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Note: History of Fulton County, Illinois, Peoria, Chas. C. Chapman & Co., 1879, p 674-675: Farmers Township "Hiram Walters was born in Sangamon Co., Ill., Jan. 23, 1825, son of Wm. Walters, and was brought here by his parents when but 3 weeks old. At that time there were but 12 men in the county over 21 years of age, including himself. He resided on the Gus Stewart farm near Lewistown for 10 years, when he settled in Farmers' tp. Here he erected a double log barn, and to procure hands to raise this barn he actually went to Canton and Copperas creek. He mauled rails all day for a half bushel of corn, carried it to the mill on his back and there paid 10 cents for grinding on a horse mill. He was a great hunter, always keeping his family supplied with fresh meat from the forests. He was captain of the little band of 12 settlers who routed a band of the Pottawatomie and Cherokee Indians, for plundering, and for abusing the white women, during the pioneer days of Fulton county. He [Wm. Walters] died, Sept. 23, '77, loved and respected by all who knew him. Our subject was married April 23, 1846 to Mary A. Hoyle, by whom he had 8 children: of these 5 are living, viz: George Washington, Andrew Jackson, Olive, Cora Ann and Eva. Olive is married to Franklin Waid, a school-teacher of Burdolph, Ill. George W. and Andrew J. are both married, and are also farmers." ___________________________________________ http://www.iltrails.org/fulton/biographies_vw.html#w Portrait & Biographical Album of Fulton County, 1890, pages 457-458: Hiram Walters. This gentleman is numbered among the successful agriculturalists of Farmers Township, having by dint of energy and prudent management become the possessor of several hundred acres of the fine land for which this county has become noted. The greater part of his life has been spent within its confines, and probably no citizen now living has a more thorough knowledge of the trials which were endured by the hardy pioneers and dangers with which they were surrounded for many years. In recalling the surroundings of his early life, Mr. Walters says that with Indians, snakes, wild cats and other "varmint," life was scarcely worth living, and that he would not pass through such a period again for all of Fulton County. The father of our subject was William Walters, a native of Jefferson County, Tenn., who was reared among the mountains, developing qualities which well fitted him for the pioneer life which he took up in the Prairie State. He was of mixed ancestry, his paternal grandmother having been German and his mother of Irish stock. The latter belong to a family whose male members took part in the Revolution, while the females not only carried on the home work which had formerly been done by fathers, sons and brothers, but also assisted the army by providing the Colonists with food whenever it was possible. She, herself, carried provisions to the soldiers, sometimes wading in water to her armpits, and at times being obliged to break the ice before she could ford the streams. Her father and the father of her husband, both belonged to the Continental Army, and from these sturdy ancestors the father of our subject inherited much of his own valor. William Walters married Elizabeth Royer, a native of the same county as himself, and about 1820 they took up their abode in Sangamon County, Ill. In 1825 they removed to this county, first locating near Lewistown and then removing to section 9, Farmers Township, where they spent the remainder of their lives, Mr. Walters living to the extreme age of ninety years. At the time of their arrival in this county there were but twelve votes within its present bounds. The Indians were so troublesome that Mr. Walters had to carry his gun with him when he went to feed stock, having especial need of watchfulness when he became known as a Captain of the Indian fighters, and so obnoxious to the savages that they offered one hundred buckskins for his scalp. He killed several red men who were endeavoring to obtain that coveted prize, and the alertness which prevented the savages from getting the drop on him grew upon him so that his sharp eyes would snap at an unexpected sound, and he was continually casting quick glances about him. Many stories are told of the physical powers of Mr. Walters and his excellent marksmanship. He could shoot a gun from his shoulder, hitting the center instantly with an unrested weapon; could take a two-bushel sack of wheat in his teeth and throw it over ten feet, and it is recorded that at one time he shot a deer across Spoon River when the ice was floating, swam the river, got the deer in the water, and taking its ear in his mouth brought it back. This feat was accomplished in the presence of Jimmy Hale, who afterward became his son-in-law. As may well be supposed, he was a member of the army during the Black Hawk War. After the savages became hostile, his wife was always nervous about him, and our subject well remembers her standing and wringing her hands in agony as she watched his retreating form disappear in the woods. During the later years of his life he had his second sight. During the time when the Indians were peaceable, they often camped near the home of the Walters, gathering by dozens and even by hundreds. Our subject recalls the comical appearance made by the papooses who, strapped fast to a board, were set around the porch, where their little black eyes snapped at every movement within the range of their vision. The lad learned many Indian phrases, such as "cho im," won't do it; "puika chee," to go off, etc. At one time, when eleven years old, young Walters was in the woods, accompanied by three dogs. He was startled by a wild cry proceeding from a lynx, with which the dogs immediately closed, a fight following which is worthy of record. The big bulldog got the animal by the neck, but the lynx would double himself up and with the claws on his hind feet tear the bowels of the dog. Each of the other dogs at last succeeded in getting hold of a hind leg, thus enabling the large dog to choke the lynx to death. The lad then came up with a stick, and finding the animal dead ordered off the dogs, two of whom were very seriously injured, having their entrails protruding. He picked up the largest and started toward home, two miles distant, calling for his father who at length answered his cry, relieved him of his burden, and together they carried the dogs to the house, where the wounds were sewed up and the animals nursed back to health. The canines were valued in those dangerous regions, and as carefully cared for by the people as were the children. At that time the nearest neighbor of the Walters family was John Barker, whose home was two miles distant, and at Table Grove, five miles away, live Mr. Nott. In the year 1846 our subject was married to Miss Mary Ann Hoyle, a native of Connecticut, whose parents had emigrated thither from England. They afterward resided in the Buckeye State, whence they came to this section of Illinois in 1844. Immediately after their marriage the young couple took possession of a forty-acre tract of land in the woods, laboring together to advance their fortunes, and, notwithstanding their primitive surroundings, passing their happiest days in the little log cabin which they moved into before it was chinked. The first morning they awoke to find their bed covered two inches deep with snow. Mr. Walters hauled fifty bushels of corn to Bernadotte and traded it for a little, square table, off which he and his wife ate their first meal in their new home. They raised the flax which Mrs. Walters broke, swingled, spun and wove, making a tick for their first bed, into which they put straw. The little farm grew in extent to a tract of five hundred and forty acres, and is now one of the finest estates in this section. Our subject and his good wife have reared five children--having lost three in infancy. The eldest, George W., is married and has one daughter; he is a farmer operating a portion of his father's land in Harris Township. Andrew J., also lives on a farm obtained from his father; he has been married fourteen years but has no children; Olive, the wife of Franklin Waid, and the mother of three children, occupies land given her by her father; Cora Ann, wife of George Wilson, has three children, they being occupants of a good farm purchased by the husband. Eva married I. Brown, has three children, and is now living on an eighty-acre tract belonging to our subject. Mr. Walters is Democratic in politics as was his father, and has always taken an active interest in party affairs. He has served a School Director, and held various township offices, serving faithfully in every position to which he has been called. The family are identified with the Christian Church, are looked upon with respect, and have many warm friends wherever they are known. _______________________ 1850 Fulton Co., Ill. Census, Town of Farmers, taken 18 Dec 1850, p 76: Hiram Walters - age 24 - Farmer - RE Value $1000 - b. Ill. - Dwelling #96 - Family #100 May A. " - age 21 - Ct. George " - age 5 - b. Ill. Andrew " - age 1 - b. Ill. ____________________ 1860 Fulton Co., Ill. Census, Farmers Twp., P. O. Bernadotte, taken 19 July 1860, p 238 [Ancestry.com Image #238]: Hiram Walters - age 35 - Farmer- RE Value $4500 - Pers. Estate Value $500 - b. Ill. - Dwelling #1745 - Family #1691 Mary A. " - age 31 - b. Ohio George " - age 13 - b. Ill. Andrew " - age 11 - b. Ill. Olive " - age 3 - b. Ill. ________________ 1870 Fulton Co., Ill. Census, Farmers Twp., P. O. Bernadotte, taken 5 Aug 1870, p 23 [Ancestry.com, Farmers Twp., Image #23]: Walters, Hiram - age 45 - Farmer - RE Value $1000 - Pers. Estate Value $1850 - b. Ill. - Dwelling #167 - Family #167 " , Mary A. - age 41 - Keeping House - b. Ct. " , Andrew - age 21 - can't read occupation - b. Ill. " , Olive - age 12 - b. Ill. " , Cora A. - age 6 - b. Ill. " , Eva - age 3 - b. Ill. ___________________ 1880 Fulton Co., Ill. Census, Farmers Twp., ED #41, taken 18 June 1880, p 25 [Ancestry.com, Farmers Twp., ED #41, Image #25]: Walters, Hiram - age 55 - Farming - b. Ill. - F born Tenn. - M born Tenn. " , Mary - age 51 - Wife - Keeping house - b. Ohio - F born Eng. - M born Eng. " , Eva - age 13 - daughter - At home - b. Ill. - F born Ill. - M born Ohio
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