From Lane Co Oregon

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Albert Shields Walker
Personal Identity
Occupation	Blacksmith, Mayor, Councilman, Recorder, School director
Birthplace	Green County, Missouri
Birthdate	January 11, 1846
Death	September 15, 1915
Place of Burial	Laurel Hill Cemetery
Family	William Walker (father), Mary Shields Walker (mother), Sarah "Lizzie" Walker (wife), children, Herbert E. (son), William F. (son), Mary B. Walker (daughter), Ralph G. Walker (son), Jessie Walker (daughter), May Walker, Grace, Ida, Joy
Personality & Physical nature
Education	Old Columbia College in Eugene
Hobbies & Interests
Religion	Methodist
Gender	Male
Heritage	White
Physical Characteristics
Social information
Affiliation	I.O.O.F, W.O.W.
Residence	Springfield

History

Albert Walker, blacksmith, was the first mayor of Springfield in 1885 upon its incorporation. The advancement and prosperity of the thriving little city of Springfield, Lane County, Oregon, is largely due to the progressive and energetic captains of industry, who early perceived its advantages as a business center and have been influential in developing its resources. Priminent among these is Albert S. Walker, now one of its foremost citizens and a prosperous real estate dealer and insurance agent. A native of Missouri, he was born January 11, 1846, in Greene County, a son of the late William Walker, an Oregon pioneer. When he was six years of age, his family started for Oregon by the overland trail. Returning immigrants, with tales of cholera on the way, deterred the party, they returned to their home for the winter. A little later, coming across the plains in an ox-team train in April, 1853,[1] his family located first in Lane County, taking up three hundred and sixty acres of land near Creswell in October, where he lived four years with his father.  Removing to Eugene in 1857, he watched his father in mercantile persuits, dealing in drugs and general merchandise until 1861. His father invested in land near Eugene.[2]

Having been but seven years of agen when he came with his parents to Lane county, Albert S. Walker obtained the rudiments of his education in the common schools, afterwards attending the old Columbia College, at Eugene, for two years, finally graduating therefrom. Assuming charge of the farm which his father owned in the vicinity of Eugene, he conducted it from 1862 until 1881, being successful as a farmer.[2]He married Sarah "Lizzie" Higgins on June 18, 1868 in Polk County, Oregon who was born in Massachusetts and at this time the William Walker household contained William, Polly, son Albert and wife Lizzie and their infant son Alva, and youngest daughter Tryphena.Locating then in Springfield, Mr. Walker established himself as a blacksmith, winning a large and lucrative patronage in this vicinity. Since retiring from his traid in the spring of 1903, Mr. Walker has been actively engaged in the real estate and insurance business, in which he is meeting with encouraging success, handling both farm and town property. He has acquired a good share of this worlds' goods, and owns a well improvved ranch of forty acres, lying about three miles southeast of Springfield.[2]Mr. Walker and wife had eight children, all living at home, namely: Herbert E. William F., Mary B., Ralph Gladstone. Jessie May, Grace, Ida, and Joy.

A man of broad and liberal views, alive to the iportant needs of the day, Mr. Walker has been influential in educational and political circles, and besides serving ten years as school director has the distinction of having served in 1885 as the first mayor of Springfield. He has likewise served as councilman, and is one of the leading Republicans of the city. Fot twenty-two years he has been identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being a charter member and past noble grand of the subordinate lodge, and a member of the encampment.  He also belongs to the fraternal order of Woodmen of the World. He is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he isa trustee, and also the superintendent of its Sunday School. He died on September 15, 1915. His obituary can be seen here: Daily Eugene Guard (1915), September 15. He was buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery. [2]

[1] Eugene Daily Guard, September 15, 1915

[2] Portrait and Biographical Record of the Willamette Valley (Chicago, Chapman Publishing Co., 1903), 1121-1122.