LEONIDAS WALKER

FROM: The History of Gallatin, Saline, Hamilton, Franklin, and Williamson Counties, Illinois (Chicago: Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1887).  P. 749-750.

          Leonidas Walker, State's attorney of Hamilton County, was born in Butler County, Penn., May 2, 1842, the son of Nathaniel and Sarah (Slater) Walker, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and New York Our subject was reared to manhood in his native State receiving all academic education and a fair knowledge of the languages. He came west in 1860 and located at McLeansboro where he finished the law study began in Pennsylvania. He studied under John McElvain a well-known early lawyer of the place and noted for his humor.  Our subject was admitted to the bar in 1864 and has practiced ever since with well-deserved success. For a time lie was partner of Hon. R. W. Townshend, and later with R. S. Anderson now of Oregon, and still later with L. J. Hale. He taught a school here from 1860 to 1865, and from 1863 to 1865 was county superintendent In 1872 he was elected to the Twenty-eighth General Assembly, in which lie served with honor. In 1880 lie was elected to his present office, and reelected in 1884, serving both terms most efficiently. He is a Democrat, and has been elected by that party to his various offices. April 4, 1871, lie married Amy Carpenter, of this city. Their six children are Chester C., Alice E., Samuel A., Pauline, Carrie and Lawrence S. He is a member of the 1. 0. 0. F. lodge, and is one of Hamilton County's leading citizens and officials.