John Walker

tradition has him coming from Ireland with his mother after his fathers death, the story has them coming from Anescothe, River Sleney which there is no such place. The closest I can find is Enniscorthy, River Slaney, Wexford Ireland. This seems to fit. His mother, Ellen Hopely died after arriving in Canada at her brothers, there is a Hoply who was scheduled to come to Canada around 1817. Apparently there were 4 Walker boys that then were raised in the USA by a minister.

Enniscorthy is situated on the banks of the River Slaney overlooked by the old 1798 battle site of Vinegar Hill. On the west bank of the river, the Gothic church of Saint Aidans reminds us that Enniscorthy is the Cathedral town of the county. Designed by Pugin in 1847, Saint Aidans tall spire, fine doorway and exquisite east window are recommended viewing. Dominating the town is the Norman Castle which was completed in 1205 and now houses the County Wexford Folk Museum. Just down the road by car there are beaches, forest and river walks as well as ancient Dolmens and Bronze Age remains.

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http://boards.ancestry.co.uk/thread.aspx?mv=flat&m=232&p=localities...

Mervin Hoffman WALKER, Yankton Co., SD

MarilynRoth58 (View posts) Posted: 23 Sep 2006 7:32PM GMT

Classification: Query

Surnames:

This won't help the search for a connection of Abner WALKER to the McGregor Homestead, but I think I've found who the others were that homesteaded in Yankton County.

Mervin Hoffman WALKER (15 Nov. 1838, NY, NY - 1 May 1912, Aitkin Co., MN) went [ca. 1844?] from New York by water up the Hudson River to Troy, via the Erie Canal to Buffalo, and on the lakes to Milwaukee with his mother, Sarah/Gertrude? [HOFFMAN] WALKER, and their household goods, to join his father, John WALKER.

John, a minister who had gone to Iowa late in 1843, took them to Jackson Co., IA, where they lived at Maquoketa {pronounced Mah QUO keta} and Sabula. John WALKER & 2d wf. Jo(h)anna HOFFMAN had Sarah E., Gertrude A., James H., Ellen H., & Grizzella. John WALKER d. 13 July 1858, IA. Widow Joanna & Mervin, Gertrude, Ellen, & James H. WALKER went by horse-drawn wagon to the vicinity of Gayville, SD. [ref. Gertrude Walker Bentley to Addie Bye, 1927.] The move to Dakota would have been after the birth of Nellie in 1869. James H. WALKER, 30, was single in 1880.

Mervin Hoffman WALKER m. 29 Nov. 1866, Jackson Co., IA, Mary A. ESMAY, by J. FAWCETT, Minister. Mary Adelaide ESMAY (25 Je. 1845, Schoharie, NY - 6 Jan. 1927, bu. Mission Hill, SD) was dau/o Isaac & Harriet.

FamilySearch database of the 1880 Census, Twp. 93, Yankton Co., Dakota: Marven {sic} H. WALKER, 41, NY IRE NY; wf. Mary A., 33; NY NY NY; dau. Nellie E., 11, IA; Walter A., 6, Dakota. Other, Wm. MOORE, 14, Sweden.

RootsWeb says Mervin WALKER & Mary had Nellie Eliz., b. 17 Jan. 1869, IA; Walter A., b. Mar. 1874, Yankton Co., SD; Gertrude Frances, 19 Dec. 1882, Yankton Co.; & Robert WALKER, b. Oct. 1890.

SD Births: Mervin WALKER & Mary ESMAY had dau. Gertrude, 19 Dec. 1882, Yankton Co.