Sam Walker, whose birthday was in the midst of the oft sweltering Iowa summer, was honored for the occasion many Julys by members of his large family. Sam was married twice and the father of sixteen children whoo were born between 1894 and 1930.

Sam's final birthday celebration on Sunday, July 22, 1956, at Morning Sun, Iowa, was attended by many. The local newspaper listed a large group at the event, but likely even more passed by that day, as the report is primarily those related to him or connected to him through his first marriage.

Sam was born four years after the end of the Civil War, and his last son graduated from high school in 1948. The space age had arrived by the time he died. The changes in the nation, culture, and society that he witnessed during his lifetime were immense. --Dennis Brumm, his grandson

Morning Sun News-Herald, page 3, July 26, 1956; Morning Sun, Louisa County, Iowa:

Relatives and friends of S. N. Walker gathered in Locust Grove here Sunday to observe the 87th birthday of Mr. Walker. Present for the birthday dinner were Mr. and Mrs. Lee Walker, Ainsworth; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bailey and family, Keokuk; Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Long and sons, Lockridge; Mr. and Mrs. Haines and son, Fairfield; Mrs. Ruth Moyers and Ethel, Burlington; Mrs. Bill Lox and Scotty, Oquawka, Illinois; Mr. and Mrs. Roy Fortner, Dennis Howey, Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Allen and Pamela, Detroit, Michigan; Mr. and Mrs. William Walker and Steve and Sam Walker, Marion; Mr. and Mrs. Bill Brumm and Dennis, Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Walker and Terry Thomas, New London; Mr. and Mrs. George Walker and Mr. and Mrs. Ted Dotson, West Burlington; Mr. and Mrs. Elwood Marshall and Karen, Fort Madison; Jim Walker, Mt. Pleasant; Mr. and Mrs. Bert Moyers, Mr. and Mrs. John Russell, Mr. and Mrs. Tommy Dotson, all of Wapello; Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Pickard, Birmingham; Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Broeker, Mr. and Mrs. Trevor Kimble and family, Tom Walker, Mrs. Willa (Umphrey) Wolfe and Mr. and Mrs. Sam Walker (the birthday boy and his wife, the former Jennie "Reil" Hannah), all of Morning Sun.


(Extended Notes: Lee Walker (Sam N.'s brother) was born Charles Leander Walker, and his wife was the former Aleta Marie Hewitt. Mrs. Charles Bailey was born Caroline Ellen Moyers. Mrs. Arthur Long was the former Elizabeth Ann "Betty" Moyers. Mr. and Mrs. Haines were Ernest William Haines and the former Mabel Edna Moyers. Mrs. Bill Lox was born Virginia Mae Dotson. Mrs. Roy Fortner was Sam's daughter, formerly Maude Mae (Walker) Umphrey. Mrs. Lloyd Allen was Maude's daughter, Thelma Verlee Umphrey. Mrs. William Walker was the former Margaret Leora Lesher. Sam Walker of Marion was more completely Samuel Clinton Walker, son of Sam N. and his first wife, Hattie (Moyers) Walker. Mrs. Bill Brumm, a daughter of Sam's, was Hattie "Leota" (Walker) Krekel before her marriage to William Lett Brumm. Mrs. Clifford Walker was born Wilda "Marguerite" Wyerman. And Cliff's full name was actually Thomas "Clifford" Walker. Mrs. George Walker was formerly Verona Violet Dotson. Mrs. Ted Dotson was born Zella "Myrtle" Walker. Mrs. Elwood Marshall was a granddaughter of Sam's, Beverly Jean Broeker. Mrs. Bert Moyers, an earlier sister-in-law, was born Nellie Owens. Mrs. John Russell was Sam's sister, Flossie Zella Walker. Mrs. Ralph Thomas "Tommy" Dotson was born Marian Louise Callahan. The Pickards were family friends. Mrs. Wallace Broeker was Ruth Aralene Wheeler. Wally was first married to Sam's daughter, Ruth Rebecca Walker, who died in the 1930s. Mrs. Trevor Kimble, Sam's daughter, was born Marjorie Naomi Walker. And finally, Tom Walker was Sam's brother, Thomas.)
-Requested this published DW Brumm




Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon in the First Presbyterian church for S. N. Walker, 87, a life long resident of the Morning Sun community. Services were conducted by the Reverend Floyd Bowerman and burial was in Elmwood Cemetery. Mr. Walker died at his home here Saturday morning, March 16 .

Samuel Nathaniel Walker, the son of Charles P. Walker and Ruth Ellen Fox, was born July 24, 1869 near New London, Iowa. On October 25, 1893 he was married to Hattie M. Moyers, who preceded him [in] death on April 7, 1918. To this union the following children were born: Elsie Walker, Benton Arkansas; George P. Walker and Myrtle Dotson, West Burlington; Maude Fortner, Detroit, Michigan; Samuel C. Walker and William D. Walker, Marion, Iowa; Paul M. Walker, Livermore, California; Leota Brumm and Clifford Walker, New London. Two other children, Ruth Broeker and Ross Walker, are dead.

On March 20, 1920 he was united in marriage to Jennie Reil Hannah and they became the parents of the following children: Viola Van Houten, Corpus Christi, Texas; Robert Walker and Marjorie Kimble, Morning Sun. Preceding their father in death was a daughter Rosalee, and a son, John H. Walker, killed in action in World War II.

Surviving in addition to the wife and 12 children are three brothers and a sister: James, Thomas and Lee Walker, and Flossie Russell. Also surviving are 28 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren.

Mr. Walker was a life-long member of the Odd Fellows Lodge.