Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Walter, Michael ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 February 28, 2008, 11:06 pm Author: Past and Present of Will County, IL; 1907 Michael Walter has made his home in Lockport since 1855, and few of its residents have been longer connected with its business life and public interests or have been more active and honorable in supporting those measures which have led to its commercial prosperity and general upbuilding. He was born in Germany, December 6, 1838, and came to America in 1851. His parents were Andrew and Ursula Walter, who, on crossing the Atlantic to the new world, established a home at Geneva, Illinois, where the father followed the occupation of farming. Michael Walter acquired his education in the public schools of the fatherland and soon after coming to Illinois was employed as a salesman in a general store at Lockport. While living in St. Charles he served a three years' apprenticeship to the shoemaker's trade, at which he worked as a journeyman throughout Illinois and in 1855 he came to Lockport, where he was working at his trade until the outbreak of the Civil war. He watched with interest the progress of events in the south which antedated the struggle between the two sections of the country, and hardly had the smoke from Fort Sumter's guns cleared away when, on the 19th of April, 1861, in Lockport, he offered his services to the government and joined the Lockport Artillery Company as sergeant. This command then went to Cairo, Illinois, and on the expiration of its three months' term Mr. Walter re-enlisted for three years' service with Company D, of the Second Illinois Light Artillery. He participated in the battles of Fort Henry and Fort Donelson, of Shiloh and the siege of Corinth, and later went to Bolivar, Tennessee. It was after the battle of Shiloh that he was promoted to the rank of first sergeant, thus serving until the close of the war. He was also with Sherman on his Meridian campaign, after which he went to Memphis, Tennessee, and later to Decatur, Alabama, where they remained until September, 1864. Mr. Walter being then honorably discharged by reason of the expiration of his term of enlistment. During the three and a half years of his service he was not absent from his company a day on account of illness or because of a furlough. When his military service was ended Mr. Walter returned to Will county and entered the grocery business at Lockport, in which he has since been engaged as a wholesale and retail merchant. His business has grown with the development of the city and the settlement of the state and he has now many patrons, some of whom have given him their support for many years. His only other venture in search of a competence was made in 1859, when, with a companion or two, he started for the gold fields of Colorado, thinking that perhaps a fortune awaited him there. They secured an outfit and started for Pike's Peak with a handcar—a two-wheeled car—which they pushed across the prairies. This trip was anything but successful, and after nine months the young men returned, pushing the handcar, which was not made heavier by the gold which they brought back with them. Since the war Mr. Walter has been content to concentrate his energies upon the upbuilding of his commercial interests and now has a well equipped wholesale and retail grocery establishment, in which a good patronage is accorded him. In 1865 Mr. Walter was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Pitts, of Lockport, a daughter of John and Anna Pitts, who came from Luxemburg, Germany, to America, in 1852, the father becoming a jeweler of Lockport. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Walter were born ten children, of whom seven are yet living, as follows: John A., who is now postmaster of Lockport; Frank M., who is with his father in the grocery business; Fred W., an attorney-at-law, of Joliet; Robert B., who is in his fathers store; Emma M., the wife of Clinton W. Ladd, a bridge architect of Morgan Park, Illinois; Addie, the wife of Charles W. Kiplinger, of Vicksburg, Mississippi, connected with the Mississippi & Yazoo Valley Railroad Company; Nellie, the wife of Howard Norton, of Lockport, who is with the Illinois Steel Company; and three who are deceased. These are: Nellie, who died at the age of one year; Jennie M., at the age of twenty-two; and Anna, at the age of twenty-five. The last named was the wife of Peter J. Wagner of Lockport. Mrs. Walter also passed away, her death occurring in 1880. In 1887 Mr. Walter was again married, his second union being with Adaline Heron, a daughter of John and Winifred Heron, who were natives of New York and of Irish extraction. While never seeking to figure prominently in public life or political office Mr. Walter has nevertheless served for six years as justice of the peace of Lockport and for six years as supervisor. He is a valued and prominent member of the Grand Army of the Republic, was the first commander of post No. 401, and has been a delegate to the state and national encampment. He is also a member of Lockport lodge No. 538, A. F. & A. M.; Desplaines lodge, No. 23, I. O. O. F.; and is a past noble grand, deputy grand master and delegate to the grand lodge. He is also an Elk in Joliet lodge, B. P. O. E., and is an honorary member of the Modern Woodmen of America. His brethren of these various organizations entertain for him warm personal regard, for in his life he exemplifies the basic elements of the different fraternities, being most true and loyal to their teachings. He has long figured prominently in business circles and today Michael Walter is one of the best known and most prominent residents of Lockport. Additional Comments: PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS By W. W. Stevens President of the Will County Pioneers Association; Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/walter2683nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 6.3 Kb