Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1916-06-30
A VERY INTERESTING
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
c. J. Arthur Reviews Career Of John
Smith Walker, Pioneer, Who
Died on the 10th Inst.
CBy c. j. Arthur.)

John Smith Walker was born on the
10th day of April 1884. I'm the Iron dis
trict OF Low Moor, near Bradford. York.
shire. England. The oldest son Of JOS
eph Walker and Betty Smith Walker.
And after 80 years OF mortal experience
John departed TO the vast unknown on
the 10th day of June. 1916.
lie was baptized In his native town.
and when rs years Of age, emigrated
with his parents and two brothers--Wil-
liam and Thomas--to Utah under the
presidency of Elder Orson Spencer. ar
irving In Salt Lake city In the early
fell OF fsa9
Father Walker bought a farm on Mill
Creek. Salt Lake county, adjoining jos
wright's farm. who emlgrated from Low
Moor and was an old friend and fellow
workman In the iron works OF that place
In the fan OF 1850 Father Walker, sub
iect to counsel OF the Church authorities
left his wife and children on the farm
and made home In Parowan. Iron coun-
~. The following spring he sold his farm
and moved his family to Parowan. Again
directed by counsel Of President George
A. Smith, he pioneered with small com.
pany and located fort northwest OF
Cedar City cemetery, Matthew Carruthers
presiding. President Geo. A. Smith, Wis
it'nr the fort. counselled and advised q
viewed site for city; this occurred In
the spring OF 1853. That fall cali was
made by the presidency AZ the October
Cedar City md labor at the iron works.
located one-half mile above the walled
city, In 1854, the month of May: Presi-
dent Young and company visited Cedar
City. organized stake, with Isaac G.
Haight as president and Phillip X. Smith
as bishop. He told the people they were
In danger from the flood waters Of Coal
Creek, called few brethren to follow
him, directed his teamster and stopped
on the present site OF Cedar City. Piac-
west corner OF the old /. c. Haight lot,
no farther north"
UP 70 this time our. friend John s. did
a boys part in the building up OF the
colony. He was then In his twenties,
strong. hale and hearty, Jonn was nor
10 do. which he did cheerfuily. About
this time he was ordained an elder and
tSe so active Part su IL sse 81
town and surrounding the half mile
square of the second town with ten
foot wall took every hand To the pick.
The rcgislHture OF isss-B4 granted ce.
dar Citv's charter. with Isaac c. Haight
the first mavor.
To build homes lumber, shingles and
lath were necessary. Father Walker and
his son John were to the job and con-
tfnued In the lumber business Tor many
years. Father Walker. who had been !,
furnaceman in Low Moor. took hold and
worked faithfully az the same kind OF
work for the Deseret Iron Company. The
furnace costing three thousand dollars
was located few rods east OF the pres
ent north bridge. The works shut down
In the fall OF 1887. The Walkers then
turned to logging. numbering and hauling
TO town.
on the 9Th of August. 1864. our John
took n wife. the lady we now call Aunt
Maggie-her proper name. Margaret Au-
gusta Puceil--and they were the parents
of eleven children, six sons and Ave
daughters. Sister Maggie, four sons,
four daughters, AZ grandchildren and sin
great-grandchiidren survive the deceased
While logging one morning John was
caught by falling timber and received
n dislocated hip and broken leg, and dur
ing the past eight years he has suffered
more or less from that accident; he has
also had two paralytic strokes. all OF
which tended to weaken his once strone
body.
For So years Sister Maggie was a true
devoted helpmeet. and during his sickness
was a comfort and CONSIDER
with all his strength he did not accum-
ulate wealth always satisfied with fair
compensation for his work. He was a
factor in pioneering Iron county, espec-
tally Cedar City. At the services held In
the tabernacle his friends OF long ag..
spoke In kind remorks OF the departed