My Genealogy Hound

Harrison Walter, one of the most prominent farmers and substantial citizens of Oakland County, who owns a fine farm of 226 acres located in sections 16, 17 and 20, Independence township, and is president of the E. Jossman State Bank, in which he is the leading stockholder, was born in section 8, Independence township, July 15, 1840. His parents were Jacob and Sarah (Clark) Walter, the former of English birth, and the latter a native of the State of New York.

Jacob Walter came to America at the age of 21, a carpenter by trade, and in 1836 located in Oakland County, Michigan, where he took up 160 acres of government land, built on it a log house and after clearing a fine farm erected the residence that is now the home of Frederick Mills. Mr. Walter was one of the hard working, self denying pioneers, a worthy representative of that hardy band of men who first turned up the soil of the raw prairie and did so much toward making this the great agricultural section that it is. He was also a man of stability, good judgment and integrity and on every occasion turned his influence in the direction of improvement, urging the building of churches and schools and the improvement of roads and waterways. Jacob Walter married Sarah Clark and a family of eight children were born to them, as follows: Julia, the wife of Prof. C. F. P. Bellows of Ypsilanti, who for 20 years was professor of mathematics at the State Normal School; Emeline W., who is the widow of Nicholas B. Smith of Clarkston; Celestia, who is the wife of B. F. Poole of Chicago; Harrison, of this sketch; Sidney, who is a stock-man in Kansas; Laura, deceased, who was the wife of James P. Howell, a gold miner of California; Janette, who died at the age of 16 years; and Nelson, a fruit raiser, living in the vicinity of Clarkston.

Harrison Walter has always resided in Oakland County, and few men are better or more favorably known. In 1856 he came to his present farm and has devoted much attention to the production of fine fruit, for which his land is admirably adapted. He has made a specialty of apples, having 30 acres in apple orchards, and keeps 5,000 barrels of apples in cold storage. He has recently erected a handsome brick home costing $10,000, while all the surroundings are of an ornamental and attractive character. In conjunction with R. E. Jossman, he is erecting a large evaporator which will have a capacity for 500 bushels of apples daily, and is preparing for an immense trade in this direction. Mr. Walter raises considerable stock, mainly lambs, and is also a large handler of wool. He ships his live stock chiefly to Buffalo.

Aside from his large agricultural operations, Mr. Walter is interested in financial enterprises, having been president of the E. Jossman State Bank since its re-organization December 1, 1902, and also owns stock in the First Commercial Bank of Pontiac.

On December 15, 1864, Mr. Walter was married to Mary N. Howell, who was born in Newton, New Jersey, and is a daughter of Samuel G. and Esther B. (Edinson) Howell. Mr. and Mrs. Walter have had five children: Edith, who died aged 15 years; Agnes, who married J. W. Goodspeed of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and has two children, — Harrison and Walter; Gertrude, who died aged 16 years; Eva, a graduate of the Clarkston High School, who has been a student both at Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor; and Samuel J., a student of the State Agricultural College, who lives at home.

In politics Mr. Walter is a Republican. He is a pronounced temperance man and a very fine example of the creed he preaches, for he has never used liquor or tobacco in any form. As a man of sterling character, progressive and public spirited, Mr. Walter is much esteemed by his fellow citizens.