Gentry county Missouri, Obituaries:  Chrisanna Nelson Walker

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Submitted by: <dhr1953@hotmail.com>  Don Raymond

     The Stanberry Headlight, Thursday, May 13, 1943: Mrs. Chrisanna Walker is
     Dead:  Death Claimed Well Known Citizen in Center Grove Neighborhood Early
     Last Saturday Morning:

     Mrs. Chrisanna Walker, for many years a well known resident of the Center
     Grove neighborhood, died at her home there early last Saturday morning.
     While she had been in failing health for a number of years, she had been
     seriously ill only during the past week.

     Funeral services were held at the Church of god at 2:30 o'clock Sunday
     afternoon, conducted by Elder Stanley Kauer, of Union Star, assisted by
     Elder Archie Craig.  Interment was in the High Ridge cemetery.

     Mrs. Walker had lived a long and useful life, one about which an
     interesting historical book might have been written.  She was the daughter
     of George and Margaret Nelson, who came to this country from Denmark to
     join the Mormon emigration to Salt Lake City, Utah.

     Their travel to this country was by boat to St. Louis and from that point
     they traveled overland by covered wagon with the Brigham Young migration
     until they reached the Missouri river in southern Iowa.  There they left
     the caravan and settled in a town known as Christian City.

     Mrs. Walker was the first white child to be born in that city.  She was
     born on February 20, 1858.  At the age of two years, she came with her
     parents who homesteaded 160 acres of land near the present site of the
     Center Grove school.  The major portion of her life was spent in that
     school district.

     She was married on March 31, 1886 to Anthony Green Walker, of near Gentry. 
     They spent their early married lied in that vicinity, but in 1896 the
     family returned to the Center Grove community and that became her home for
     almost all of the remainder of her life.

     Mr. Walker died on December 22, 1918.  Since that time her son, O. T.
     Walker, had made his home with her.

     In early life she united with the Pleasant Hill Church of God, north-east
     of Alanthus.  Mrs. Walker was the last charter member of that organization.
     Throughout her entire life she was a devout and active member.

     She had a profound feeling of interest in orphaned children.  At one time
     she had three sets of children in her own home to rear and care for - her
     own children, her step-children and the children of her brother-in-law.
     The last mentioned children had been left without a mother.  Members of the
     family said that at no time did she make any distinction in her treatment
     of the group.

     Surviving her are three sons: A. G. Walker, south of Stanberry, Earl H.
     Walker, Gentry, and O. T. Walker, who made his home with her; one daughter,
     Mrs. Minnie Neal, of Omaha; four step-children, Frank Walker and Mrs. W. I.
     Summa, of Gentry, Mrs. Sam Baker, of Stanberry, and P. C. Walker, of
     Tonganoxie, Kan.

     Mrs. Walker also is survived by two brothers, Cornelius Nelson, of
     Hillsboro, Ore., and Abraham Nelson, of Scappoose, Okla.  There are eight
     grandchildren, one great grandchild, and a wide circle of friends.

     One son, Q. M. Walker, died on March 4, 1940.  Two step-children, Wesley
     Walker and Mrs. Walter Rucker, also had preceded her in death.