Andrew Dunham Walker, of Holton, Kans., has been a prominent factor in the industrial, political and social development of Kansas, for over forty years. He is a native of Ohio, born at Greenfield, Highland county, September 25, 1848. He comes from sturdy Scotch ancestors, who, with the courage characteristic of that race, braved the storms of ocean and the vicissitudes of life in the new world, and established a home in the wilds of Virginia, nearly three hundred years ago. The Walker family was founded in America by John Walker, a native of Wigton, Scotland, who left his native land in 1680, and went to Ireland, where he remained until 1726, when he, with his wife and children, and three of his brother Alexander's children, immigrated to America, locating in Chester county, Pennsylvania. Shortly afterwards most of the family removed to Virginia, and John Walker was contemplating such a move when he died in 1734. He married Katherine Rutherford, a native of Scotland, born on the banks of the River Tweed. She was a daughter of John and Isabella (Allein) Rutherford. She died in 1738, and they were both buried at Nottingham Meeting House, Chester county, Pennsylvania. Andrew D. Walker, the subject of this review, is a son of John Howell and Margaret Bay (Elliott) Walker, both natives of Virginia. John Howell Walker was born in Rockbridge county, Virginia, December 9, 1805. He was a son of John and Sally (Crawford) Walker, the former born in Rockbridge county about 1764, and married Sally Crawford, in 1797. He was a school teacher, and lived on Walker Creek, Va. (a stream which took its name from the Walker family). He remained there until 1814, when he removed to Ohio with his wife and family. They settled in the wilderness, on the then, extreme frontier, near New Petersburg, Highland county, Ohio. Here, John Walker and his wife spent their lives. He died in 1825, and his wife's death occurred three years later. This John Walker was a direct descendant, being a grand nephew of John Walker, of Scotland, above mentioned, who was the founder of the family in America. John Howell Walker, the father of Andrew D. Walker, was born December 9, 1805, in Rockbridge county, Virginia, and spent his life in Ohio, after coming to that State with his parents. He was prominent in Highland county and lived an unright[sic] life. He was a strict adherent to the Presbyterian faith of his Scotch ancestors, and was a strong anti-slavery and Union man, and the fact that nine of his sons and sons-in-law, bore arms in defense of the Union, during the Civil war, was one of the gratifications of his life. John Howell Walker and Margaret Bay Elliott were married August 2, 1830, and thirteen children were born to this union, as follows: Phoebe Jane, married John Tudor, Highland county, Ohio; Sallie, married Louis P. Tudor, who served in the Civil war, now deceased; William Elliott, married Mary Strain, Greenfield, Ohio, a Civil war veteran, now deceased; Thomas Alexander, married Mary Jane Graham Williamson, was a Colonel in the Civil war, and is now deceased; Hannah, was never married, now deceased; John Crawford, married Katherine Ammen, became a Captain in the Civil war, now deceased; Mary Adeline, married Dr. Hugh S. Strain, was a surgeon in the Civil war, now resides in Rockbridge county, Virginia; Rachel Ann, married Richard L. Patton, who served in the Twenty-fourth Ohio Battery during the Civil war, now resides at Sabetha, Kans.; James Howell was a Sergeant in the Twenty-fourth Ohio battery, died November 8, 1864, from disease contracted in the service; Samuel Johnston, was a soldier in the Civil war; Martha Lavinia, now deceased, married William Striblen, who was a Lieutenant in the Twenty-seventh Regiment, Ohio infantry, serving throughout the Civil war; Andrew Dunham, the subject of this sketch, and Joseph Montgomery, who died at the age of seventeen. Andrew Dunham Walker was reared on a farm in Highland county, Ohio, receiving his early education in the district schools, and later took a course in the academy at South Salem, Ohio. In 1868, he came West, locating in Douglas county, Illinois. He taught school there one year, and in 1872, came to Kansas, locating at Holton. His first venture in the new country was in the mercantile business. He purchased a stock of hardware, and for one year was engaged in the hardware business at Holton. Mr. Walker had read law before coming to Kansas and pursued his law studies in the offices of James H. Lowell and Charles Hayden. In 1874, he was admitted to the bar and engaged in the practice in partnership with Charles Hayden, under the firm name of Hayden & Walker. He had taken an active part in local politics, since coming to Jackson county, and in 1875 was elected clerk of the District Court, being re-elected to that office twice, serving in all three terms. He also served one term as Mayor of Holton during this time. He then resumed the practice of law at Holton and was actively engaged in the practice until about 1900. For a number of years he was in partnership with James H. Lowell under the firm name of Lowell & Walker. In 1889, he was appointed by President Harrison, as a member of the committee for the distribution and allotment of the Kickapoo and Pottowatamie Indian lands. Mr. Walker served as railroad commissioner of Kansas for a number of years. He was first elected by the Kansas State Executive Council in March, 1901, and re-elected by said Council in March, 1904. While serving in that office, the law was changed, making it elective, after which he was elected for a term of two years, at a general State election in November, 1904. In 1880, at the founding of Campbell University, at Holton, he took an active part in promoting that organization, and served as president of the board of directors for a number of years. In 1884, he became interested in the grain business and for several years was one of the most extensive grain dealers in that section of the State, having elevators at Holton, Denison, Ontario, and Bancroft, Kans., and Armour and Tate, Neb. He has also been interested in several of the leading financial institutions of the county. He was one of the organizers of the First National Bank of Holton, and was a member of the broad[sic] of directors and vice-president for a time. He was also one of the organizers of the Kansas State Bank of Holton, in which he was a director a number of years. He has been an important factor in the development of Jackson county, from many viewpoints. He founded the town of Denison, and was one of the leading promoters of Hoyt, Kans. Since coming to Kansas, he has been interested in the great industry of the State, agriculture, and today owns several farms, and is one of the extensive stockmen of the State, His "Bill Brook" farm is a model of scientific arrangement, for dairying purposes, and is one of the best farms in Jackson county. His agricultural interests are not confined to Jackson county, as he owns large tracts of land in the southwestern part of the State, in Meade county, which he is developing. Mr. Walker is a strong advocate of irrigation in that section of the State, and probably has done more to develop it within recent years than any other man. He was married April 3, 1875, to Miss Anna E. Moore, of Baldwin, Kans. She was a native of Dillsburg, York county, Pennsylvania, and came to Douglas county, Kansas, with her parents when a girl. She was educated in Baker University, and died April 28, 1879, leaving two children as follows: Paul Elliott, born August 27, 1876, now General Attorney for the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Company, and resides at Topeka, Kans., and Anna Moore, born May 28, 1878, died July 18, 1879. Mr. Walker's second marriage occurred, October 22, 1888, to Loula J. Carr, daughter of Amos and Sarah (Price) Carr, the former a native of Leesburg, Va., and the latter of Carroll county, Ohio. Amos Carr was a teacher and surveyor, in early life, in Leesville, Ohio, and later engaged in the mercantile business there, which he followed until his death in 1869. His wife died at Leesville, Ohio, in 1900. Mrs. Walker was born at Leesville, Ohio, April 24, 1867, and was the youngest of ten children. She came to Kansas in 1885. To Mr. and Mrs. Walker have been born two children: Josephine, born September 19, 1889. She is a graduate of the Holton High School and Kansas University, and Sidney Carr, born September 26, 1893, has attended the Holton High School, the Western Military Academy at Alton, Ill., Kansas University, and is now a student at Leland-Stanford University, Palo Alto, Calif. The Walker family are members of the Presbyterian church, and Mrs. Walker and her daughter belong to the Daughters of the American Revolution. Mr. Walker has been a life long Republican and prominent in the councils of that party, both in the county and State. His fraternal affiliations are with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.