Biography - ALLEN E. WALKER
Albion and Edwards county possess no more popular young citizen than
Allen E. Walker, circuit clerk and recorder. By profession an educator, he
has a record in that field which greatly commends him and his services in a
public capacity have redounded to his own credit and to the honor and profit
of the people. He is one of the leading Republicans of this part of the
state and his support of the men and measures put forth by the Grand Old
Party is regarded as a valuable asset. Mr. Walker is interested in the
success of good government and is an exponent of the progressive spirit and
strong initiative ability which have caused Albion to forge so rapidly
forward of late. He is native to this county, his eyes having first opened
to the light of day on a farm in the southern part, on December 15, 1881.
His father, Thomas J. Walker, was born in England in 1836 and came to
America with his father, also named Thomas Walker, in 1841. Both the father
and the grandfather of Allen E. Walker were farmers. Thomas J. Walker served
almost throughout the entire course of the great conflict between the
states, enlisting in Company B, of the Eighteenth Illinois Regiment on May
28, 1861, and being discharged February 28, 1864. He held the rank of
sergeant and participated in a number of the most important battles, among
them Shiloh, Port Henry, Fort Donelson, Vicksburg, and Brittain's Lane. He
married Elizabeth Kendall, like himself a native of England, her birth
having occurred across the sea in 1843. She was brought to America when a
child by her parents. Allen E. Walker is one of seven children born to these
estimable citizens, as follows: William, an agriculturist; Edward, engaged
in agriculture in the vicinity of Browns; Mary (Spencer) residing on a farm
near Grayville; George, whose homestead farm is situated not far from
Albion; Fred, in business at Grayville; Clyde, located at Whittier,
California; and Allen E.
Mr. Walker gained his first draughts at the fountain of knowledge in the
public schools of Edwards county and desiring to obtain a higher education,
matriculated in the Southern Collegiate Institute, and followed his studies
there with a course in the Normal College at Charleston. Meantime he devoted
vacation time to farming and is very familiar with the many secrets of
seed-time and harvest. In 1903 he began teaching, being employed as
instructor in the common schools for some two years, and following that with
two years as instructor in the grammar department of the Grayville school.
He was then elected principal of the public schools of Browns. In the summer
of 1908 he became a candidate for circuit clerk on the Republican ticket and
was elected in the fall of that year for a term of four years and has given
a favorable "taste of his quality. ' ' As mentioned, he is a leader in
Republican party counsels and for the past two and one-half years has been
chairman of the Republican county committee.
Mr. Walker is a very prominent lodge man, being by nature of sufficient
social proclivity to take much pleasure in affiliation with his fellow men.
He is a Mason, belonging to Hermitage Lodge, No. 356, and exemplifies in his
own living the ideals of moral and social justice and brotherly love for
which the order stands. He is also connected with the Knights of Pythias and
the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the latter of Mt. Carmel. He
attends the Presbyterian church.
Extracted 11 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from 1912 History of Southern Illinois, by George W. Smith, volume 3, page 1585.
