The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-03-15
REV DIR. WALKER DEAD.
ONE or THE NOTED PASTORS OF
CENTER CHURCH, NEW HAVEN.
Passed Away In Hartford Yesterday
Prominent Clergyman for Many
fears-A Sketch of His Career.


Years-A Sketch of His Career.
Members of Center Church We're griev-
ed to learn yesterday of the death of a
distinguished former pastor of the
church, the Rev. Dr. George Leon Walk
er, late of Hartford and of the serious
ill health of another, the Rev. DR.. +. A.
Noble, which has compelled him to re-
linquish all his ministerial duties. Both
announcements were received in this
city yesterday causing much regret and
sorrow.
The Rev. DR.. George Leon Walker,
passed peacefully away at o'clock yes
terday morning at the Walker home on
Prospect street, Hartford. There were
gathered about the bedside when the
end came the doctors son, Professor
Williston Walker of New York; their
sister, Mrs. Boardman, and her hus-
band, Professor Georg N. Boardman
The immediate cause of death was a
severe attack of pneumonia, which had
come as a second attack after a previ-
out illness from which he rallied.
DR.. Walker was born in Rutland, VT,
70 years ago, the son of the Rev. DR..
Charles Walker of that city. He was
educated at Andover Seminary, studied
for the ministry and received as his
first church the State street Congrega-
tional church of Portland, Me. He re-
manned pastor of this church from
1858 till 1866, when he was called to the
Center Congregational church5 in New
Haven, where he remained until 1873.
He was called to the pastorate of the
Center church in Hartford and was
installed February 81, 1879, and con-
tinued in active church Of the society
until 1879, when he was made pastor
emeritus.
He was we'll known in. literary circles
editing Wadsworth's Diary and assist
ing in the preparation of the Memorial
History of Hartford. 1t has been said
of him that he was man of large mold
and was one of the brightest ornaments
of New England Congregationalism.
; DIR. Walker was installed pastor of the
First church of Christ Hartford, Thugs.
day, February 27,1S79. He received the
degree of d. D., from Yale in 1870. In
1853 the degree of M. A., was conferred
upon him by Middlebury college. He
was elected member of Yale corpora
llOH, INOVSIllUeI l., 1901, anu Ieielllcu lile
position through the remainder of his
life. He was member of the hong
missionary board of Connecticut and a
trustee of the fund for ministers and
member of the American board of for
eign missions
MORE TO COME
George Leon Walker came of sturdy
New England stock. His father was
IL, Ny,II
Leonard and Chloe Walker and was
born in East Woodstock, VT, April so,
1880. He was one of thirteen children.
The family moved to Stratford, VT,
in 1897, but the record shows that
Charles Walker was converted and
joined the church in East Woodstock
in 1915. He taught school at Cherry
Valley, N. Y, studied at Kimball union
academy at Plainfield and at Andover
Theological seminary, where he was
graduated in 1921. He was ordained
pastor at Rutland from January g. 1923,
to March 10, 1885, taught a year at
Castleton, and then resumed preaching
as the pastor of the Congregational
church at Brattleboro, where he re-
manned from January l, 1885, to Feb
ruary H. 1916. He preached at Pitts
ford from Decembe 2, 1916, to December
6, 1864, when he retired. He died at
the home of his daughter in Bingham
ton in 1870 at the age of eighty. Dr.
Charles Walker married Lucretia, the
daughter of Stephen Ambrose of Con-
cord, N H., and six children were born
to them. The eldest of these is Mrs.
Boardman, the wife of George N.
Boardman, D. D., LII. D., of Chicago, |
and the second was DR.. George Leon |
Walker. Dr. Henry F. Walker of New
York and Stephen Walker We're the
only other children to attain mature |
age
What seems remarkable in a man of |
such attainments is that DR.. Walker |
was not a college or seminary graduate.
His education was directed by his ia
Their, how wisely the result shows. DR..
Walkers first pastorate was at Port
land, Me, and it was while fighting
flames with other citizens at the first /
Portland fire that he received injuries
which led to life long lameness and
were doubtless causes contributing to |
his Ill health. Leaving Portland as
above mentioned DR.. Walker became
the pastor of the Center church, New
Haven, and remained in charge until
May 49, 1878. AT that time his health
was much impaired and he held no
regular pastorate until he went to
Hartford February q, 1879.
Arriving there he took hold of the
affairs of the church with so firm a
hand that the debt of $4,000, which
dated back almost to the beginning of
seat selling, in 1918, was extinguished.
Later years saw the church beautified
by stained glass windows and new
organ, which stands to-day with few
equals, installed.
While his health was somewhat bet
ter during his passionate in Hartford,
it was still much impaired, and he II
suffered many physical disadvantages {
from it. In him, however, it was less I
a drawback than IL might nave been ia {
Others, for his spirit dominated over ,
the flesh as was instanced on one oc- !
casion, when in 1882 he was about to
preach a sermon commemorative of
DR. Leonard Bacon, and fell on an icy
sidewalk, breaking his leg, while on his
wy to do so. Despite the pain which
he must have suffered, he insisted on
delivering the address and did so, It
seated in a chair A trip to Carlsbad |