Source: Thje Biographical Record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois
Originally published 1896
S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., Chicago, IL
Reproduced on CD purchased from OLD GLORY ACCENTS

RELATED LINK: Index to all Biographies from this book

Transcribed by Denise McLoughlin
Tampico Area Historical Society
www.tampicohistoricalsociety.citymax.com

Page 483

NEWELL E. WALTON, who is now living retired upon his farm on section 17, Selby township, Bureau county, was born on the 28th of July, 1805, in Bracken county, Kentucky, and is a son of Edward and Elizabeth (BLACK) WALTON, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter a Kentucky. They were married when but eighteen and fourteen years of age, respectively, and at the early age of twenty Mrs. WALTON was left a widow.

In the state of his nativity our subject grew to manhood, there securing a good education, and on attaining his majority went to Clermont county, Ohio, where for a time he worked at the tanner's trade, after which he engaged in merchandising for a number of years at New Richmoned. He led to the marriage altar Elizabeth CONNOR, who wa born in Pennsylvania, but was reared and educated in Clermont county, Ohio, where her father, Andrew CONNOR, was numbered among the early settlers. He served as a soldier in the war of 1812.

In 1852, Mr. WALTON brought his family to Illinois, and began operating a rented farm in Selby towndship, Bureau cunty, where he later purchased a wild tract, which he soon transformed into one of themost highly cultivated farms in the loality. For many years he was numbered among the active, enterprising and substantial farmers of the county, but has laid aside business cares, living retired for the past twenty years. At the age of ninety-one years he is now resting in the enjoyments of the fruits of his former toil. His faithful and devoted wife passed away February 10, 1885, at the age of eighty years, and was laid to rest in Princeton cemetery, a substantial marblemonument marking the spot.

Their family constituted the following named children: Mary E., pursued her studies in Clermont academy of Ohio, and for two years engaged in teaching in that state, and for twenty-five years after coming to Illinois. Andrew W. is a prominent business man of Selby township, where he engages in coal mining and the manufacture of tile. (His sketch can be found on another page of this work.) Harriet, who was educated in the Princeton academy, also engaged in teaching for a number of years, and married John WOLFERSBERGER, by whom she had one son, Newell S., now a student in the Princeton high school. She is now deceased. For three years her husband engaged in farming in Allen county, Kansas, where her death occurred in 1881. Emily completed her literary training in the Princeton academy; and for about thirty years was one of the efficient and successful teachers of Bureau county. She also taught for three years in Whiteside county, Illinois. John E., was also given good educational privileges, and after his marriage removed to Allen county, Kansas, where he died in 1889. Susie attended the Princeton academy, and after finishing her education married Marcus AUSTIN, of Seslby township, who died in 1879, leaving one daughter, Mary S. Misses Mary and Emily WALTON, Mrs. AUSTIN and her daughter and Newell S. WOLFERSBERGER, all reside on the old homestead with the father. He and his daughters are consistant members of the Baptsit church.

After casting his first vote for General JACKSON, Mr. WALTON continued to support the democratic party until 1860, when he voted for Abraham LINCOLN, and has since been a stalwart republican. He and his son, Andrew W., cast the first republican votes cast in Selby township. He has never failed to vote at each presidential election since attaining his majority, always taking an active interest in political affairs, and for a number of years acceptably served as justice of the peace. He has witnessed much of the growth and development  of Bureau county, which has now been his home for over forty-four years, and in the wonderful changes that have taken place he has always borne his part. True to the duties of both public and private life, he has so lived  to merit the high esteem in which he is universally held.