John S. Walton, who is numbered among the successful agriculturists
and stockmen of Shaws Point township has been entirely dependent upon
his own efforts since a lad of fourteen years. He was born in Honey
Point township, Macoupin county, on the 3d of May, 1874, and is a son of
William R. S. and Rose Ann (Thompson) Walton, also natives of Macoupin
county. Reared and educated in this county when qualified to begin his
independent agricultural career, William R. S. Walton, in common with
the other members of his family, was presented with forty acres of land
by his father. This the young man industriously applied himself to
cultivating and improving, and by means of thrift and capable management
was able to extend his holdings until he owned two hundred acres in
Honey Point township and one hundred and forty in Shaws Point township,
where our subject is now living. The larger tract he continued to
cultivate until his death in December, 1887.
Left an orphan upon
the death of his father at the age of fourteen years, John S. Walton was
compelled to depend upon his own exertions from that time on for his
living and education. He went to an uncle, George C. Walton, in whose
home he remained for four years, there working for his board and
clothing. Owing to the demands made upon his time he found it most
difficult to attend school and did not succeed in acquiring a very
satisfactory education. When he was eighteen years old he began to work
out as a farm hand by the month, following this occupation until he
reached the age of twenty-three. When the other members of the family
attained their majority his father’s property was divided and he
received as his portion thirty-four acres. This portion was too small to
engage his entire energies, so renting it, he leased a farm in Honey
Point township. When he had operated the land for a year his step-mother
died and the remainder of the property was sold. Mr. Walton and his
brother then purchased and immediately located upon the land where she
had been residing. Cultivating it for one season, Mr. Walton disposed of
his portion to his brother and bought some land adjoining his
thirty-four acres in Shaws Point township. He immediately set about
clearing and improving the property, continuing to extend his
possessions until he now owns one hundred and forty acres. All is under
cultivation and well improved, and here, in connection with the tilling
of his fields, Mr. Walton annually raises from sixty to one hundred head
of hogs, and he keeps eighty sheep, ten horses and fifteen head of
cattle. His unremitting energy, capable supervision and judicious
expenditures have enabled him to acquire an excellent start and he is
becoming recognized as one of the prosperous agriculturists of the
community.
In June, 1906, Mr. Walton married Mrs. George Hutton,
a widow and a daughter of Lemuel and Barbara Blevins, who were natives
of Macoupin county. Here her father engaged in farming for many years,
but spent his last days in Missouri, where his death occurred. By her
first husband Mrs. Walton has one child, George Robert, now eight years
of age.
In religious faith both Mr. and Mrs. Walton are
Methodists, and his political allegiance he accords to the republican
party, but does not actively participate in township affairs. Although
he takes a general interest in the welfare and progress of the community
in which he resides, the development of his personal affairs has always
engaged the undivided attention of Mr. Walton to practically the
exclusion of everything else, and the results have been well worthy his
effort.
Extracted 17 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 597-598.
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