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Chase County Kansas Historical Sketches

1863 - 2003 



Walker, Aaron & Clema

The Aaron and Clema Walker Family

By Sarah Walker-Hitt

Sources: Willard Walker, Jim Walker and genealogical research

John Walker (born ca 1912, North Carolina) and Matilda Gann (born ca 1821, Tennessee) the daughter of Nathan and Serena Frazier Gann, were married November 16, 1837, in Livingston County, Missouri. Believed children were: Melissa Jane (born c 1839), Nathan (born c 1841), Elizabeth (born c 1845), Lucinda (born c 1848), Smith (born c 1852) and Samuel (born c 1857).

Smith Walker married Ann Brown and two children were born : Lee (1874-1905), who married Winnie Gann, and Rose (1879-1950) who married Mart Ulrich.

In 1887 Smith married Nancy Boucher Duckworth (born 1862, the daughter of William and Laura Martin Boucher). Mrs. Nancy Duckworth was a widow with three children: Lizzie (1880-1938) married George Best; Stella Mae, who died as a child and Florence (1882-1932) who married John Trussel.

Together Smith and Nancy Walker had six children: Aaron (1888-1937); Laura (1889-1918), who married Tom Goodman; Jim (1892-1982), who married Belle Fulwood and later Hazel Sears; Viola, who died as a small child; Nathan (1894-1910) and Marie (1898-1969), who married Earl Storment.

Aaron married Eva Clema Gann (born 1894, the daughter of Smana Catherine Gann) in 1907. Their children are: Willard (1908), Ruby Rose (1910), Ralph Dee (1913-1982), Hazel LaVere (1916), Archie Lloyd and Allen Floyd (1920), Smith Dean (1923), Aaron Jr. (1928-1932), Vern Roy (1930) and Donald Wayne (1934).

Aaron and Clema began their married life in Sampsel, Missouri. In 1910, Aaron, Clema, Willard and the John Trussel family traveled by covered wagon from Missouri into Fort Scott, Kansas. They followed the road through Madison and settled in Chase County in the Homestead community. They stayed less than a year returning to Polk County, Missouri, because Aaron's younger brother, Nathan, died there unexpectedly.

In April of 1919 Aaron and Willard, made their second trip to Chase County, again by covered wagon. Clema and family soon followed on the train. They lived on the Clover Cliff Ranch, where Aaron worked by the month for six months.

The family then moved to Lloyd Thompson's present farm and stayed there three months. Soon after they rented a farm in the Jackson School District for two years.

In 1920, Aaron's parents, Smith and Nancy Walker, joined his family in Kansas. In 1922 the extended family moved to the Homestead area for one year. The next year Aaron's family moved back to the Clover Cliff Ranch, where they stayed for six years. Smith and Nancy moved to Elmdale, Kansas, where they lived until Smith's death in 1928. Nancy then moved to Cottonwood Falls where she lived until her death in 1942. Both Smith and Nancy are buried in the Homestead Cemetery.

On February 22, 1929, Aaron moved his family to the Henry William's place between Cedar Point and Clements. This was home for many years until Aaron's untimely death in 1937. Clema continued to live there for some time. In the early 1950's she moved to Abilene, Kansas. She lived the rest of her life there and in Chase County. She died in 1973 and was buried next to Aaron in the Homestead Cemetery.

Willard Walker married Mildred McCracken in 1937. He retired in 1974 from the State Highway Department after thirty-seven years. He and Mildred presently live in Emporia, Kansas. They have three daughters. Judy (1939) married Bruce England and has three sons, Jere (1964), Scott (1968) and Jay (1970). They presently live in Pleasanton, California. Cathy (1945) married Larry Skeet and they have three children, Bret (1965), Bart (1967) and Belinda (1973). They live near Lane, Kansas. Sarah (1951) married Dennis Hitt and they have one daughter, Smana (1980). They live in Lyndon, Kansas. Ruby Walker married Ivan Dayhoff in 1945. They owned the Ivan Dayhoff Elevator, Inc. in Osage City, Kansas. Ivan died in 1980. Ruby continues to live in Osage City. Their two sons currently have the elevator and live in Osage City. Gary (1946) married Diane Thornburgh and they have two children, Adam (1976) and Carol (1977). Robert (1948), married Linda Byrd and they have three children, Neil (1973), Letisha (1978) and Linsey (1979).

Ralph Walker married Marjorie Huffman in 1938. Before he retired, Ralph fanned and worked for O.K. Rubber Welders, McGrue Tire Company, and for Morris County. He died in 1982. They lived in Council Grove, Kansas, where Marjorie still resides. Their daughter, Lea (1942) married Lloyd Calkins. They currently live in Osage City, Kansas.

Hazel Walker married David Mercer in 1937. They are semi-retired and still live on the original Mercer land at Homestead. Their first child was Larry (1939-1939). Marilyn (1940) married Frank Rowley, and they live in Valley Center, Kansas, with their children Fran (1962), Deborah (1965), Meredith (1969), Andrea (1971) and Ryan (1974). James (1944) lives in Kansas City, Missouri. Nancy (1953) married Rick Griffin and they live in Cottonwood Falls. Their children are Marcie (1976) and David (1979). Paul (1956-1976) married Jeri Denning.

Archie Walker married Lorraine Craemer in 1942. He has farmed and lived for many years in the former "Williams Place", a red brick house on Highway 50 near Clements. The have three daughters. Beverly (1943) married Jerry Hedrick. They live in Spring Hill, Kansas, and have one daughter, Ginger (1972). Barbara (1946) married David Sauble, and live near Cedar Point with their two daughters, Lorie (1965) and Mary Ann (1980). Brenda (1948) married Larry Kumle. They live in Marquette, Kansas and have two children, Troy (1975) and Shana (1971).

Allen Walker married Gladys Jones in 1943. Before retiring, they operated the Walker Manufacturing Company in Emporia, where they still reside. They have six children. Karen (1952) married Jim Pope and had three children, Micheal (1971), Steven (1973), and Christina (1980). They live in Gillette, Wyoming. Dennis (1945);Aaron (1947); Darrel (1955), who has a daughter, Jenna (1980) ; Kevin (1957) and Trudy (1962) all live in Emporia.

Smith Dean Walker married Isabelle King in 1942. Dean was a draftsman near Los Angeles, California before retiring. They now live in Oroville, California. They have two sons. Darwin (1942) and his wife Carol live in Los Angeles, California, and have two children, Neil (1965) and Pamela (1966). Dale (1944) and his wife Lydia have two children, Sonya (1971) and Michael (1977) and live in Washington state.

Vern Walker married Shirley Chase in 1949. Vern presently lives in Abilene, Kansas, and is involved in sales of western equipment. They have one son, David (1950), who lives in Kansas City. Donald Walker married Ann Henderson in 1958. They have five children, Donald Jr. (1959), Dolster (1961), Alissa (1964), Daniel (1965) and Wendi (1969). They live in Arkansas.





Chase County Submitted Historical Sketches
compiled and abstracted from the Chase County Courant, Chase County Leader, other sources and newspapers
by Lorna Marvin
Please submit your historical sketches.


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