Abe and Hattie Walker

My father's aunt, Harriett Bell (Carey) Walker, was David and Sarah Carey's first child. She was born in Piqua, Ohio, 10 Jul 1862. She moved to Champaign county with her parents as a child and lived there the rest of her life, dying 2 Jun 1936. She married Abraham Lincoln Walker. In the 1910 census, Abe and Hattie were enumerated in Salem township, Champaign county, with their ages given as 48 and 47, respectively. Abe was listed as being born in Ohio, of Irish parents. As far as we know, this couple had no children. Aunt Hattie and Uncle Abe had a farm on Route 68 on what is now the north edge of Urbana. The following article reported Hattie Walker's death:

Mrs. Hattie Walker Dies Wednesday

Mrs. Hattie Walker, 73, well known resident of Urbana, died Wednesday at 8:15 a.m. at her home 301 East Church street, following an extended illness.

Born in Piqua in 1862, Mrs. Walker has lived many years in Urbana. Surviving are three brothers, Rev. George Carey, of Los Angeles, California, Rev. Charles Carey, of Ypsilanti, Mich., Samuel Carey, of Ocean Park, California, and a sister, Mrs. Frank Powell, who lives near Urbana. A number of nieces and nephews also survive.

Mrs. Walker was an active member of the Urbana Methodist church while health permitting and funeral services conducted by Rev. Kenneth S. Learcy will be held from the church Friday at 2:30 p.m.

The body will be returned to the home Thursday afternoon where friends may call. The casket will also be open at the church Friday afternoon from 2 to 2:30 o'clock.

Burial will be made in Oak Dale cemetery by Humphreys & Son company.

Abe Walker's passing was well-reported in the Urbana press, starting with this article in the 24 Feb 1928 edition of the The Citizen:

FORMER CITY EMPLOYE DIES ON THURSDAY

Abraham Walker, Former Waterworks Engineer, to Be Buried Saturday.

Abraham Walker, retired farmer, died at his home, 213 West Walker street, Thursday morning [23 Feb] at 7:50 o'clock, from cancer of the liver. For about 12 years he had served as stationary engineer at the city waterworks but had been retired for some time because of ill health. Only Wednesday afternoon he was brought home from the Roush Sanitarium at Springfield, where he had spent the past five weeks receiving treatment.

Mr. Walker was born in Salem township, this county, September 22, 1861, the son of William and Mary Craig Walker and was 66 years and 5 months of age at the time of his death. He was a lifelong resident of the county.

Surviving are the wife, Mrs. Hattie Walker, one brother, Elmer Walker, living near Hagenbaugh Station, and two sisters, Mrs. Emma Snyder of Urbana, and Mrs. Phillip Gerhardt, of Springfield.

Funeral services will probably be held Saturday afternoon at two o'clock from the First M. E. church in charge of the pastor, Rev. C. Harold Clerke. Interment will be made in Oak Dale cemetery by R. C. Gardner, funeral director.

The 25 Feb Citizen announced:

Funeral services for Abraham L. Walker, whose death occurred on Thursday morning, at his home on West Water street, will be held Saturday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, from the first M. E. church. Rev. Dr. F. G. Mitchell will officiate and burial will be made in Oak Dale cemetery by R. C. Gardner, undertaker.

The 27 Feb Citizen reported:

WALKER FUNERAL SERVICES HELD SATURDAY, 2:30

Funeral services for A. L. Walker, who died Thursday morning at his home on West Water street, were held from the First M. E. church, Saturday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, in charge of Reverend Dr. F. G. Mitchell. Old friends acted as pallbearers and were P. B. Hadsell, Ray Dill, Frank Perry, Thomas Wierman, John Hill and E. M. Earsom. Interment was made in Oak Dale cemetery by R. C. Gardner, funeral director.

Among those from out of town who attended the services were: Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Gearhardt and daughter Elizabeth, Mr. and Mrs. Guy Davenport, Miss May Carey and Mrs. Jennie Baumgardner, all of Springfield; Mrs. Belle Hovey and Mr. and Mrs. Roy Stratton, of West Liberty; Mrs. Mary Ellsworth, of Lima; Mr. and Mrs. Howett and George Trainer, of Bowlusville, and C. J. Carey of Mt. Vernon; Mr. and Mrs. John Walker, of St. Paris; Mrs. Francis Walker, of Woodstock; Miss Lillian McConnell, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Clarkson, Mrs. Clara Walker, Edward Mears and Mr. and Mrs. Ward Hunter, all of Piqua; Mr. and Mrs. William Powell of Dayton, and Herbert Carey, of Columbus.

The list of "those from out of town" attending Abe Walker's funeral includes quite a few of Hattie's relatives:

The following article appeared in an unidentified newspaper dated 29 Feb 1928:

Abraham L. Walker, son of William and Mary Craig Walker, was born September 22, 1861, departed this life February 23, 1928, aged 66 years and five months.

Mr. Walker was married to Hattie B. Carey, October 11, 1883.1 They united with the First Methodist church in 1910, having resided in Urbana for a number of years.

Surviving are the wife, Mrs. Hattie Walker, of this city; Elmer Walker, living near Hagenbuch Station; Mrs. Emma Snyder, of West Water St.; Mrs. Phillip Gerhardt, of Springfield; nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends.

Tell me secret soul,
O tell me hope and faith,
Is there no resting place
From sorrow, sin and death
Is there no happy spot
Where mortals may be blessed.
Where grief may find a balm
And weariness, a rest?
Faith, Hope and Love,
Best boons to mortals given
Waved their bright wings
And whispered
Yes--In Heaven.

1 I had a wedding date of 10 Jul 1882 for Abe and Hattie in my files, possibly from Warren Carey's research papers. The 1910 census record says they had been married 26 years, which would confirm the 1883 date.
This page was last updated 5 May 2007.