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Note: THE PIONEERS OF MADISON AND HANCOCK COUNTIES, INDIANA By Samuel Harden A Heritage Classic William Mitchel, Printing Co. 1895 Mr. Walker was born in North Carolina about the year 1810, and came to Hancock County in 1831. He joined the M. E. Church when a young man, and early developed into a teacher of more than local note. A fine speaker, and for his advantages, was unequaled in his day. He only had a limited education, but was a student of the Bible to the exclusion of other books. He could draw large crowds of people where he went. He was of stout build, and a hard worker in his best days. He died in 1890 and was buried at the Menden Cemetery, in Madison County. He was twice married. The following are the names of his children: Marcellus, resides in Hamilton County, Indiana; Sarah L., Fremont, Jess, Robert, Arpatia, married to Andrew J. Taylor a blacksmith near Eden, and Mrs. Benjamin Clark. Fremont is deceased. Mr. Miles Walker was for a short time acting justice of the peace for Green Township. A grand, good man and pioneer, who will be remembered for many years to come. Menden Cemetery is located on state HWY 9 corner of 150S on the southwest corner of the intersection. History of Hancock Co., Indiana by J. H. Binford pg 506 Listed as first settlers of Hancock Co., Indiana Miles Walker and his father Robert Walker pg 211 Historical Antidote: In June, 1833, Rev. Miles Walker, John Walker, and Vincent Cooper, caught thirteen young wolves, about the size of a six months' cur dog, in a hollow log. They brought the scalps to Greenfield, and the county gave them credit of fifty cents per scalp on their taxes, and the state paid a reward of the same amount of money. Before they could avail themselves of the bounty of either the state or county, however, they had to comply with the law requiring them to take and "iron clad" oath that they had never raised a female wolf, nor owned a male dog part wolf, for the last ten years. The policy of this requirement was to prevent citizens raising wolves for their scalps, and the reward obtained therefore. Wolves were numerous at this early date, and very destructive to sheep, and especially to lambs and pigs, insomuch that it was impossible to raise them without penning. Miles Walker came to Indiana in 1819 and first located in Wayne county, three miles north of Richmond, with his parents and six children, the five beside himself being Virginia, Verlinda, John, James and Jesse. Miles at that time was nine years of age and 1832 the family came to Hancock county. Miles was a farmer, also a cabinetmaker by trade, was principally self-educated and possessed rare powers of oratory. He early became a local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal church and for fifty years also filled pastoral appointments. During this long ministerial career Mr. Walker preached more funeral sermons and united more couples in matrimony than any local preacher in Hancock county. He was one of the most patriotic of men and willingly consented to his son's serving in the army during the Civil war. By his persuasive eloquence he checked many riots in their incipiency during the exciting days of the early part of the Rebellion, and his counsel and advice were always largely listened to. In politics Miles Walker was at first a Whig, and his polling-place was in Green township, Hancock county, at "Uncle" Johnny Hanger's, where the ballots were cast into a hat covered with a bandanna handkerchief, and where a sumptuous dinner was served on election day. Mr. Walker was a very public-spirited and useful citizen and helped in the cutting of the highway from Greenfield to Pendleton and to clear away much of the superfluous timber from the arable land of the township. He was a warm advocate of the free-school system, and as the popular voice had gone against the use of the public funds for establishing of this system at the first election, he determined to take the matter into his own hands. Accordingly in conjunction with Michael G. Cooper, he started to erect a school building at the mutual expense, but the township trustee anticipated this action by calling for a special election, their result of which was the establishment of free schools throughout Green township. Miles Walker passed his declining years on the farm he had entered in 1832, and there died July 9, 1899, one of the most honored of Green township's pioneers. He was a man of strong mental faculties and firm convictions. Mrs. Rachel (Ham) Walker died when her son, Marcellus B., was but ten years of age. The night of her death she called this boy to her bedside, told him she was going to heaven, bade him to meet her there, and in this consoling faith passed away December 10, 1852, leaving to deplore her loss, her devoted husband and three children, namely: Marcellus B., the subject proper of this biography; Arpatia, wife of A. J. Taylor, of Ingalls, Indiana, and Sarah L., wife of John VanDyke of Markleville, Indiana. Indiana Census 1850 roll 149 p. 279 #998/#1025 Miles Walker, 36 Farmer b. Indiana Rachel, 24 b. Va Marcellas B., 6 male b. Indiana Araptin J., 5 b. Indiana Sarah L. 1, b. Indiana Sarah Bell 72 b. VA Indian Census 1860 Hancock Co., In, Green Twp , P.OO. Eden Page 440 Family # 29 Miles Walker, 46 farmer, North Carolina Mary C., 27, Virginia Marcellus B., 17 Indiana Arpacis J., 14 Indiana Sarah L., 11, Indiana Martha A., 6, Indiana James, 2, Indiana
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