The subject of this sketch has passed his life in Marion county, and as a
representative of one of the honored families early settled in this section
he is well entitled to representation in this volume.
Orville T.
Walton was born in Patoka township, Marion county, November 6, 1868, the son
of Iradell and Louisa (Foster) Walton, both natives of Illinois. They lived
mostly in Patoka and Foster townships, having come to the latter in 1869 and
settled in section 19. He first purchased sixty acres and later sixty acres
more were added and then another sixty acres, still later, forty-eight
acres, all in Foster township and twenty acres in Patoka township, having
always been a farmer, well known and highly respected by all; an active
Democrat, having served as Town Clerk and Treasurer, and he was a member of
the Methodist Episcopal church. His death occurred April 17, 1897, and his
wife passed to her rest April 27, 1900. The subject's grandfather and
grandmother Walton both died of cholera in 1849. Iradell Walton and wife
were the parents of eleven children, namely: Monroe, a farmer in Foster
township, who married Harriet Friend, the latter dying January, 1908; Rosie
Maud, now deceased, married Arthur Irvin; Rachel married Marshall Livesay,
of Foley, Missouri; Lillian married Thomas Bundy, of Fayette county,
Illinois; Orville T., our subject; Effie married Leonard Arnold, of Foster
township; Abbie is the wife of David M. Giddeon, of Slater, Missouri;
William A., who married Annie Grouse, of Patoka, this county; Edna is the
wife of Charles Meadows, of Patoka; Delia is a nurse, living in Foster
township; Robert lives on the old home place in Foster township and married
Lizzie Ballance.
The subject of this sketch had only a limited
education, attending the home schools for a short time. He remained a member
of the family circle until he was twenty-three years old.
Orville T.
Walton was united in marriage March 17, 1891, with Florence Chance, of
Foster township, daughter of Willis J. and Matilda (Foster) Chance. They
were both born in Marion county and lived in Foster township. They are
farmers and have four children, namely: Florence, the subject's wife; Mary,
the wife of Eli Logan, of Patoka township; Elza is a traveling salesman with
headquarters at Clay Center, Kansas; John is living at home.
The
subject and wife are the parents of two sons, Charles Addis, born December
27, 1895, and Kenneth O., born March 31, 1899.
After the subject's
marriage he located on the George McHeny place in Foster township, where he
remained for one year, also one year on the Chance place and one on the
Foster place. He then bought forty acres in section 18, the J. H. Walker
place, where he lived for five years and then moved to Harvey, Illinois,
where he lived two years, when he moved back to Foster township in the fall
of 1907, locating where he now lives. He bought the John Chick place,
consisting of forty acres. He was always a hard worker and thrifty,
consequently he has been enabled to add on to his place until he now has
ninety acres of as good land as can be found in this locality, which is well
improved and managed so that abundant harvests are reaped from year to year.
He raises good horses, cattle and hogs and carries on a general farming
business. He has a comfortable dwelling and convenient out buildings. He has
always been a public-spirited man and has ably served as school director and
Town Clerk. He is a loyal Democrat and a worthy member of the Methodist
Episcopal church, and is regarded by his neighbors as among the leading
young farmers of Foster township.
Extracted 27 May 2019 by Norma Hass from 1909 Biographical and Reminiscent History of Richland, Clay and Marion Counties, Illinois, pages 523-524.