Biography of
Allen E. Walker

p. 1585

     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, Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Vicksburg, and Brittam‘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.