Solano-El Dorado County CA Archives Biographies.....Walker, William 1856 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 3, 2007, 11:42 pm

Author: Lewis Publishing Co. (1891)

WILLIAM WALKER, City Treasurer of Vallejo, has been a resident of that town
since 1854 and of this State two years longer. He was born in Dumfries,
Scotland, inheriting the best qualities of the Scotch character. At the age of
thirty years he emigrated to the United States, landing at New York city, spent
two years in New York State, and then purchased a farm about ten miles from
Lansing, the capital of Michigan, when that place had but two houses. His land,
which was densely wooded, he cleared by his own hands, devoting seven years to
that work. In 1852 he fitted out two wagons with six horses and came with his
wife and two brothers overland to the center of the gold excitement,
Placerville, arriving August 10, after having left Lansing March 1. The first
two years in this State he kept a store for miners' supplies at Johnson's
Cut-off, in El Dorado County, most of his trade being with the newly arrived
immigrants. While there he also freighted goods from Sacramento to the mines,
realizing sometimes as much as 30 cents a pound as freight. Disposing of his
goods in Sacramento, he moved to Benicia just as the capital of the State was
being removed from that point to Sacramento. After spending about a year in
Benicia, in the employ of the Pacific Mail Company, he removed to Vallejo, where
he engaged in his present business as a dealer in lumber, wood, coal, lime,
etc., etc. About five years after his arrival in Vallejo, he built the wharf
which he still owns and occupies for his business, in which he has been engaged
for thirty-six years, and by which he has accumulated a handsome competency.
Four years ago the citizens elected him City Treasurer, which position he now
holds; but he is still actively engaged also in the management of his old
business, supplying a large share of the coal, wood, and building supplies used
in Vallejo.

  He was married in Michigan, in 1850, to Miss Jane Allen, a native of Ayrshire,
Scotland, who died in 1877, in Vallejo; and Mr. Walker, in 1879, married Mrs.
Maria McKay, a native of Nova Scotia. Mr. Walker's parents, John and Jane (Hay)
Walker, are both natives of Scotland.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from

Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California.

Illustrated, Containing a History of this Important Section of the Pacific Coast
from the Earliest Period of its Occupancy to the Present Time, together with
Glimpses of its Prospective Future; Full-Page Steel Portraits of its most
Eminent Men, and Biographical Mention of many of its Pioneers and also of
Prominent Citizens of To-day.

"A people that takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will
never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote
descendents." – Macauley.

CHICAGO
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
1891.


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