[p. 461] residing on a valuable farm of 105 acres, belonging to himself and wife, which is situated near the Bethel United Presbyterian Church, in North Beaver Township, was born in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, fifteen miles west of Pittsburg, June 29, 1848. He is a son of James G. and Martha (Bell) Walker.
The Walker family originated in Scotland, and from that land three brothers came to America. One settled near Richmond, Va., on the James River, and a descendant of his was General Walker of the Confederate Army, during the Civil War. A second brother settled in Chester County, Pennsylvania, and the third was a pioneer in the Western Reserve, Ohio. The second brother was the great-grandfather of Joseph A. B. Walker, and he moved from Chester to Allegheny County, where he established the family home. There, James G. Walker was born and reared, and subsequently married a daughter of Alexander Bell. The latter was a native of Ireland and the only one of his family to emigrate to America. One of his brothers was killed at the battle of Waterloo. In 1872 James G. Walker and wife moved to North Beaver Township and bought a farm of 130 acres, a part of which is the farm of Robert Hope. Mr. Walker engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death, in 1893. His wife died in 1879. They had six children. Mary and Elizabeth died in infancy, and Reuben G. on April 27, 1897. He resided for a time in North Beaver Township, but moved to Petersburg, Ohio, where he died shortly after. Three survive, namely: Joseph A. B.; Martha, Mrs. W. L. Douglas, and James M., residing at Duquesne, Pa.
Joseph A. B. Walker was twenty-four years of age when he came to North Beaver Township, and at the time of his marriage, in 1879, he and wife settled on the present farm, where he has since been engaged in general farming and dairying. In 1895 he built his handsome residence, which is in keeping with the other substantial improvements which he has placed here.
On January 1, 1879, Mr. Walker was married to Miss Elizabeth Patterson, who is a daughter of James and Susan (McAnlis) Patterson. They have one daughter, Grace L. She is a highly educated and accomplished young lady, being a graduate of the Mt. Jackson High School and of Geneva College at Beaver Falls. For the past five years she has been a school teacher, giving four years to the district schools and in 1907-8 teaching the High School at Harlansburg. The family belong to the Westfield Presbyterian Church. Mr. Walker is a Democrat.
20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
Previous Biography | Table of Contents | Next Biography
Explanation/Caution | Lawrence Co. Maps | Lawrence Co. Histories
Updated: 24 Oct 2001