My Genealogy Hound

JOHN JOSIAH WALKER, justice of the peace, Wilkinsburg, was born in Allegheny City, Feb. 1, 1841. His grandfather, Joseph Walker, was many years keeper of the prison in Londonderry, Ireland, and was twice married. James, a son of the first wife, was brought to America by an elder sister when nine years old. When sixteen he paid a visit to his native land, and his visit there occupied nine months. His father came to this country in 1850, and passed his remaining days here. James Walker was forty years keeper of the Western penitentiary, and three years steward of the Allegheny County Home. He died in 1875, aged seventy-three; his widow is now living at Mercer, Pa., in her eightieth year. He helped to organize the First U. P. Church in Allegheny, and was an elder for fifty years. He was originally a whig, afterward a democrat, but became a republican after the administration of James Buchanan. John J., who is the eighth of twelve children, attended the public school till fourteen years of age; then commenced the trade of painter, and was a partner in a firm of painters at the outbreak of the civil war. He was one of the first thirty men who left Allegheny to enter the Union army. After three months’ service in the 7th P. V. I. he helped organize Bat. I, 112th, taking the rank of second lieutenant. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Co. G, 139th Regt. In 1864 he was made hospital steward in the regular army, and as such served till Dec. 10, 1865. He took part in twenty-three regular engagements, and at the battle of the Wilderness he received a scalp-wound, was shot through the finger and had three ribs broken by the recoil of his gun. In the spring of 1867 he came to Wilkinsburg, and carried on a successful painting business till compelled by ill health to abandon it. While Wilkinsburg was part of Pittsburgh he was the alderman; has been three times elected justice of the peace, and was appointed to fill vacancy for two years; was six years deputy clerk of courts, and is now the republican nominee for jury commissioner; is a member of the M. E. Church; Past D. D. G. M of the I. O. O. F., Past Representative K. of P., member of the G. A. R., Veteran Legion, Jr. O. U. A. M. and Heptasophs. In 1861 Mr. Walker was married to Sarah Ann, daughter of Jacob and Ann Gould, of same German extraction as Jay Gould. One son and one daughter have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Walker: Sarah A. M., a teacher in the Wilkinsburg public school; Loyal John, a bookkeeper for the Singer Manufacturing company, Pittsburgh.