JUDGE WALKER 86 DIED HERE WED. MORNING
Prominent Citizen Passed Away After Short Illness: Union Soldier
Burial Friday
Judge J W Walker, age 86 years, died at his home on Euclid Ave in this city Wednesday morning after a lingering illness of many months. A few months ago Mrs. Walker died and since her death the Judge has been growing weaker until a short time ago he was unable to get out and his friends and relatives knew the end was near.
Judge Walker was an Old Union Soldier and one of the few remaining in this section. He has held every county office in this county and was known to all good people as a good, true and Christian man which he was.
He was a devoted member of the M E Church of this city and his funeral will be held in that church on Friday of this week and the burial will be in the Walker Cemetery above the city.
He leaves three daughters: Mrs. Rell Preston, Mrs. Dan Ward and Mrs. J W Preston. Two sons: Theodore of this city and Will of West Virginia, all of whom attended his funeral.
Few men in this county have left such a record of Christian living and it can truly be said that he lived without an enemy. This section has lost a grand and noble citizen
The Paintsville Herald
Sept. 30, 1926
BRIEF BIO OF John W. WALKER
John W. Walker was born May, 1839 in Floyd, (now Johnson) County and lived in Johnson County since its formation until the date of his death, which occurred September 29, 1926, at the ripe old age of 87 years.
He was married to Rebecca Vaughan in 1863. He joined the M E Church when about 19 years of age; was one of the charter members in the organizations in Paintsville M A Church. He was licensed to preach at the district conference held in Ashland March 8, 1879 by F Grider, the then Presiding elder of the Ashland District, was ordained as a Deacon, Sept 22, 1889 by Bishop S m Merrill and ordained Elder October 2, 1904 by Bishop J W Warren. He lived a consistent Christian life and was always loyal to his church and his God.
He was educated in the common schools of the county and worked on the farm until the war broke out between the states when he espoused the cause of the Union and on Nov 10, 1861, he enlisted in Company 1, 14th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry under Capt J M Atkinson for period of three years and was honorably discharged at Louisa having faithfully served three years, two months, and twenty one days. He was engaged in some of the most important battles of the south, being with General Sherman's Army in his Georgia Campaign, but his regiment was returned to Louisville after the fall of Atlanta.
Judge Walker after his retirement from army life held a number of responsible official positions in Johnson County.
Was licensed to practice law at the September term, 1873, of the johnson Country circuit court.
Was appointed clerk of the Johnson County Circuit Court on May 29, 1897 by J M Elliott, the then Judge of the court, to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of C J Howes and was afterward elected to a full term.
In August 1886 he was elected Judge of the Johnson County Court, which position he held with dignity and honor for one term of four years.
He was then elected to the office of County Attorney in November 189? and served one full term. For the past few years of his life he has retired from active business life, but was always faithful in his attendance at Sunday school and church and gave his assistance and approval for any good work for the kingdom of his Master and lived and died in triumphant faith.
Oct 14, 1926
The Paintsville Herald.