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- He is the subject of an extensive biographical sketch in S308; I post it here, from pa-roots.org, because it was so hard to find on the site:
"James Madison Walker is a practicing attorney at the Lancaster County bar. He married Eliza Ann Fawkes, of Sadsbury, and they have four sons: Wade Hampton, William Edmund, James Marshall, and Joseph Lewis. Esther Jane married Isaac Diller Worst. Their children are Jacob Rutter, Mary Pauline, George Walker, Newton Kelso, Anna Virginia, Marie Antoinette, and Esther Cora."
JAMES MADISON WALKER, a prominent member of the Lancaster Bar with office in the Grant Law Building, North Duke street, descends from an old English family, the head of which was Anthony Walker, of St. Andrews Wardrobbe, London. The origin of the family dates, so far as is known, back to the sixteenth century from one DeForrester, a King's forester. A descendant adopted the name of Anthony Walker, from his occupation, a walker of the royal forests. This member died May 11, 1590, leaving an estate to be divided among his heirs, one of whom was Thomas Walker, Esq., of Westminster, who held various positions and titles of honor, among them Usher of the Court of Exchange, marked Proclamator and Baron of the Court of Common Pleas. He died Oct. 12, 1613, leaving a son, Clement Walker, Esq., of Middle Temple Hydon, County Somerset, who had special livery of his father's lands; he died in 1651.
John Walker, his son, celebrated as the one to introduce the system of fallowing land and of revising wheat crops more thoroughly than formerly, was a man of great intelligence who set an example of superior farm culture greatly needed at that period. He married into the ancient family of Heneage, descendants of Sir Robert Heneage, mentioned in history as living during the reign of Henry III, in the thirteenth century. The Heneage coat of arms was conferred upon the Walker family by this marriage. The family belonged to the Established Church. Lewis Walker, a descendant, became a follower of George Fox, the Quaker, and was disowned by his relatives and deprived of government honors; or as said by some one at the time, "he laid down these honors conferred by government."
Lewis Walker left England about 1684, and coming to Pennsylvania settled at, or near, Valley Forge, Chester county, on one thousand acres of land purchased from his friend and co-laborer in the Quaker faith, William Penn.
Asahel Walker, Esq. (2), son of Asahel Walker (I), was born Feb. 7, 1788, in Sadsbury township, and being a man of energy and ability set an example of thrift derived from his English ancestors. Asahel was the grand uncle of James M. Walker. He held office in the county, and married Sarah Coates, daughter of Samuel Coates, of Chester Valley, near Coatesville, the family being of English origin. Mrs. Coates had six brothers: Warrick, Samuel, Levi, Joseph, George and Richard. Samuel and Levi were ministers of the Society of Friends; Joseph was a doctor and practiced at Downingtown, Chester county. Asahel Walker (2) died Dec. 5, 1856; and his wife, Sarah, died May 5, 1869, in her seventy-eighth year. They had children: Anna, married to William P. Cooper, 1838; Susanna, married to Moses Pownall, 1838; Susanna, widow, married to Pusey Barnard; 1860; Phebe, married to William P. Cooper, 1848; Sarah, married to D. D. Linville, 1849; Samuel, married to Sarah L. Harris, 1855; Asahel (3), not married; Joseph C., married to Lucy H. Ellmaker, 1856; Mary Alice, married to Alfred Ellmaker, 1856; Margaretta, married to Frank J. Pennock, 1859; Asahel Walker (I), Asahel (2), and Asahel (3) successively owned and occupied an ancient stone mansion house historic on account of its associations with Revolutionary times, and the notorious Doane boys.
Isaac Walker, a son of Isaac Walker (brother of Asahel Walker (2) ), was born in Sadsbury township, Pa., Jan. 27, 1808. He was the son of Isaac and Deborah (Dickinson) Walker, grandson of Asahel and Anna (Moore) Walker, the great-grandson of Isaac and Sarah (Jarman) Walker, and the great-great-grandson of Lewis and Mary (Morris) Walker. The English genealogy is given in the biographical sketch of the Walker family in the Biographical History of Lancaster county.
Lewis Walker came originally from the Scottish border, but directly from Wales. He first settled in Philadelphia, but soon after purchased one thousand acres from William Penn and moved to Valley Forge. He built the first stone house at the place, and it still stands though in altered form. He donated ground for a Quaker meeting-house and cemetery. Washington used the house for his quarters, and the church was made a hospital. The land is still owned by Walker's descendants, all of whom have been Friends.
Isaac Walker was married Nov. 2, 1831, to Eliza Ann, daughter of Abner and Mercy Kinsey Brooke, of Sadsbury. She came of highly respected people, early settlers of Montgomery and Bucks counties. Eleven children were born as follows: Anna Maria; Mary Louisa; Isaac Buchanan; Eliza Josephine; Mercy Brooke; James Madison; Esther Jane; Sarah Frances; Abner Brooke and Deborah Dickinson, twins; and Isaac Lewis.
James Madison Walker, a well known attorney descended from this family, was educated in the public schools of his home, and later at the State Normal School at Millersville. He left school just before graduation to get married, afterward teaching in Colerain, Bart, Eden, and Drumore townships. While also serving as a justice of the peace in Colerain he read law with Alexander Harris, Esq., and received much help from Hon. Judge Livingston, who gave him access to his library and directed his studies. Admitted to practice in 1879, he was later on admitted to the Supreme and Superior courts. Returning to the Gap in 1886 he has since resided there. He was a notary public for six years, and postmaster under President Cleveland's second term. He held the full term, Congressman Brosius, a personal friend from normal school days, preventing his removal. Mr. Walker was associated with the District Attorney in the celebrated Barney Short murder trial, Mr. Brosius being counsel for defence.
Mr. Walker married Eliza Fawkes, daughter of Samuel and Phoebe (Hood) Fawkes, the father being a well known farmer of Sadsbury township, and brother of Joseph, inventor of the steam plow. The following children have been born to this union: Isaac Hampton, an electrician who died in Philadelphia in 1901, in his thirtieth year; William E., farming his father's farm in Sadsbury township, a very fertile hundred acre tract, part of the thousand acre "Penn Tract;" James Marshall, electrician at Gap engaged in electric and telephone supply business: and Joseph Louis, engaged with Townsend & Co., of Smyrna, having also served four years as his father's assistant as postmaster.
Mr. Walker lives in a lovely home at the Gap, spending one or two days a week in Lancaster attending to his large law practice. His residence commands a fine view of the magnificent Gap scenery, the famed Pequea Valley, etc. He is also almost within view of the country seat of his old friend ex-Attorney General W. U. Hensel, whose sketch will be found elsewhere. Mr. Walker is a Democrat and as such has served his party in numerous conventions, etc. He is a Master Mason, being a member of the Christiana Lodge, No. 417, F. & A. M. Mr. Walker rather inclines in his religious views toward the Friends, but is not a member. He is highly esteemed bv all who know him for his integrity, kindness and liberality.
(Source: Biographical Annals of Lancaster County, Pa., Beers, 1903, pp. 113-4.; Posted By: Carol Eddleman on PA-Roots.org, December 12 2001.) [2, 3]
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