was born in Lehigh County, Pa., May 12, 1862. The family of which he is a member was honorably and long associated with the history of Scotland, and his father, Robert, was the first of the name to emigrate to America. The latter was born in the “land of thistles,” and there spent the first seventeen years of his life, learning in his labors on the home farm the lessons of perseverance, honesty and energy that stood him in good stead in after years. The exact date of his birth is not known, but it was probably in the year 1835.

At the age of about eighteen years Robert Walker crossed the Atlantic and, landing in New York, made a short sojourn in that state, where he married Miss Elizabeth Creamer. For a few years after that event he continued to reside in the Empire State, but after the birth of two children he moved to Pennsylvania. He had been an overseer of a farm in New York, but after settling in Lehigh County, Pa., he became the owner of a farm, to the cultivation of which he devoted himself assiduously. In 1868 he came West to Missouri and established his home in Pettis County, where he bought eighty acres of land. Some years later he sold that property and bought the place now owned by our subject. There his death occurred October 10, 1880. His inclinations were toward the Republican party, but he was not a partisan nor a politician. In religious faith he was of the old-school Presbyterian belief, as is also his wife, who is still living, and makes her home with our subject.

In many respects the father of our subject was a man of more than ordinary ability. He was handy with tools and, although he never learned the carpenter’s trade, he did all his own work in that line. In mechanics he was a genius, and his sons inherited this trait from him. Our subject was reared upon the home farm, and received a common-school education. At the age of seventeen he began to work in the waterworks at Sedalia, where he was employed as fireman. Such was the aptitude that he displayed for the business, that at the age of eighteen he was promoted to the position of engineer, alternating with his brother twelve hours each day. Since taking this position he has carefully saved his earnings, and is now the owner of one hundred acres of land, comprising the old homestead in Flat Creek Township.

The marriage of John C. Walker and Miss Jennie Licklider was solemnized February 17, 1892. This lady was born in Cooper County, Mo., June 16, 1872, and is the daughter of F. M. and Sarah E. (DeWitt) Licklider, residents of Sedalia. For some years she was a pupil in the Broadway School at Sedalia, and her life has been passed principally in this city. She belongs to the Baptist Church in this place, and is well known and popular in the best social circles. One child has been born of the union, John Lee, who died at the age of six months. In political belief Mr. Walker is a stanch Republican, and his first Presidential ballot was cast for James G. Blaine, since which time he has never failed to vote for the men and measures of that party.