From the book History of Walworth County Wisconsin, by Albert Clayton 
Beckwith, publ. 1912 - Pages 622 - 624
 
OLIVER H. WALKER.  The life record of Oliver H. WALKER, well known citizen of 
Lake Geneva, Walworth county, has been replete with success, because he has 
been very careful of his successive steps in the daily affairs of life, being 
careful not to do anything that would later require undoing.  "Be sure you are 
right, then go ahead," has been, in substance, his motto, at least it would 
seem so to one at all familiar with his career, which is worthy of careful 
study by the youth at the beginning of their careers or by the man who is 
discouraged farther on the highway of life.
 
Mr. WALKER was born at Plainfield, Otsego county, New York, December 8, 1843, 
being the scion of a family prominent in business circles in Lake Geneva from 
the early days.  He is a son of Austin and Dorcas (BURDICK) WALKER, the mother 
having been born probably in Connecticut and she lived in Otsego county, New 
York, until her marriage.  Her mother died in the East and her father came to 
Walworth county, Wisconsin, and settled in Linn township.  August WALKER and 
wife were married in New York and they lived in that state until 1851 when 
they moved to Walworth county, Wisconsin, reaching here in the spring of that 
year, having come by way of the Great Lakes to Kenosha.  There were no 
railroads in this country at that time.  They came by wagon from Kenosha to 
this county, locating in Linn township, where the father purchased eighty 
acres of land of James BENERDICK, near the center of the township, south of 
what was called the Big Foot road.  The family lived there about three years, 
then moved into Lake Geneva, and in 1854 Austin WALKER entered the grocery 
business, also handled boots and shoes, later.  After a time the boot and shoe 
business outgrew the grocery department and he closed it out, continuing only 
as boot and shoe merchant.  Here he remained in business until his death and 
was quite successful, becoming the possessor of considerable town property, 
built a great many houses and various business properties and thus for years 
was one of the influential men in the upbuilding of Lake Geneva.  His death 
occurred in 1895; his wife, surviving him a number of years, died on September 
19, 1906, having reached the advanced age of ninety-four years.  Their family 
consisted of seven children, six sons and one daughter, namely: Billings A. 
lived most of his life in Lake Geneva; Charles E., who owns and operates a 
find garden in the northern part of Lake Geneva, also owns considerable 
rentable property.  In 1859 he and three others drove overland to California 
with ox teams, when there was not a house from Council Bluffs, Iowa, to Salt 
Lake City, Utah; they were from April 19th to October 12th making the trip to 
Carson City, Nevada, experiencing many hardships and privations, having many 
thrilling adventures.  At one place they were compelled to pay seventy-five 
cents a pound for both flour and bacon.  He returned in 1862 and engaged in 
the dry goods, boot and shoe business in Lake Geneva, selling out in 1869, and 
then he engaged in the commission business in Chicago until 1871 when he 
returned to Lake Geneva.  While in business here he had the first stock of 
clothing in the city.  He was a member of the board of supervisors for ten 
years.  The third child born to Austin WALKER and wife was George W., who 
enlisted in the Union army in the spring of 1861 and died the following autumn 
of typhoid fever; Oliver H., of this sketch; Alexander S. lived and died in 
Lake Geneva; Napoleon Decatur is unmarried and lives in Lake Geneva; Mary L. 
is the wife of Joseph SCHENECK; they lived in San Francisco several years, but 
now make their home across the bay from there.
 
Oliver H. WALKER grew to manhood in Lake Geneva, and he was clerking in the 
store of his father on the day of his fifteenth birthday, and from that day 
until the spring of 1896 he remained in the store, covering a period  of 
thirty-seven years, during which time he became one of the best known 
merchants in the county, enjoyed a large trade and was regarded as one of the 
city's most enterprising men of affairs.  He is still well known, but a very 
large number of his friends and acquaintances of the earlier years have passed 
from view over life's great divide.
 
Mr. WALKER has retired from active business and looks after his rental 
properties in Lake Geneva.  His home is on the lake front, and for recreation 
he enjoys fishing in the lake.
 
Mr. WALKER was married on June 1, 1865, to Caroline P. JOHNSON, of Linn 
township.  She was born in Taunton, Massachusetts, June 20, 1841, and was the 
daughter of James and Sallie (STAPLES) JOHNSON.  Her people moved to this 
county in 1843 and located in Linn township about four miles from the city of 
Lake Geneva.  The subject and wife attended the same school in the country and 
grew up together.  James JOHNSON was born August 10, 1895, in Darby, 
Pennsylvania, and her mother was born January 17, 1806, in Freetown, 
Massachusetts.
 
Three daughters and one son were born to Mr. and Mrs. WALKER, named as 
follows: Frederick Oliver died in the spring of 1879, as did also Caroline 
Louise; Jennie died early the following autumn, their ages having been about 
four, seven and ten respectively; Rose M. is at home with her father in Lake 
Geneva.
 
The wife and mother was called to her rest on Friday, August 11, 1911.  She 
was a worthy member of the Congregational church in Lake Geneva and was a 
favorite with a wide circle of friends.  She was the last of her father's 
family residing in this county.  Mr. WALKER is also a member of the 
Congregational church.

Submitted By:  Carol
(carolann12@charter.net