New London, Iowa,
Photographs from 1909

In the decade between 1840 and 1850 several family members descended from Charles Walker and his wife, Elenor, of Ireland, moved with their families from Milton, Wayne County, Indiana into New London township in Henry County, Iowa. These were: Jane [Walker] Leas (her husband, Thos. Chapman Leas was apparently deceased) and her children, Rebecca [Walker] and John Tryer and children, and Prudence [Walker] and William Hardin and their children. In 1856 the family of Francis S. and Catherine B. Walker joined them in New London (Francis eventally lived south of town in Baltimore Township). Since the arrival of the first Walkers before 1850 there has not been a year when some of their descendants lived in the town or countryside nearby. From the year 1856 until Verona Walker, George Percy Walker's wife, left to live with her daughter Jean in Missouri several years back, there had not been a year when some descendant of Francis Walker or a family member had lived in or near the town. In addition to the Louisa County, Iowa connections, New London figures very prominently in our immediate family.

Doris Walker, who was raised in New London and moved to Colorado in the 1950s, bought a book of old photographs of New London before she left town. She kindly photocopied these heirlooms and sent them to me so I could put them here for your enjoyment. There are three major categories in the book she has: Businesses, Churches, and Residences. A few other miscellaneous scenes, and one postcard from an unknown person were also included, and recently, a present from Marjorie Kimble, the Centennial edition of the New London Journal dates these photographs as being from the year 1909. I have added a few more selections from that Centennial Edition at the end of this presentation.

It is suggested that before looking at these photographs you read a letter written by John McClure, a New London resident, to his grand children in 1965. It was published in the New London Journal at that time. It traces the businesses of the time period of his residence in New London, which began not long after these photographs and includes some of the same businesses and citizens' names. This link will open that article in a separate window.