BIOS: Zachariah WALKER, Milford, Somerset County, PA

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Sharon Trosan

Copyright 2007.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/somerset/
________________________________________________

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW, Vol. XXXII, Containing Life Sketches of Leading 
Citizens of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania. Boston, 
Biographical Review Publishing Company: 1899, pp. 114-116.

  Zachariah Walker, a substantial and highly esteemed citizen of 
Milford and a veteran of the Civil War, was born in Brother's Valley 
township, Somerset County, Pa., March 26, 1834, a son of Jacob P. and 
Elizabeth (Braucher) Walker.  His paternal grandfather was Peter 
Walker, a native of Somerset County and a farmer by occupation, who 
married Elizabeth Romesberger.
  Jacob P. Walker was born in Somerset County, in Brother's Valley, 
October 18, 1800.  He followed agriculture for a livelihood, and was 
fairly successful.  By his wife, Elizabeth, he had twelve children, 
named respectively as follows: Nelson (deceased), Herman N., Francis, 
Zachariah, Mary, Diana, Eliza, Elizabeth, Susan (deceased), Ellen 
(deceased) Clara (deceased), and Madison.
  Zachariah Walker, the fourth child and the direct subject of this 
sketch, was brought up on his parent's farm, and received elementary 
instruction in the excellent public schools of his native town.  When 
twenty-two years old he went West to Lee County, Illinois, where he 
found employment and remained for two years.  Returning home at the end 
of that time, he assisted his father on the farm until 1862, when, no 
longer able to restrain his patriotic ardor excited by the great 
struggle between the North and South then fairly under way, he enlisted 
in Company F, One Hundred and Forty-second Pennsylvania Volunteer 
Infantry, the company being commanded by Captain F. A. Edmunds, and the 
regiment by Colonel R. P. Cummings.  He accompanied the regiment to 
Baltimore and then to Washington, it being merged into the Army of the 
Potomac (First Brigade, First Army Corps) soon after the battle of 
Antietam.  He followed its fortunes through the disastrous battle of 
Fredericksburg, the bloody conflict of Chancellorsville, and the 
fateful and decisive battle of Gettysburg, besides other battles fought 
by the Army of the Potomac.  Colonel Cummings was killed, and Captain 
Warren on the same day became commander of the regiment.  Mr. Walker 
received an honorable discharge after the close of the war.  He then 
returned home, and resumed the duties of civil life, working a short 
time for his father, and subsequently renting his father's farm in 
Brother's Valley, which he conducted for a year.  He then went to 
Milford township, and bought the farm owned by John Weller, which he 
cultivated successfully for fifteen years, selling it at the end of 
that time and purchasing a small farm in Brother's Valley.  This also 
he sold after a while in order to purchase the farm of one hundred and 
thirty acres in Milford township on which he now resides and where he 
carries on general farming with prosperous results.  He later purchased 
two other farms in Brother's Valley, on of one hundred and seventy 
acres and another of fifty-one acres.  These operations denote him to 
be a man of activity and enterprise, qualities which, united with good 
judgment and integrity, have brought their due reward.  Mr. Walker 
attends the Lutheran church in New Centreville.  In politics he is 
independent.
  He was married October 5, 1865, to Caroline, daughter of William and 
Eliza (Weller) Fritz.  Her paternal grandparents were William and 
Elizabeth (Pelham) Fritz.  They had eleven children, of whom seven are 
now living.  One of the four who have passed away was Herman, who was 
killed in the battle of Fredericksburg, he having enlisted in the same 
regiment and company as Mr. Walker.
  Mr. and Mrs. Walker had one child, a son, William Herman, who was 
born January 23, 1867, and died on March 2 of the same year.  Though so 
early taken away, he lives in the memory of his parents, to whom he 
would now be a comfort and help had he been spared to them.
  Mr. Walker is popular among his fellow-townsmen, both for his 
personal qualities as a man and citizen, and for his honorable army 
record as one of the nation's defenders in its greatest hour of trial.