My Genealogy Hound

ROSS T. WALKER, farmer, was born at Terre Haute, Ind., July 22, 1845. His father was a native of Ohio, moved to Indiana and resided there several years, engaged in farming and stock-raising. He married Miss Mary Ross, daughter of Thomas and Betsey Ross, both natives of Ohio. His family consisted of eight children, three of whom are now living, the subject being the youngest. The father died at Terre Haute, Ind., when our subject was only eighteen months of age, and the mother returned to Ohio. Thomas Ross, the grandfather, was a farmer, a public-spirited man and very prominent in his community. He served three terms in the legislature of Ohio, dying in Brown county, that state.

The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm and received a common-school education. In 1862, when he was only seventeen years of age, he entered the Union army, enlisting in Company H, Second Ohio heavy artillery. His command served with the armies of the southwest, mainly the armies of the Cumberland. He was in all the battles participated in by his command, and was mustered out at Columbus, Ohio.

At the close of the war he returned to Clermont, Ohio, and in 1868 went to Vermillion county, Ill., rented a farm and farmed one year. In the fall of 1870 he married Miss Betty, a daughter of John and Easter Norton, of Maine. He then returned to Ohio, rented a farm and was engaged in farming till 1873. That year he came to Nebraska and located in Turkey Creek township, Harlan county, remaining there one year. He then came to Antelope township, located a homestead and lived on it four years, then traded for a farm on the southwest quarter of section 26, township 4, range 17, where he now lives. When he bought his present farm, it had no improvements and only thirty-five acres broken, but he now has a good residence and all necessary outbuildings, and has one hundred and fifteen acres under cultivation, all under fence, and raises mixed crops, never having a total failure. In addition to farming, he has given much time and attention to stock raising. When Mr. Walker came to the state he had only $300, but by industry and careful management, he now has one of the finest farms in Harlan county.

To Mr. and Mrs. Walker have been born eight children, viz. — Everett, Roy T., John C., Stanley, Zeruah, Betsey, Viola and Clara E.; six of whom are now living and all at home.

Mr. Walker has served as assessor of his township and director of his school district, and is also a zealous member of the local organization of the Farmers’ Alliance. In politics, he is a republican and a warm supporter of the principles and measures of his party. He and his excellent wife and one son are members of the Methodist church.