Carter County KyArchives Biographies.....Walker, Harry August 11, 1889 - August 1955 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ky/kyfiles.html ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deanna Meeks http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00018.html#0004285 August 19, 2024, 11:37 am Author: Sent to me by Chris Robinson but not sure as to who wrote it Sone people we know or have known have a wonderful gift. It is hard to define: an inner strength, a generous spirit, a serenity. I want to tell you of one, Harry Walker. He was born August 11, 1889 on Buck Branch, Carter County, which was located near the present Grayson Lake. He was the son of David L Walker and Sarah Tom Mobley Walker. He had three sisters and four brothers. He had an unfortunate accident at eleven years of age. He was in the barn loft getting corn for his calf. He fell and fractured his hip. Medical help and transportation were unavailable. This accident left his leg six inches shorter than the other leg. While recovering from his accident, he began to work with wood. He made rolling pins, bread boards, and other items. His parents insisted that he attend school regularly. He attended Morehead Normal which is now Morehead University. He passed the teachers examination and taught four one-room schools in Carter County and Deer Creek. He married Elizabeth "Betty" Adams, daughter of George and Martha McDavid Adams from Meadow Branch, Carter County. They lived on Buck Branch for a short time. Later they bought a farm, 56 acres near Betty's parents. Seven children were born to Harry and Betty. Edna Maxine died at birth, Arlene, Shirley, Wilbur, Calvin, Edgar and Leondas. All these children are living. Harry became a successful farmer, raising tobacco, corn, oats, wheat, hay, cane, popcorn and plenty of vegetables and fruits. He raised a few beef cattle to sell, cows for milking, hogs and chickens. He often consulted farm agent, R.H. King. He practiced crop rotation and grew legumes, keeping to soil rich and productive. He helped neighbors and friends with vaccination of cattle. he had the necessary equipment, which is in use today. This equipment fit nicely in a black walnet case he made. Harry was given some dental equipment. He pulled neighbors and friends teeth when they were is pain. A rocking chair was the dental chair. Often he would ask someone to hold the patient's legs firmly. There were no pain killers! He never received pay. When better transportation and dentists became available, and fearing a patient's reaction, he quit this practice. He was a wonderful self-taught carpenter. He made, or helped to make sixty- three caskets for neighbors and friends. He seldom accepted pay and often furnished the lumber. These were lined and covered by his wife Betty. She was a very talented seamstress. He was a good mathematician. He could read and use every figure on the Stanley Square. Although the were no power tools then, the joints in his work were miter cut with no gaps, and they fit perfectly. Many buildings he built are in good conditon today. He built four one-room schools for the board of Education, including Shell Rock and Stinson. He built a beautiful barn in 1923 on his farm. He painted it red. In 1925- 1926, he built a new house for his family. While building it, the family lived in the red barn. Barn and house are in good shape and the house is now occupied by his youngest son, Leondas, and his wife Helen. He took pride in the gun stocks he made. They were his masterpiece! In the winter time when farm chores weren't demanding he made handles for hoes, mattocks, picks, double and single trees, plow joints, and trolley tracks for barn doors and gates. He put shoes on oxen, horses and mules. He did the blacksmith work in his father's shop on Buck Branch. Later, he made pick handles for Moore Branch Coal Co, receiving 25 cents per handle. He helped build some apartment buildings in Ashland. Many barns, cribs and outbuildings over the county were built by him. He often said, "There aren't enough hours in the day for my work." He and his family attended Antioch Baptist Church, now called Mt. Chapel. He read his Bible and would often quote the Scriptures. He enjoyed music. His favorite hymns were "Wayfaring Stranger", "Life's Railway to Heaven", "Keep Your Hand on the Plow", and "Uncloudy Day". He liked sports, especially baseball. He encouraged his sons to play. His children were allowed to have square dances, bean stringings, and apple peelings with their friends. One activity the children enjoyed was Sorghum making time on the farm. Saturday afternoon and Sunday were time-off from work. Banjo picking was another hobby. He would play "Cripple Creek", "Old Dan Tucker", "Shady Grove", "John Henry", and other tunes. He loved to hunt, In the early 1930's he killed 105 squirrels with 107 shots. What a keen eyesight! These were dressed for delicious family food. He would be in his favorite woods at daybreak, and back home for breakfastand morning chores. His love of hunting and gus was instlled ih his sons and grandsons. The sons said that they "could hunt all night and neverbe scolded." One rule that was respected and obeyed; they were to be in at work time and able to do a day's work. He belonged to Willard Masonic Lodge#626. He walked from his home, once a month, to attend meetings, a distance often miles. He was a good Mason and a faithful one. World War II came. His sons, Wilbur, and Calvin, and a son-in-law, Russell Crawford, (Arlene's husband), entered the service. Harry and Betty were proud that their family could serve their country. Tragedy did strike in 1945. Russell Crawford, the son-in-law, was killed off the coast of Okinawa. A Japanese plane dived into the ship he was on. Their grandson, John Maggard, (Shirley's son), was later in the Korean conflict. He was missing in action for three years and then declared dead. He was only 18 years of age. These two deaths caused a great sadness. Later, Edgar served in the Navy and made it his career, retiring in 1966. Leondas entered the Army in 1946. That year he was transferred to the newly formed Air Force. in 1943, Harry's beloved wife, Betty, died from a long siege of cancer. Wilbur and Calvin came home from the service at that time. That helped with Harry's grief. He kept the home together for two years. In 1948, he married Bertha Porter from Elliott County. They had a happy life together. Harry died from lymphatic cancer in August of 1955. He was 65 years old. He was buried in the McDavid Cemetery beside his wife, Betty. He had finished and stored black walnut lumber in the red barn for his casket. Everret McDavid, a friend and carpenter made the casket. We miss him. He was a good father, neighbor, and friend. We long to hear the wonderful stories about his childhood, his accounts of robbers, raids and "haunts". We have been blessed by his life. How we wish there could be more Harry's. His son, Leondas, and Leondas' wife, Helen, invite family and friends to the home Harry built on August 31, 1997, for the Walker Reunion. The families are closely bound together and always look forward to this reunion. Additional Comments: This was sent to me by Chris Robinson. Harry Walker was his gguncle. 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