Newton H. Walkington, who is engaged in the cultivation of one
hundred and thirty-six acres of land on section 2, North Otter township,
was born in Macoupin county on the 22d of January, 1862. He is the
seventh child in the family of William and Ellis (Leak) Walkington,
natives of England. They were married in the mother country, whence they
emigrated to the United States in 1851, and two years afterward they
located in Macoupin county, Illinois. Here, the father always devoted
his energies to agricultural pursuits, in which he met with a most
gratifying degree of success, his holdings aggregating at the time of
his death five hundred and thirty-six acres. This land was all well
improved and under a high state of cultivation, being among the most
valuable property of the township. To Mr. and Mrs. William Walkington
eleven children were born: Fannie, who was born in England and is now
the wife of William Clack, of Edgar, Nebraska; the next three, deceased;
David, a resident of Greene county, Illinois; William, also deceased;
Newton H., our subject; Clara, the wife of Robert S. Alderson, of
Virden; Edward, who is living in Macoupin county; Charles, also a
resident of Macoupin county; and Nathan, who is living in Virden. The
mother passed away on the 22d of March, 1872, and the following year the
father was married to Mrs. Clara (Brady) Beason, who bore him three
children: Albert, who is living in Modesto; Elsworth, who is a resident
of Macoupin county; and Nellie, the wife of John Hamner, also of
Macoupin county. The father died on the 9th of February, 1911.
The boyhood and youth of Newton H. Walkington were spent on the farm
where he was born, his educational advantages being limited to the
district schools. While engaged in the mastery of the common branches he
was familiarizing himself with the best methods of cultivating the
fields and caring for the stock under the capable supervision of his
father, who was a successful, practical farmer. At the age of
twenty-three years he rented eighty acres of land that he cultivated for
four years. At the expiration of that period he located upon eighty
acres in the central part of North Otter township, which he cultivated
until 1893, when he removed to the place where he is now living. Here he
is engaged in general farming and stock-raising, both of which are
proving to be very remunerative.
For his wife and helpmate Mr.
Walkington chose Miss May E. Hamner, a daughter of J. H. and Nancy
Hamner, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume. To Mr. and
Mrs. Walkington five children have been born: Herschel, who was born on
the 29th of September, 1885, and is now a resident of Sangamon county;
Nora E., whose birth occurred on the 23d of April, 1887, and who is now
the wife of Roy Andrews, also of Sangamon county; Minnie Ora, who was
born on the 3d of February, 1890, and is living at home; Nellie Opal,
who was born on the 13th of January, 1893, and is also at home; and Paul
Ernest, born on the 23d of January, 1897.
The Methodist
Episcopal church claims the membership of the parents, in the faith of
which denomination they have reared their family while fraternally Mr.
Walkington belongs to the Court of Honor and the Anti-Horse Thief
Association. His political support is given to the democratic party, and
he has served as township collector for one term, while for fifteen
years he has been a school director. His entire life has been spent in
North Otter township where he is widely known and has many friends, the
majority of whom were comrades of his boyhood days.
Extracted 15 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 471-472.
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