Delaware County NY Genealogy and History Site

DAVID WALKER of both Delaware and Broome County

Biographical Review - Sketches of Leading Citizens of Broome County 1894

David Walker, an industrious and thrifty agriculturist, of the town of Sanford, Broome County, N. Y., a veteran of the harvest fired, was born at Masonville, Delaware County, N. Y. on December 9, 1820. He has an unusually strong claim to be classed as a Son of the American Revolution, both of his grandfathers having been distinguished soldiers in that memorable struggle for freedom and independence. The grandfather Walker was a native of Massachusetts, and died there when over ninety years of age. The maternal grandfather Sayer died in Chemung, N. Y. at the age of Ninety-five.

The parents of David were William and Anna (Sayer) Walker. The father was born in Massachusetts, and moved to Delaware County when quite a young man.It was a new country he came to, and his first days there were arduous enough; but he was industrious and saving, and succeeded in making a fertile and productive farm of the land he purchased. He died in Masonville at the age of sixty-seven years. There were six sons and one daughter in the family of Mr. and Mrs. William Walker, of whom four are living, as follows: James of Masonville; Orin, of Kansas; Stephen, of Masonville; and David. William Walker served in the War of 1812. He was a Whig in politics, and the family were Presbyterians.

David Walker was educated in the district schools of his native place, and lived there until the age of twenty-one years. Starting out in life for himself, he went to Wisconsin, where he was engaged in lead-mining for about three years. At the end of this time he returned to New York State, and was occupied in various pursuits until his marriage April 26 1848, to Miss Polly Fuller, when he bought his first tract of land in Masonville, and there conducted a farm. Miss Fuller was born in the town of Sanford, Broome County, N. Y., April 11 1827, and was the daughter of Isaiah and Lydia (Robbins) Fuller, both natives of New York State. Her father was a farmer, residing in the town of Sanford, and died there at the age of sixty-seven years. His wife was eighty-six years old at her death. Of the five daughters and one son born to them, only two daughters survive, Mrs. Wilder Pierce and Mrs. Walker, both residing in Sanford. The parents were Universalists in their religious belief, and Mr. Fuller was a Republican in politics. Isaiah Fuller, the only son, was a member of Company H, One Hundred and Fourteenth Regiment, New York State Volunteers, and died in the service during the late Civil War, at the age of thirty-two years.

Having remained on his Masonville farm a few years, Mr. Walker purchased a heavily wooded tract of one hundred acres, to which he removed in 1856, and proceeded to clear the land and erect his present home. From time to time he added to the farm until now he had one hundred and sixty acres, where he carries on general farming, besides managing a dairy of about twenty-five or thirty cows. He has been a very hard-WORKING, assiduous toiler, and fully deserves the excellent success he has achieved. Mr. and Mrs. Walker are members of the Methodist church, and he is a Republican in his politics. Their family consists of three children: Ellen, born January 31 1849, now Mrs. Smith Philley of Glens Falls, N. Y.; William, born May 31 1851, a farmer of the town of Sanford; and Harriet, born April 2 1855, now Mrs. Jerry Wickham, of Sanford.