BIOS: Josiah J. WALKER, Stonycreek, Somerset County, PA

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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW, Vol. XXXII, Containing Life Sketches of Leading 
Citizens of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania. Boston, 
Biographical Review Publishing Company: 1899, pp. 225-227.

  Josiah J. Walker, senior member of the well-known firm of Walker, 
Lowroy & Co., lumber manufacturers at Shanksville, Pa., has been 
prominently identified with the agricultural interests as well as the 
business interests of this section of Somerset County during his entire 
life.  He was born October 4, 1831, in Stony Creek, Pa., the son of 
Jacob J. Walker, and comes of sturdy German ancestry.
  His paternal grandfather, Jacob Walker, was born and educated in 
Germany, but came when a young man to America in search of fortune.  
Settling in Brother's Valley, Somerset County, Pa., he bought a tract 
of timbered land, from which, with the courage and perseverance 
characteristic of his race, he redeemed a homestead.  In his later 
years he removed to Ohio, where he continued farming until his death, 
at the age of fourscore years.  His wife, whose name is not known, 
lived to be eighty-six years old.  Both were members of the Lutheran 
church.  Jacob J. Walker was the first-born of their family of eight 
children, none of whom are now living.
  Jacob J. Walker was born in Brother's Valley, January 18, 1799, and 
during his early life assisted in the pioneer labor of improving a 
homestead.  He learned the cooper's trade, which he made his chief 
occupation several years, carrying it on in connection with farming, 
living a large part of the time in Stony Creek, where he died at the 
advanced age of eighty-two years.  His wife, Catherine, who was born in 
Brother's Valley, a daughter of Valentine Fritz, died at the age of 
sixty-eight years. Both were active members of the Lutheran church, in 
which he was a Deacon and Elder many years.  He was a sound Republican 
in politics and a highly respected citizen.
  Jacob J. and Catherine (Fritz) Walker had fourteen children, seven of 
whom are now living; namely, Moses, Matilda, Josiah J., Mary, Levi, 
Alexander, and Catherine.  Moses married Elizabeth Musser, who died, 
leaving three children - John William, and Winfield.  Matilda is the 
wife of Benjamin Musser.  She has no children.  Mary, the widow of John 
Glessner, has nine children - William, Jacob, Joseph, Harry, Catherine, 
Mary, Ida, Sarah, and Melissa.  Of Levi a short sketch may be found 
elsewhere in this volume.  Alexander married Rose Shaffer, and they 
have eleven children - Irving, Frank, Homer, Wesley, Sidney, Minnie, 
Maggie, Lizzie, Emma, Ida, and Sadie.  Catherine is the wife of Andrew 
Woy and the mother of eight children - Edward, Mathias, Harvey, Jacob, 
Margaret, Mollie, Lizzie, and Rose.
  Josiah J. Walker acquired his education in the schools of Stony 
Creek.  He succeeded to the ownership of the old homestead, and was 
there engaged in agricultural pursuits until sixty years of age.  Of 
this farm, which is one of the foremost in regard to its improvements 
in the vicinity, he is still the proprietor, although during the past 
few years he has resided in the village of Shanksville.  It may be 
mentioned as an achievement worthy of emulation, and especially 
interesting to advocates of tree culture and lovers of forestry, that 
in the spring of the present year, 1899, Mr. Walker manufactured from a 
fine grove of four thousand trees over twenty thousand pounds of maple 
sugar.  In 1870 he formed a partnership with Charles Shank; and, having 
established a planing-mill [sic] and a saw-mill, these gentlemen 
carried on a substantial manufacturing business under the firm of Shank 
& Walker, until March 1, 1899, when Mr. Shank sold his interest, and in 
the style was changed to Walker & Lowroy.  During the Civil War, in 
1864, Mr. Walker was drafted to serve in the army, but for fifteen 
hundred dollars secured a substitute.  He is a strong Republican in his 
politics, active in local affairs, and has served in various town 
offices, including those of Auditor and School Director.  For several 
years he was an Elder and Deacon in the Lutheran church, to which he 
and his wife belong.
  On February 21, 1856, Mr. Walker married Eliza, daughter of John and 
Sarah (Brant) Lutz.  She was an active member of the Reformed church.  
She died October 12, 1863, aged twenty-six years, having born her 
husband four children.  Two of these are living, namely: Edward A., 
born march 12, 1858, who married Aquila Baltzer, and has three children 
- Oscar, Harry, and James; and Francis, born February 27, 1862, who 
married Alice Spangler, and has one child, Jennie.  One of the other 
children, Augustus H., who was born May 21, 1857, and died September 
24, 1896, was twice married.  His first wife, Lizzie Fornwalt, died 
without issue; and his second wife, formerly Ellen Baker, now living in 
Ohio, has three children - Viola, Mamie, and Walter.
  On January 21, 1864, Mr. Walker married Sarah J. Larmon, daughter of 
William S. and Adeline (Lint) Larmon, she being one of four children, 
of whom two beside herself are living - John and Jeremiah.  Mr. Larmon, 
whose wife died at a comparatively early age, is now engaged in farming 
in Nebraska.  Twelve children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Walker, 
and eleven of them are living, the following being their record: Emma 
J., born January 11, 1865, is the wife of John Baker, and has five 
children - Lewis, Mary, Milton, Clara, and Sylvester; Catherine, born 
August 6, 1866, married Edward Lowroy, and has one child, William; 
Joseph, born March 19, 1868, married Mary Miller, and has two children 
- Robert and Darl; William C., born May 23, 1870, married Ida Spangler, 
by whom he has had three children - Milton, Bessie, and Kate; Jacob J., 
born November 23, 1871, married Mabel Brant, and has three children - 
Althea, Marguerite, and Evelyn; George D. was born August 3, 1873; 
Charles F. was born October 4, 1875; Nellie E. was born September 2, 
1877; Bruce E., born September 12, 1879, married Nettie Spangler and 
has one child, Cuba; Lewis was born May 31, 1881; and Etta M. was born 
July 23, 1883.