- REV. WILLIAM WALKER, a resident of Milton, was born in Orange
County, Vt., Oct. 3,
- 1808, a son of Aaron and Judith (SANBORN) WALKER, and one
of a family of twelve children, four of whom are living. His
parents came to Rock County in 1839, settling on a farm on what
is now section 36, of the town of Milton, where Mr. WALKER's
father died in 1861. His mother died in 1853. They were highly
respected people, and were numbered among the honored pioneers
of the county.
- Our subject remained at home until eighteen years of age,
assisting his father in the labors of the
- farm, and on leaving the parental roof began learning the
blacksmith's trade, which he followed for about five years. He
fitted for college at Pottsdam, (N.Y.) Academy and Middlebury
College, and in 1835 entered Amherst College, graduating from
that institution in the class of 1838, when he entered the Andover
Theological Seminary, completing his course in 1841. He was ordained
at Greensboro, Vt., November, 1841, and in December of that year,
was sent by direction of the Board of Foreign Missions to Gaboon,
West Africa. Before leaving his native land, Mr. WALKER was united
in marriage with Miss Prudence RICHARDSON, a native of Massachusetts,
who died in Africa May 2, 1842. After spending four years in
missionary labors on the "Dark Continent," he returned
to the United States, and was again married October 29, 1845,
his second union being with Zeriah Levina, daughter of Peter
SHUMWAY, of Oxford, also a native of Massachusetts. In the month
of February, 1846 he visited his parents and friends in Rock
County, but soon afterwards returned to New York, and again sailed
for Africa. Death again visited his home in that far off country,
his wife passing to her final rest April 23, 1848. He continued
his labors in the missionary field until 1850, when he returned
to his native land, lecturing on foreign missions, traveling
through many States of the Union. He translated Genesis, Exodus,
Psalms, Proverbs, Matthew and Acts, into the Mapongrol language
and is the author of a Mapongrol grammer. He came to Rock County
in 1871, and lectured from Portland, Me., to Omaha, Neb. For
about six years he delivered public addresses on foreign missionary
work under the direction of a secretary.
- In 1851, Mr. WALKER married Miss Katharine HARDCASTLE, of
New York City, who died
- October 27, 1877. Two years later, in 1879, he again went
to Africa, returning in June, 1883. During that time he was engaged
in translating the Bible into the African language, and had charge
of a Mission Church with a membership of about seventy. His labors
in Africa have proved a blessing to the dark race. The greater
part of his life since completing his studies has been spent
as a missionary in foreign lands, carrying the Bible to the races
which for ages have been clothed in the darkness of heathendom.
Studious in habit, he has devoted much time to literary work,
his greatest labor being the translation of the Bible. Modest
and unassuming, he makes no pretensions, but daily endeavors
to live in accordance to the teachings of his Master, and is
loved and respected by all who know him. He has held the office
of the United States Vice-Commercial Agent at Gaboon, West Africa.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 717-718.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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