Thomas Walker Biography - Grant County Wisconsin

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Submitted by David W. Taft, dtaft@cowtown.net

Thomas Walker

Commemorative Biographical Record of Rock, Green, Grant,Iowa, and 
Lafayette Counties, Wisconsin, 1901
J. H. Beers, 1901
Pg. 290-291

THOMAS WALKER, one of the leading citizens of Preston, Grant County, is a veteran of the 
War of the Rebellion, and relates many entertaining and thrilling stories of the days when 
he was one of the "boys in blue."  His birth occurred in Yorkshire, England, September 28, 
1825, and he is the son of James and Dorothy Walker.  The good mother died when our subject was 
only seven years old, and his father passed away when he was sixteen, leaving three sons 
and two daughters, of whom only Thomas and Peter came to America.  The other brother, 
James and the sisters, Mary and Dorothy, are new deceased.

Leaving Liverpool February 25, 1849, the two brothers came to the New World via New 
Orleans, landing in that city after a stormy passage, in a sailing of nine weeks.  There 
they took passage for Galena, Illinois, but this being the great cholera year, scarcely had the steamer left 
the harbor when fifty passengers were dead or dying.  The captain of the boat suggested to 
Thomas and Peter Walker that they add a little alum to their drinking water, and take as a 
preventative a little brandy and red pepper.  Whether this is a infallible remedy or not, 
Mr. Walker cannot say, but he and his brother were among the few that escaped the scourge.  From 
Galena, our subjects traveled to a place near Benton, in Lafayette County, Wisconsin where 
he engaged in lead mining, but as he was a mason by trade, he decided to return to Illinois, and 
located in Jo Davies County, working in the summer at his trade, and in winter as a miner.  
Finally he was employed to purchase minerals, and was located near Shullsburg, Wisconsin 
for about a year, at what was known as Big Patch Furnace, at a higher salary than he had 
yet received.  However, in a year, Mr. Walker engaged in mining again, and then worked in 
the smelting works near Hazel Green for about a year.  Having accumulated sufficient money, Mr. 
Walker about this time purchased a farm of 240 acres, nine miles south of Muscoda, but a 
year later many improvements were made to convert the property into a good farm.  A year 
later he exchanged it for one in the town of Clifton, Grant County.  In addition to his 
property in Wisconsin, Mr. Walker possesses 160 acres in Sherman County, Kansas, which he 
purchased while spending several years in the locality while making a trip in 1888. 
On account of broken health, as a result of his army experience, Mr. Walker has not been 
engaged in farming for a number of years.

On February 1, 1865 Mr. Walker was enrolled as a member of Company H, 7th Wisconsin V. I. 
which regiment formed a part of the famous Iron Brigade and for a time after enlistment 
he was drilled in Camp Randall, Madison, Wisconsin.  As spring approached the regiment 
was sent to Cullpepper Court House, Virginia and on May 4th, 1864, entered upon the famous 
Campaign of the Wilderness.  Mr. Walker participated in all of the battles of that bloody 
campaign around Petersburg, including the battle for possession of the Weldon Railroad.  
The regiment joined in the pursuit of General Lee, and was at Appomattox, being mustered 
out of service July 30, 1865.

Although never wounded seriously, Mr. Walker had a very curious experience during the 
battle of Petersburg. Four bullets struck the buckle of his cartridge belt, in rapid 
succession, but he was not injured although any one of them would have meant certain 
death if he had not been protected by the buckle.  Among his most valued possessions today,
may be seen in this self - same buckle, dented and showing signs of hard usage, but more 
precious than if incrusted with diamonds.

At the Battle of Hatchers River, Mr. Walker took, which resulted in rheumatism and catarrh 
from which he has never recovered.  Mr. Walker married Miss Mary Ann Thomas, daughter of 
Thomas Thomas Sr. of Wingville, one of Grant County's old and well – known farmers, now 
deceased.

During his term of service in the army, Mr. Walker's wife and children remained on the farm at 
Clifton, where he rejoined them at the close of the war.  To Mr. and Mrs. Walker have been 
born 10 children. James M., who lives in Dixon Co., Nebraska; Tanner, who lives in 
Wingville township; Ulysses, now residing on the home farm; Norval and Benjamin, of 
Wingville township; Stella living in Liberty township; Alda, living in Wingville township; 
and Mary Ellen, May and Llewellyn, deceased.

Mr. Walker is a member of the Sam Montieth Post, G.A.R., and enjoys the confidence of a 
wide circle of friends, by whom his many excellent traits of character are appreciated 
at their true value.