Biography - Paul Walter
Paul WALTER, livery business, Hillsboro, was born in North Carolina, Cabarras County, October 2, 1821. Nicholas Walter was born in Pennsylvania about 1790, and moved to North Carolina about 1809, and married Catharine GOODMAN, of that State. The father, Nicholas WALTER, was in the war of 1812, and served during the war; participated in the memorable battle of New Orleans; he was a farmer and millwright, and died in North Carolina in 1825; parents raised four sons (subject, youngest son) and three daughters. Subject wwas educated at the common schools of North Carolina; began life as a farmer in this State in 1839, that being the year of his emigration; has followed farming and stock-trading the principal part of his time since till the last few years; went to California in 1850, in search of gold; was there about six years in all, and came home about $45,000 winner. Being a liberal-hearted, whole-souled fellow, he indorsed freely for his friends, and was caught for upward of $40,000, which amount he paid by selling his own property, never waiting for an officer to settle any of his transactions. This loss, coupled with some unprofitable investments, reduced our subject again to moderate circumstances, as he had begun. In the late war, he volunteered in the First Illinois Cavalry, in Company E; subject was Captain of the company, under Col. Marshall; was captured at Lexington, Mo., by Gen. Price; was paroled and exchanged, and again entered the service, but was discharged by the Government on account of a violation of their oath, having taken the oath to enter the service no more during the rebellion; after the battle of Lexington, subject was offered the position of Major, an office he refused to accept, preferring to stay with his company; he is a Democrat now in politics; member of the Masonic order; has taken all the degrees from Entered Apprentice to Knight Templar. Subject married, in this county, February 1, 1844, to Emeline SCOTT, who was born in North Carolina in 1827, but came to this State when quite young, in 1833, with her parents; she was a daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth (WOOD) SCOTT. Subject has eight children, four sons - George, Scott, Miller and James; and four daughters, Marcilla, Illinois, Susan and Estella; wife is a member of the Methodist Church; eldest son, George, was educated for a Presbyterian minister, but, on account of his health failing, was obliged to give it up.
Extracted 19 Nov 2016 by Norma Hass from 1882 History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 2 Biographical Department, page 121.
