Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-01-17

pioiSSoiou was Foly Ill III i'o ihioa-
cy in those days, and the blacksmilh's
attention was attracted to it by GER
tain discoveries and improved methods
that were being applied about that
time. He went into the new venture
with the same earnest enthusiasm that
was characteristic of his life, and three
years afterward he was graduated
from the Baltimore Dental college.
This was in 1860. He volunteered in
the Confederate service soon afters
ward, served through the war, and
began the regular practice of his pro-
fession about 1865. That he was a
good dentist, it is not necessary to
say, for bis reputation survives him.
He continued the practice of dentis-
try until 1885, the last few years in
partnership with DR.. A. Y. Cartwright,
who, on his retirement from active
work, succeeded to his business.
Though in no sense politician, in
1886, DR.. Walker conceived the idea
that be would like to represent his
county in the general assembly. He
offered as candidate for the house
and was elected by handsome major
ity. But one term was enough for
him. During its continuance, he
learned that to make good, effective
legislator requires especial training
that should be commenced in early
life, and although his record was as
creditable as many who had gone be-
fore and many who had gone since, he
did not offer for reelection.
1t was probably as farmer that DR..
Walker achieved his most material
success in life. He first began to de-
vote considerable portion of his time
to farming along about in 1872. His
farm was located in the northwestern
outskirts of Yorkville, and on it he
made many notable experiments with
new varieties of cotton and corn seed,
composts and other fertilizers. Some
of the experiments were failures but
others were highly successful, and the
benefits derived from them were wide
spread. But the doctors most nota-
BILE achievement in this line was one
for which he deserves a monument.
We refer to his connection with the
practical development of the terrace
system, which has 80 largely sup
planted cruder methods of drainage
throughout this section of the state.
1t is not claimed that DR.. Walker
originated the terrace idea. 1t is GER
tain that be did not. With the infor.
nation at hand it cannot be positively
stated here that he was the first York
county farmer to make practical use of
the idea. 1t is certain, however, that
he deserves more credit than any 9th
er one individual for bringing the sys.
tenn to the attention of his fellow far
mers of York county and the state.
1t was about Is years ago. At that
time all farm drainage in this section
was done by means of bitches, which
were often the means of destroying
many acres of valuable land. DR..
Walker undertook an experiment with
terraces. He worked slowly and eau
tiously at first ; but after about three
years be was assured of the success
of his experiment, and he gave the
result of his labors to the public in
striking interview, in which he main
tanned that the key to successful drain
age is "not how to get the water Oft
your land but how to keep it on"
This interview was widely published,
not only throughout South Carolina
but in adjoining states, especially
where the farmers had TO deal with
rolling lands. AS the result, the hill
side ditch has almost entirely disap-
peared from the farm lands of York
county, aud terraces are as common
now as were hillside bitches and great
gullies then.
And DR.. Walker was Christian.
He became a member of the Meth
odist Episcopal church in 1852 and
was steward for more than 40 years.
He did not profess his Christianity
very loudly; but he was believer.
One thing he found most difficult to
understand was Gods mercy to sinful
man. 1t puzzled him to see why man
should be shown such mercy. He de-
delighted in the discussion of such
matters, and was accustomed to treat
them in very much the same vein as
be treated other subjects that were less
important. But he was never flip
pant, or skeptical, though sometimes
he may have appeared so. His faith
in God was subj bjected to practical
demonstration to which few men are
equal. 1t was about year ago, that
owing to a mistake in his medicine, at
a time when he was aim ost at deaths
door, it was thought for time that he
was dead. He was resuscitated
through the application of proper res
tora,ives, and when he was informed of
what had happened, he was not in the =
80. .,xs.,o1 uaovprocsad calm