Bordan Walters
Bordan Walters, a resident of township 13,range 6, Pope County, owns a well-appointed and carefully cultivated farm on section 23. He was born in this county January 10, 1843, and has passed the most of his life in this locality. His parents were Thomas and Mary (Tristian) Walters, the father a native of North Carolina and the mother of Tennessee. The paternal grandfather of our subject, Thomas Walters, was an early settler of Illinois and was in the Jackson War. Thomas Walters, Jr., emigrated to Illinois at at early day, taking up land in this county, and participated in the Black Hawk War from the beginning to the end. He is numbered among the worthy pioneers who paved the way to the present prosperity of this region, and who suffered untold privations and dangers that their children and their descendants might come into a peaceful and happy inheritance. He engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death, in 1870, at which time he owned a farm of one hundred acres, on which his wife, though now at an advanced age, is still living.
Our subject assisted his father on the old homestead until reaching mature years, and received such educational advantages as he could obtain n the schools of the district. When only twenty-one he enlisted in the army, becoming a member of Company K, One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Illinois Infantry, in May, 1864, being mustered in at Golconda and being honorably dischared at Springfield in October of the same year, on account of failing health. He sustained disabilities, occasioned by exposure and the severe experiences of army life, from which he has never recovered. Coming home, he rented land for about five years in this county, and then concluded to try his fortune in Missouri. Proceeding there, he pre-empted a homestead of eighty acres, where he lived for three years, when he sold it and returned to Illinois. After staying a part of a year in his old home he returned to Missouri, rented land and this time lived in the State for seven yers. Though some things impressed him favorably in that portion of the country, he has ever returned to his first love, the State of his nativity, and firmly believes now, if he ever doubted it before, that Illinois is unsurpassed as an agricultural State. Selling his stock and farming implements in Missouri, Mr. Walters returned to Illinois, and at the end of two years, duing which time he rented land, he purchased the farm where he now resides. This is a tract of forty acres, which is under good cultivation, and on which is a substantial residence and good farm buildings.
Mr. Walters, January 17,1864, was married to Miss Sarah Ann Baker, who was born in Pope County July 2, 1847, and was called to her final rest July 16, 1887, having just passed her fortieth year. She left a family of six children, who are as follows: William H. and Martha J., both of whom are married; James W., Rosa A., Albert B. and Levi. Mrs. Walters was a thoroughly estimable woman, a lady of exemplary Christian character, a faithful wife and devoted mother, one who made a host of friends, who hold her memory among their most cherished recollections. Mr. Walters and his family are all consistent members of the Baptist Church, in the work of which they are very active, and politically our subject casts his ballot in favor of the Democracy.