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From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin, publ. 1901 - 290-291
THOMAS WALKER, one of the leading citizens of Preston, Grant county, is a veteran of the war of the Rebellion, and relates many entertaining and thrilling stories of the days when he was one of the "boys in blue." His birth occurred in Yorkshire, England, Sept. 28, 1825, and he is a son of James and Dorothy WALKER. The good mother died when our subject was only seven years old, and his father passed away when he was sixteen, leaving three sons and two daughters, of whom only Thomas and Peter came to America. The other brother, James, and the two sisters, Mary and Dorothy, are now deceased.
Leaving Liverpool Feb. 25, 1849, the two brothers came to the New World via New Orleans, landing in that city after a stormy passage, in a sailing-vessel of nine weeks. There they took passage for Galena, Ill., but this being the great cholera year, scarcely had the steamer left the harbor when fifty of the passengers were dead or dying. The captain of the boat suggested to Thomas and Peter WALKER that they add a little alum to their drinking water, and take as a preventive a little brandy and red pepper. Whether this is an infallible remedy or not Mr. WALKER cannot say, but he and his brother were among the few who escaped the scourge. From Galena, our subject traveled to a place near Benton, in Lafayette county, Wis., where he engaged in lead mining, but as he was a mason by trade, he decided to return to Illinois, and located in Jo Daviess county, working in the summer at his trade, and in winter as a miner. Finally he was employed to purchase minerals, and was located near Shullsburg, Wis., for about a year, at what was known as Big Patch Furnace, at a higher salary than he had as yet received. However, in a year, Mr. WALKER engaged in mining again, and then worked in the smelting works near Hazel Green for about one year. Having accumulated sufficient money, Mr. WALKER about this time purchased a farm of 240 acres, about nine miles south of Muscoda, but a year later exchanged it for one in the town of Clifton, Grant county, where he has made many improvements, converting the property into a good farm. In addition to his property in Wisconsin, Mr. WALKER possesses 160 acres in Sherman county, Kan., which he purchased while spending several years in that locality, making the trip in 1888. On account of broken health, as a result of his army experience, Mr. WALKER has not been actively engaged in farming for a number of years.
On Feb. 1, 1864, Mr. WALKER was enrolled a member of Company H, 7th Wis. V.I. from which regiment formed a part of the famous Iron Brigade, and for a time after enlistment he was drilled in Camp Randall, Madison, Wis. As spring approached, the regiment was sent to Culpeper Court House, Va., and on May 4, 1864, entered upon the famous campaign of the Wilderness. Mr. WALKER participated in all of the battles of that bloody campaign around Petersburg, including the battle for possession of the Weldon railroad. The regiment joined in the pursuit of Gen. Lee, and was at Appomattox, being mustered out of the service July 03, 1865. Although never wounded, seriously, Mr. WALKER had a very curious experience during the battle of Petersburg. Four bullets struck the buckle of his cartridge belt in rapid succession, but he was not injured, although any one of them would have meant certain death if he had not been protected by the buckle. Among his most valued possessions, today, may be seen this self-same buckle, dented and showing evidence of hard usage, but more precious than if encrusted with diamonds. At the battle of Hatcher's River Mr. WALKER took cold, which resulted in rheumatism and catarrh, from which he has never recovered.
Mr. WALKER married Miss Mary Ann THOMAS, daughter of Thomas THOMAS, Sr., of Wingville, one of Grant county's old and well-known farmers, now deceased. During his term of service in the army Mr. WALKER's wife and children remained on the farm at Clifton, where he rejoined them at the close of the war. To Mr. and Mrs. WALKER have been born ten children - James M., who lives in Dixon county, Neb.; Tanner, who lives in Wingville township; Ulysses, now residing on the home farm; Norvel and Benjamin, of Wingville; Stella, living in Liberty township; Alka, living in Wingville township; and Mary Ellen, May and Llewellyn, deceased.
Mr. WALKER is a worthy member of Sam Montieth Post, G.A.R., and enjoys the confidence of a wide circle of friends, by whom his many excellent traits of character are appreciated at their true value.
This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck