William Walker (2 March 1834 – 7 November 1899) was an American farmer and politician in Iowa. Walker was born in

Huron County, Ohio Huron County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 58,565. Its county seat is Norwalk. The county was created in 1809 and later organized in 1815. Huron County is included in the Norwalk, OH ...

, on 2 March 1834. He was one of ten children born to a father of English descent and a mother of Irish descent. Walker was raised primarily in Michigan. He moved to

Audubon County, Iowa Audubon County is a county in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 5,674, making it Iowa's third-least populous county. Its county seat is Audubon. The county was named after John James Audubon, the naturalist and a ...

, in 1855 and began farming. In 1858, Walker married fellow Ohio native Nancy J. Bowen, who had relocated to

Audubon, Iowa Audubon is a city and the county seat in Audubon County, Iowa, United States. The population was 2,053 in the 2020 census, a decline from 2,382 in the 2000 census. History The city is named for John James Audubon the world-famous ornithologist, ...

. The couple raised five sons and four daughters to adulthood. Alongside his agricultural investments, Walker owned a general store in

Exira, Iowa Exira is a city in Audubon County, Iowa, United States, along the East Nishnabotna River and U.S. Route 71. The population was 787 at the time of the 2020 census. History The oldest town in Audubon County, Exira was founded in 1857. The town wa ...

, and was a

Freemason Freemasonry or Masonry refers to fraternal organisations that trace their origins to the local guilds of stonemasons that, from the end of the 13th century, regulated the qualifications of stonemasons and their interaction with authorities ...

. In later life, he converted from

Methodism Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a group of historically related denominations of Protestant Christianity whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's br ...

Congregationalism Congregationalist polity, or congregational polity, often known as congregationalism, is a system of ecclesiastical polity in which every local church (congregation) is independent, ecclesiastically sovereign, or "autonomous". Its first articul ...

. Walker voted for

John C. Frémont John Charles Frémont or Fremont (January 21, 1813July 13, 1890) was an American explorer, military officer, and politician. He was a U.S. Senator from California and was the first Republican nominee for president of the United States in 1856 ...

in the

1856 United States presidential election The 1856 United States presidential election was the 18th quadrennial presidential election, held on Tuesday, November 4, 1856. In a three-way election, Democrat James Buchanan defeated Republican nominee John C. Frémont and Know Nothing nominee ...

and continued supporting

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

political candidates throughout his life. Though he lived in an area dominated by the

Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to: *Democratic Party (United States) Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to: Active parties Africa *Botswana Democratic Party *Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea *Gabonese Democratic Party *Demo ...

, Walker was elected to consecutive terms on the

Iowa House of Representatives The Iowa House of Representatives is the lower house of the Iowa General Assembly, the upper house being the Iowa Senate. There are 100 seats in the Iowa House of Representatives, representing 100 single-member districts across the state, formed ...

in 1888 and 1890, and held the

District 34 A district is a type of administrative division that, in some countries, is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or counties, several municipalities, subdivisions o ...

seat until 1892. In 1899, Walker was diagnosed with stomach cancer. He sought medical treatment in Chicago, and died of the disease in Exira on 7 November 1899. Walker was buried two days later, in Exira.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Walker, William People from Audubon County, Iowa American people of Irish descent American Freemasons American people of English descent Deaths from cancer in Iowa Deaths from stomach cancer 1899 deaths 1834 births Farmers from Iowa 19th-century American merchants 19th-century American politicians Republican Party members of the Iowa House of Representatives American Congregationalists People from Huron County, Ohio Converts from Methodism Methodists from Iowa 19th-century Congregationalists