William Walker was born at Sawley, York- 

 shire, England, Oct. 11, 1827. His father, Benja- 

 min, eldest son of Eli Walker, of Haddenfield, also 

 a native of Yorkshire, is now in Mannum, South 

 Australia. His mother, Bridget Baldwin, second 

 daughter of Anthony Baldwin, of Gisburn, Coates, 

 Yorkshire, England, a captain in the royal navy, is 

 deceased. 



Mr. Walker came to the United States, landing 

 at New Orleans in 1842 ; thence up the Mississippi 

 and to Chicago, then a small village, where he 

 resided on a farm in the vicinity for several years. 

 He returned to Europe in 1849, spent three years 

 traveling through different parts of the continent, 

 and on his return to America, in 1852, settled in 

 New York City, where he remained for a few years 

 and carried on quite extensively woolen manufacture 

 in Ohio. 



In May, 1856, he removed to Corning, where he 

 has since been a leading dealer in hats, caps, and 

 gentlemen^s furnishing goods ; and for several years 

 past has done a large and successful business in fire 

 and life insurance. 



During his residence in America he has made two 

 trips to Europe, one of which was made on board a 

 sailing vessel in fourteen days from New York to 

 Liverpool, 



For several years since he came to Corning he has 

 been a vestryman of Christ Church. 



He was one of the original members of the Al- 

 liance Hook-and-Ladder Company, of Corning, and 

 is now an honorary member of the same. He has 

 been a trustee and president of the Corning fire 

 department. 



June 16, 1859, he married Helen Comstock Bost- 

 wick, niece of Col. Hiram W. Bostwick, of Corning. 

 She was born in Milford, Otsego Co., N. Y., June 

 23, 1837. Their children are Anne Leach, William 

 Baldwin, Helen Bostwick, Mary Louise, Fred Leach, 

 and Edith ; of whom Mary Louise and Fred Leach 

 Walker are deceased. 



Mr. Walker is identified with the Republican 

 party, and interested in all questions affecting local 

 or State legislation. He is a promoter of the best 

 interests of society, and gives his attention strictly to 

 a business life. 



