Los Angeles herald., 1891-09-14
JUDGE ]. D. WALKER.
The Untimely Death of Well-Known
and Well-Liked Man.

anu WGlL-Al&eu MdH.
The Florence (Ariz.) Enterprise has
the following history of the late Judge
John D. Walker, who was well and ia
vorably known in this city:
Judge John D. Walker breathed his
last upon this earth at the Napa Insane
asylum, California, on Wednesday, Sep
tember I'd, and his remains will be con-
signed to the tomb in Los Angeles next
Monday.
The announcement will bring sadness
to wide circle of his friends and ac-
quaintances, who appreciate his worth
as man and his example in life as an
exemplary citizen. He was a man Of
whom it may be truthfully said he was
without an enemy; his simple life was
one of extreme purity and integrity, and
he preferred to suffer the wrongs of
others rather than do the slightest in
jury to his fellow-man.
Judge Walker was born in Warsaw,
Illinois, ffty-two years ago. He received
a fair education and afterwards taught
school. In 1861 he moved to California
with his parents and shortly afterwards
he enlisted in company l, Fifth Caliior-
mia volunteers, was assigned to the Cali
fornia column, and entered Arizona the
following year. He received his dis
charge at Mesilla, New Mexico, in No
vember, 1864, and returned Immediately
to Arizona. He entered the employ of
Richard Brothers, Indian traders at the
Pima agency, Sacaton, and afterwards
became the agency physician, having
studied medicine under an army surgeon
at Fort Mcdowell and fully qualified
himself to practice.
During General Crooks campaign
against the Apaches in Arizona, Judge
Walker was made captain of company
of Pima Indians, and did effective SER
vice against the savages. He mastered
the Pima and Maricopa languages and
reduced them to a written system, and
he was made counsellor and chief
among them. All grievances were
brought before him for adjustment, and
his wish was sacred law with them.
They confded to him their traditions,
and it was his purpose at some time to
write their history, but his life was cut
short before he reached this task.
He was at one time county surveyor
Of Pinal county, justice of the peace and
probate judge, and he filled every Office
with fidelity and distinction.
About 1878 he first engaged in mining,
and was associated with Lucien +.
Walker, his brother; Isaac d. Smith
and w. H. Merritt, in chloriding the
Jessie Benton mine at the Owl Heads.
In 1879 or 1880 he was shown the Vekol
mine by some of his Indian friends,
and it was located by himself and
Hon. P. r. Brady, an equal in
terest being afterwards conveyed by
deed to Lucien E. Walker. After partly
developing this property, the Walker
brothers purchased Mr.. Brady's interest
and have ever since found the Vekol q
steady producer and source of great
profit. A few years ago he took charge
of the Reymert mines, and after placing
them upon good working basis, he sold
hisinterest therein for good round sum.
1t was while engaged in working these
mines that he suffered an attack of par
alysis that gradually undermined his not
very robust constitution and ultimately
affected his mental powers. From this
time on his decline was quite rapid, and
his lucid intervals became less frequent
until death finally released him from the
physical restraints it had become neces-
sary to place upon him. His death was
undoubtedly fastened by the excitement
into which he was thrown by designing
people who encouraged his vagaries for
their own selfish ends and rendered it
absolutely necessary for his guardians to
exercise their authority to protect his
person and property.
His death has cast gloom over his
old home here, and the spontaneous ex-
pressions OF regret that are heard upon
all sides are the best epitaphs that can
be written of good and honest man.
Peace to his ashes.