William James Walker comes of Tennessee parentage, but was born near Arilla, Missouri in Jasper County to Louis D. and Sarah Walker on January 26, 1855. He came to Illinois with his parents in 1865 at the end of the Civil War and they settled in Franklin County. His father was a farmer and he received only the advantages of a common school education.

The 1870 census located 18 year old William living with his parents in Township 6, Range 2 of Franklin County using the Crittendon Post office. The family farm was estimated to have a value of $600 and the family is thought to have a personal estate of $200. Along with William and his parents were 4 siblings.

At the age of 20, William married Medora C. Crawford in Franklin County on November 19, 1874. By the time the 1880 federal census was taken, the couple was living in Tyrone Precinct, Township 6, Range 1 of Franklin County. William didn’t list an occupation in this census but Madora listed herself as handling dry goods merchandise. The couple at this time had one child, a son named Louis aged 1.

According to a local history book written in 1905, while still in Franklin County, William was in a general merchandise business partnership with a Mr. Ferris in a store at Christopher, Illinois for six years. After the business was burned out he moved to Marion around 1890 and entered the business of buying and shipping hardwood lumber and timber. The article also commented that he was a Democrat in politics and was not a church man or social man, but was very popular with his constituents never the less.

When the 1900 federal census was taken, William was a 45 year old lumber dealer. He and his wife were undoubtedly living at the only house they would ever have in Marion at 928 W. Main Street which was owned free of mortgage. They had four children in the home at the time, Louis 21, Ada 17, Effie 16, and Willie 3. The couple recorded that they had birthed 5 children but only 4 were living indicating that they had lost one child in the past.

In 1903 through 1905 William served as Marion city alderman under Mayor Charles H. Denison.

In the 1910 census, the couple were still located at 928 W. Main St., William was 55 and listed as being in the lumber business. Medora was shown as 53. Children in the home were Louis E. 31, Ada M. 26 and Willie D. 13. Also living with the family was a sister named Eva Campbell, aged 18.

By the 1920 census, William still listed himself as working the lumber trade at age 62. There was then only one of their children left in the home, Ada M. 37.

When the 1930 census was taken, William was 75 and his wife 73. Two of his children were living with them on W. Main Street, Louie aged 49 and Ada aged 44. William was now retired and listed no occupation. They did not own a radio, which was a question asked on the census record.

On May 6, 1933 William passed away at age 78 and was followed only 11 days later by his wife Medora on May 17, 1933. Both were interred together in Maplewood Cemetery in Marion.

(Sources: Federal Census records, 1905 Historical Souvenir of Williamson County, Marion Street Directories, Marion City Cemetery records. Compiled by Sam Lattuca 9/22/2023)