A Tribute to Elder George Walker
1804-1879
DIED---At the family residence in Walker Township, Hancock Co.,
Ill., on Thursday, October 9, 1879, Elder George Walker, in ths
76th year of his age. He was born February 1804, in the state of
Maryland. In 1812, with his father, he removed to Kentucky. In 1826
he was married to Miss Rachel Clark, who still survives him, and
mourns his departure, but not as those who have no hope. In 1833 he
removed to Illinois. At the early age of 14 years he united with
the Old School Baptist Church, and at the age of twenty-two was
ordained an Elder, and for many years was considered one of the
ablest advocates of that faith. Realizing the importance of
religious and intellectual training, as soon as the roof of his new
home was over his head, he built, almost entirely at his own
expense, a church and school-house, where, Sunday after Sunday, he
gathered the hardy pioneers and told them the simple story of the
cross. For many years he united young and loving hearts in the
holiest of bonds, administered the consolations of religion to the
sorrowing and buried the dead, and for all this service, which
would have required the entire time of a less active and
industrious man, he never asked nor received one cent. He served
twice in the Legislature, in 1848 and 1854, but was in no sense of
the word an office seeker.
He leaves (left) four sons and four daughters, all married. Although he was a great sufferer for several years, yet he did not murmur. His hope was bright, his faith unshaken, and his trust in God unabated.
While we extend our consolence and sympathy to the bereaved relatives, in view of their loss, we know that, with him, to die was gain. O cheering thought to all God's people, that Jesus says, "Because I live, ye shall live also."
Elder Dennis Smith preached his funeral from Psalm 89:21-29.
Your brother,
J. G. Williams Jr.
Fowler, Adams Co., Ill.
Copyright c. 2005. All rights reserved. The Primitive Baptist Library.
