Washington-Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Walker, Samuel A. T. January 2, 1853 - 
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Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Pages 23-25
Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

     SAMUEL A. T. WALKER, a pioneer of Forest Grove, has become widely known 
owing to his ability as a shoemaker and his talent as a violinist. He 
represents one of the oldest families of this locality and traces his 
ancestral record to the colonial epoch in American history. Mr. Walker was 
named Samuel for his paternal grandfather. Ammon for his grandfather in the 
maternal line, and Thurston for Samuel A. Thurston, Oregon's first delegate to 
congress. A native of Washington county, he was born seven miles north of 
Forest Grove, January 2, 1853. His father, Robert Walker, was born March 2, 
1825, in Missouri; his grandfather, Samuel Walker, was born in Illinois; and 
his great-grandfather was a native of Ireland.

     In 1844, when a young man of nineteen, Robert Walker started for Oregon, 
joining a wagon train of which Captain R. W. Morrison had charge, and the long 
journey was fraught with hardships and dangers but at length the party reached 
their destination. Mr. Walker filed on a donation land claim of six hundred 
and forty acres near what is now the town of Banks and courageously faced the 
task of developing a farm in the wilderness. Through patience and industry he 
cleared a portion of the tract and prepared the soil for the growing of crops. 
On the 8th of February, 1849, he was married in Forest Grove to Miss Minerva 
Knighten, who was born March 22, 1828, in Missouri. Her father was a native of 
Kentucky. She also crossed the plains to Oregon, making the trip in 1847. Mr. 
and Mrs. Walker became the parents of eight children. Melissa A., born January 
2, 1850, became the wife of George Armentrout and died March 24, 1924. 
Elizabeth Jane, born April 29, 1851, married W. W. Noland, a well known 
harnessmaker of Forest Grove, and passed away October 5, 1923. The other 
members of the family were: Samuel A. T.; James Lovell, who was born December 
25, 1854, and lives at Hood River, Oregon; Nancy Ellen, who was born January 
28, 1857, and died October 2, 1860; Robert Marvel, who was born May 5, 1859, 
and resides near Portland, Oregon; Charles, who was born August 28, 1863, and 
died April 13, 1872; and William Green, who was born May 1, 1866, and makes 
his home in Banks.

     Samuel A. T. Walker was reared on the homestead and received his early 
instruction in the Roy district school. At the age of twenty he enrolled as a 
student in the Cornelius school, which he attended for three terms, having few 
opportunities to secure an education. In 1869, while on a deer hunting 
expedition, his companion's revolver was accidentally discharged and the 
bullet passed through Mr. Walker's leg, causing a serious injury which 
crippled him. This accident altered his course in life, for he had planned to 
become a sailor and see the world, but was obliged to choose a sedentary 
occupation. When twenty-two years of age he went to Astoria, Oregon, where he 
served an apprenticeship to a shoemaker, and in the fall of 1875 located in 
Halsey. Immediately after his marriage Mr. Walker established his home in 
Portland and was employed in the shoe shop of Terrence Rogers at First and 
Main streets for about a year. In 1878 he started a cobbler shop in Forest 
Grove and in January, 1881, was appointed an instructor in the shoemaking 
department of the local Indian school, which was later removed to Chemawa. He 
served under Captain M. C. Wilkinson and the next superintendent of the school 
was Dr. H. J. Minthorn, who at one time had charge of the Indian school at 
Chillocco in the Cherokee strip. Mr. Walker acquired the skill of an expert in 
his chosen line of work, to which he devoted more than fifty years, and during 
that time repaired about sixty thousand pairs of shoes. He conducted the 
leading shop in Forest Grove and continued the business until 1925, when he 
retired.

     On October 10, 1877, Mr. Walker married his cousin, Miss Minnie J. 
Knighten, whose parents, Lovell and Mary (Linebarger) Knighten, lived about 
ten miles south of Albany in Linn county, Oregon. Mrs. Walker passed away June 
15, 1900, leaving three children. Charles L., the eldest, born August 15, 
1880, married Miss Winnette Sears, of Yamhill, and is engaged in the insurance 
business at Hillsboro, Oregon. Raleigh Clay was born May 19, 1882, and is a 
well known electrician of Forest Grove. He married Miss Jessie Harrington, by 
whom he has two children, Helen and Clay. Pearl May, the twin sister of 
Raleigh C., is the wife of James J. Taussig and resides in San Francisco, 
California. Mr. Walker's second union was with Mrs. Lewella (Fowler) Moore, a 
widow, to whom he was married November 29, 1903, and on August 29, 1920, she 
was called to her final rest.

     At an early age Mr. Walker evinced a love for music and began his career 
as a violinist when a child of seven. His father also played on that 
instrument and furnished music for many of the country dances in the early 
days, when the favorite selections were "The Arkansas Traveler," "Money 
Musk," "The Irish Washerwoman" and "Turkey in the Straw." Although he received 
no lessons, the son was able to read music with ease and soon became an 
accomplished violinist, having a natural talent for the instrument. He is a 
member of the Walker Oldtime Orchestra and the other players are William G. 
Walker, Charles L. Walker and E. C. Hughes. C. L. Walker is a talented 
pianist, and his father and uncle are the violinists of the organization, 
while Mr. Hughes plays the trap and drums with skill. This fine quartet is in 
constant demand for musical entertainments throughout the Columbia River 
Valley and other instruments are usually added for engagements in the larger 
cities. The orchestra presents very enjoyable programs, never lowering its 
standards by playing "jazz," and many of the concerts are broadcast.

     In politics Samuel A. T. Walker is a republican and in 1885 became one of 
the councilmen of Forest Grove, serving for one term. His father also 
manifested a keen interest in public affairs and filled the office of justice 
of the peace. The son joined the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in April, 
1885, and has been through all of the chairs, also becoming a delegate to the 
Grand Lodge. Mr. Walker has a wide acquaintance in Oregon, in which his life 
has been spent, and is deeply attached to his state. Time has proven his worth 
and his friends are legion.

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