A Henry County Biography

Hon. H. D. Walker

Hon. H. D. Walker, Grand Keeper of the Records and Seal of the Knights of Pythias since 1874, and a member of the order since 1870, is engaged in the general insurance business, on the south side of the Public Square in Mt. Pleasant. He was born near Chambersburg, Pa., Oct. 16, 183, his parents being William and Mary Hougthelin Walker. The father of William Walker was Born in Ireland, and came to this country with his parents in his youth, the family settling near Carlisle, PA., at an early day. His mother was born on the Island of Manhattan, NY, and was the daugther of Holland parents. William Walker was born in Franklin County, Pa., and learned the trade of shoemaking at Carlisle, in that State, carrying it on for many years in the borough of Newville, Cumberland Co., Pa. He finally gave up the business, and bought a farm in the adjoining county of Adams, on which he lived until his death in 1854. His wife came to Mt. Pleasant, Henry Co., Iowa, after her husband's decease, and lived with her son H. D. until the time of her demise, in 1878, at the ripe age of eighty-four years. Both were strict members of the United Presbyterian Church, and highly respected in the community where they resided. The subject of this sketch, H. D. Walker, was reared on a farm on the site of the battle of Gettysburg. When eigtheen years of age he began an apprenticeship to the plasterer's trade, which he mastered and traveled, working as a journeyman in several States, in Ohio, Indiana, Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee and Texas, until the autumn of 1854, when he located at Piqua, Miami Co., Ohio, where he was married, March 13, 1856, to Miss Isabella Redman, daugther of David and Esther Redman. Mr.s Walker was born at Cherrytown, Pa. Four children were born to them, all of whom except the youngest are living: Charles D. is married to Mamie Hobart, and is a plasterer by trade, residing at Mt. Pleasant; Minnie B. is the wife of H. B. Adams, of Aurora, Ill.; Hattie M. is the wife of H. J. DeLaubenfels, a civil engineer of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa; William B., the youngest, died Feb. 14, 1886, aged twenty years and three months.

Mr. Walker has been for years prominently identified with the I. O. O. F. and Knights of Pythias, being initiated into the former in Piqua Lodge No. 8, under the Grand Jurisdiction of Ohio. He emigrated to Iowa in October, 1856, and located at Mt. Pleasant, where he has since resided. ON coming to Mt. Pleasant he deposited his withdrawal card with Henry Lodge No. 10, I. O. O. F. After filling all the minor offices in the lodge, he became a Past Grand Master in 1860, and was elected Grand Master of the State in 1873. He became a Patriarch by uniting with Industry Encampment No. 18, at its institution in October, 1857, and was promoted to the Chair of Grand Patriarch in 1869. In 1870, having become much interested in the rapidly growing order of the Knights of Pythias, he joined with twenty-five others in a petition to the Supreme Lodge of the world for a dispensation to organize Eastern Star Lodge No. 6, K. of P., at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, and was thereafter unanimously elected the first Chancellor Commander. He became a Past Chancellor on July 1, 1870, and in the year 1872 was duly elected a representative to the Grand Lodge, and at the session of that body at Burlington, Iowa, July 9 and 10, following, he was elected and duly installed Grand Vice Chancellor, and served in such capacity till Jan. 29, 1873, on which day he was elected Grand Chancellor and served on year. During his administration of the office the interests of the order were materially advanced. The ability and zeal displayed by him won for him a reputation that resulted in his election to the responsible position of Grand Keeper of the Records and Seal of this jurisdiction. He was elected in 1874 to that office, and has been re-elected at each succeeding election to this date, covering a period of fourteen years. Lately his salary has been increased so that he can devote his attention almost exclusively to the interests of the order. In his relations to these two great charitable institutions Mr. Walker has borne a conspicuous part, and has developed peculiar ability as an administrative officer, that has won for him the title of the "Model Knight." Mr. Walker is a Republican in politics, and has voted with that party since its organization.

On the adjoining page [above] will be found the portrait of Mr. Walker, which will be regarded with great gratification by his many friends.

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The Biography of John P. Lee

Index:

The Walkers - Paperwork

Related information:

Walker Trails: Ireland to Pennsylvania