The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-05-30
JOHN 6. WALKER.

Of Honolulu for nearly forty years,
aud during all this period has held
prominent place as public man
and prosperous merchant. For
the past two months he had been
ailing and was unable to attend to
business, but it was only within
few days past that it became
known that he was attacked with
an aneurism, which threatened to
terminate his life.
Mr.. Walker was a native of
Aberdeen, Scotland, where he was
born in the year 1926, and was
consequently 81 years of age. He
came here for his health, and
found the climate so favorable that
he made it his home, and has here
always enjoyed good health. In
1866 he married Miss Jennie McIn-
tyre, who survives him as do also ten
children-fiye sons and five daugh-
tiers. In common with the COM
munity Of this city and the islands,
we mourn the death of one who
has been sc long one of our num-
Der, and whose decease is a loss to
the isl. Ids, and tender to the be-
reaved family and relatives our
heartfelt sympathy.
The funeral of the late John S.
Walker will take place this after
noon at 2 o'clock from the family
residence in Nuuanu avenue. The
funeral obsequies will be under the
auspices of Lodge lie Progress de
POceanie No. 124, A. F. and A. NJ,
of which order the deceased was a
member. Hawaiian Lodge, No.
81, will also be represented. The
Hawaiian National band will be
stationed near the grave to render
dirges during the burial services.
Rev. Alex. Macintosh will Off
ciate.
From a lengthy biographical
sketch in the Commercial Record,
we condense the following:
TJohn S. Walker was a native OF
Aberdeen, Scotland. There he re-
ceived a good education, and being
too ambitious to spend his life quiet
ly amid the slowgoing customs Of
the old country, ne set sail for Am
erica at The age of seventeen, and
landed In Quebec, Canada, in 1912,
with liberal endowment Of brains,
energy and enterprise as his capital.
From Canada Mr. Walker proceeded
to Wisconsin, where in company
with Mr. John Center, now of San
Francisco, he began prospecting and
lead mining, which occupation he
followed with varied success, bnt fl
nally reached California.
After a short stay in Sacramento.
he proceeded, in 1852, to Marysville,
where he engaged in business, which
he continued successfully until 1854
During the hardships and privatIOus
of the trip across the continent, Alr.
Walker contracted the mountain few
er, and decided to mske'a trip TO the
Sandwich islands for his health. ar
rivlng here November, 1854. His 10
tentions Were to remain here for .
few months oaly, but as with many
others who came to the Paradise Of
the Pacific with similar intentions,
he made it his home ever since.
Soon after arrival he accepted tenn
porary position as bookkeeper with
the firm of Hgckfeld X Co, after
which he filed the same position
with Thos. Spencer, and remained
with him until 1861.
He then engaged on hiss Owe
account, In the shipping and Import
ing business, aud as agent for and
part owner in different whaling and
merchant ships. This was the begin
ming for MIR. Walker of long and
active mercantile career. He after
wards devoted his entire attentions
to commercial affairs until 1874,
when he was appointed minister of
finance In Kalakaua's cabinet. This
Office he held until 1876, when he
and Col. H. S. Spalding became
members of the firm of w. q. Irwin
& Co, which was established that
year, and which partnership con
tinued until 1880. It was then dis
solved, w. q. Irwin becoming asso-
ciated with AIr. Claus Spreckels, and
MIR. Walker being again appointed
to the kings cabinet as minister Of
finance and as attorney general ad
interim.
In 1886 Mr.. Walker was appointed
auditor general, an Office of life ten
ure; but, not considering himself
justified in sacrificing his entire time
for salary, he resigned on January
LIST, 1857. Since that time he was
member OF the legislature, and held
q seat in the halls of that body dur
ing most of the sessions for the past
fifteen years. He was president OF
the legislature of 1886, 1890 and
1892. He was a noble, under ap-
pointment by tho throne, until the
new constitution of 1887 made that
Office elective, when he was again
returned at the polls, for the
six yesr term, 10 a seat In the
legislature. He was a MEM