The Columbus journal., 1880-04-28
John Walker, SEN.

From the Cdpddtdn Post, Lindsay,
Ont, we clip the following, con-
cerning John Walker, ST., deed,
father to John Walker, Co. Com
missioner of Platte county:
'It is our melancholy duty this
week to record the death Of one of
the oldest settlers and pioneers of
the township of Ops: John Walker,
senr., who died suddenly on Monday
last at the homestead, on the 18th
con-, at the advsnced age of eighty
four years. The old gentleman was
hale and hearty 10 the last and was
in full possession of bis faculties.
On Monday he had partaken of
dinner at the usual hour and after
wards lay down on the bed for a
rest. He conversed little with bis
aged wife, who is nearly blind, when
the latter getting no response to a
remark, ascertslned that his face
was remarkably cold. Mrs. Walker
gave the alarm and Oh some young
er members of the family repairing
TO the room it was found that death
had claimed the old pioneer. The
deceased was born in Tyrone, Ire
land, in August, 1876, and as a young
man lived in Fermanagh, near Cas-
tie Archdall, where he occupied a
small farm. He took his fathers
place in the militia drafted in 1915
and was stationed at Tipperary at
the time of the battle of Waterloo.
He married in 1917 Catherine Nc
Donagh, the daughter of neighbor-
ing farmer, and i'm May, 1881, with
his wife and family OF four sons and
one daughter set sail for Canada.
The voyage from Londonderry to
Quebec took exactly a month, and
very nearly the same time was taken
in getting up the river to Cobourg.
They came thence to Peterboro, and
by a scow on Mud lake ard Pigeon
river to Omemee. He took up land
where the homestead is now, and
ever since remained there. When
he came in the road had to be un-
derbrushed. Some five years before,
his wife's brother, Patrick McDon-
agh, had settled In Ops, aud the
newcomers Joined their relatives.
They all had to undergo the hard
ships and privations of TIE early
settlers, the mere recital OF which
appal those who go forth these days
as pioneers with railways q few
miles after them. Then the settlers
had TO convey on their backs pro-
visions and grists to and from Co.
bourg or Port Hope along "blazed"
tracks, and for years afterwards
endured inconveniences that would
not have been overcome except by
unfisgging patience and persever-
ence. As reward for their long
and weary toll the bush was trans
formed into fertile farms, surpassed
by none in the province. John
Walker prospered and I'm addition
TO his first hundred acres purchased
enough land to give each of his
children fine farm. He is under
stood to have built the first log
house in Lindsay for some person
whose name has been forgotten, and
he helped to build the first locks at
this point. He was an active, en-
ergetic, hsrd-working man, and was
remarkable for his cool, courageous,
indomitable spirit. He was a man
of liberal mind and generous heart
a good neighbor, kind and lndul-
gent father and husband. His large
family were well provided for and
educated; and although many men,
bers were in time scattered over
various parts OF the country he
evinced deep interest in their wei
fare. Counting children, grand
children and great grandchildren,
his descendants reached the large
number of one hundred aud thirty
seven. Only one of his children
died In infancy and of the descend
ants Il may be said that all are
active, healthy, vigorous people, and
some Of the great grandchildren are
twenty years of age. Of his own
children in order of seniority there
are James Walker, now in Michi-
gan; Mrs. McHugh, widow of the
late p. McBugh, Ops; Samnel
Walker, residing in town; John
Walker, Columbus, Nebraska; vii.
liam Walker, Sheldon, Iowa; An
drew Walker, formerly councillor
and reeve of Ops, and now of Essex,
where he is councillor; Mrs. Jere-
miah Scully, living I'm town; David
Walker, councillor, living on the
homestead, and Francis T. Walker,
counselor or barrister, Dubuque,
Iowa, Several of these were so far
away that they could not be present
at the funeral, and Mrs. McHugh
was kept at home by illness; but
Mr.. Andrew Walker and Mr.. F. T.
Walker able to reach Lindsay in
time to follow to the grave the re-
mains of their venerable parent.
For upwards of thirty years past
the deceased had given the active
MANAGEMENT of farm affairs to bis
sons and for many years had enjoy
ed the comfortable ease TO which
his advanced years entitled him.
He was cheerful and happy to the
last. and had an inexhaustible fund
of anecdote and "Reminiscences of
early times. The funeral on We'd
nesday afternoon TO ST. Mary's
church and the Catholic cemetery
was one Of the largest that has taken
place in Lindsay, despite the bad
roads and the bitter wind. The
cortege numbered over one hundred
teams. The bereavcd family have
in their affection the sympathy OF
the entire .community,l for there
were few who did not know aud
esteem the old pioneer who has
tssn called away"