Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1895-10-31
In Remembrance of Uncle Watt wake

IN heihemorance OF tucte Watt wake T
he rests we'll
Madison Walker was born in Cum
berland county. Tenn. Aug. 4. and
died at Beetown. Wis. Oct. y. 1898.
In early life the deceased removed
to St. Charles, Mo. and there kept a
tavern for number of years. In the
year 1888 the family came to the lead
mines of Dubuque, where the father
died two weeks after their arrival.
In 1886 the widow with her nine
children settled at Potosi, Wis. Since
1912 the subject of this sketch has
been an esteemed citizen of Beetown.
He was here married on September 10.
1S49 to Ann Hosington. a young lady
from Ohio. who had been a teacher in
the Beetown school No children
we're born 10 them. and the widow is
left alone in the home she entered as
"a bride nearly a half century ago.
Three sisters also survive. One re-
sides ia Kansas. another in Illinois.
The remaining sister, Mrs. Job Crab
tree OF Bloomington was with him in
his last illness anticipating with ten
der solicitude his every want. Her
loving hands closed his ewes in death.
Uncle Matt was beloved by many
relatives. and many were the tears
that fell in sorrow for him. His was
a kind and loving nature Pleasant
and genial in all conversation. and
especially gentle was he with child
rem. Through The many years that
he has dwelt among us, he has ever
been regarded as peace-loving man,
an honest. upright citizen. He at
tended always 10 his own business.
and never interfered in the affairs of
others. We remember, perhaps. that
he had peculiarities. but he was al
ways respected alike by old and
young. As an early trapper and
hunter he became known far and wide
And almost every foot in Grant coun-
/ " bordering upon the Mississippi.
Grant or the Rattlesnake was familiar
to Matt Walker His well known
figure was never missing from our
streets except when on these pleas
urable expeditions. A few years ago
1 he was stricken with rheumatism but
recovered sufficiently to go about in
his usual way He was, however.
never really well any more. And
last spring an alarming heart trouble
rapidly developed. Still although
fully aware of the treacherous foe
within his breast, the sturdy old man
kept on in the ..even tenor of his
way. At times he suffered much.
nj IL, L. Il
few weeks before death relieved him.
He was not a member of any church
but expressed a firm belief tina. he
would be reunited with the loved
ones .'gone before" He liked to have
passages of Scripture read to him. and
the last of the Divine teachings that
he heard were the comforting promis-
es of the 14th chapter of John and the
beautiful 23rd psalm. While they
were being repeated he fell into a
sweet restful sleep.
He died suddenly while sitting in
his accustomed place by the fire. Just
as the sun went down behind the
western hills. A look of perfect
peace spread over the aged face. We
shall know him no more. but he left
us not without hope. The church at
Beetown was filed with MANY old set
tiers and friends who came to pay the
last tribute of respect to Uncle Matt
Walker Rev. j. A. Jamison
preached an impressive sermon and
it was but meet that the remains of
this old pioneer. this respected citizen
should be the first TO hallow Coolies
magnificent new funeral car
If thou hast forgiven a brothers offence
And grieved for thine own with penitence
If every creature has won thy love
From the creeping worm to the brooding
dove
Then with ioy and peace on thy bed of rest
Thou wilt sleep as on thy mothers breast.