Pages 87-88

Wiley Walker is an extensive agriculturist and stock-raiser, living on section 32, Blue Mound township, and by reason of his long residence here, his active and honorable business life and his able service as a soldier in the Civil car, he is well entitled to representation in this volume. He was born in Platt county, Missouri, near Platt City, May 15, 1845, and is a son of William and Luvica (Early) Walker, the former a pioneer in the agricultural development of that section of Missouri. He passed away in 1863 and was survived by his wife until 1910. Both are buried in the family graveyard near Platt City. The family is of old Scotch-Irish origin and its representatives have been in America for many generations.

Wiley Walker acquired his education in the district schools of Platt county and laid aside his books at the early age of fifteen in order to offer his services to the Federal army at the outbreak of the Civil war. He was sent to the front and took part in many of the most important engagements of that conflict, including the battle of Nashville, and in 1865 received his honorable discharge. Returning from the southern battlefields with a creditable military record, he made his home again in Platt county, where he remained until he went to southern Kansas. After a brief residence in that section, however, he returned to his native county and there farmed for fifteen years, meeting with a gratifying measure of success. In 1893 he came to Livingston county and purchased the H. Shaefer farm, which he later traded for two hundred acres on section 32, Blue Mound township, whereon he has since made his home. He has brought his fields to a high state of cultivation and has added modern improvements, including barn, silo and sheds for the shelter of his grain and stock. In addition to general farming Mr. Walker is extensively interested in stock-raising, keeping fifty head of cattle, ten horses and sixty swine. He has gained his present enviable degree of prosperity by his own efforts and by the exercise of his perseverance and energy, guided by sound business judgment and practical common sense.

Mr. Walker has been twice married. His first union was with Miss Ellen Kern, who died September 26, 1874, and is buried in the Kern family burial ground, in Platt county. She was the mother of two children: Lizzie, the wife of Walter Johnson; and Susan, who married Wesley Smith. On the 12th of August, 1875, Mr. Walker wedded Miss Nora Croskey, a daughter of Robert and Mary Eliza (Wykoff) Croskey, the former a prominent former of Platt county, who passed away in 1873. His wife survived him many years, her death occurring in 1903, and they are buried side by side in the Ginter burial ground, in Platt county. Mr. and Mrs. Walker have become the parents of ten children: Celeste, who married C. Hatfield, a printer; J. Wiley, who is connected with the operation of the Lewis farm, in Blue Mound township; Ollie, the wife of Oliver Evans, a prominent farmer in the same section; Luvica, who married Arthur Watkins who is engaged in agricultural pursuits in Blue Mound township; Sherman, who is also cultivating a farm in this vicinity; Mary, the wife of William Evans, a prominent farmer of Blue Mound township; George and Warner, who are assisting their father; and Annie and Fritz H., who are attending school.

Mr. Walker is well known in Masonic circles and prominent in the affairs of the local chapter. He is a member of the Christian church, and politically gives his allegiance to the republican party, having served as a director of the school board, He is widely known as an enterprising and representative agriculturist of Livingston county and one who has always followed business methods which are above reproach, bringing him a gratifying measure of prosperity.

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