Biography - Paul Walter
COL. PAUL WALTER. Prominent among the active enterprises of a city like Hillsboro the livery business occupies necessarily an important place, contributing as it does to the pleasure, convenience and necessities of the community. Among the most noted establishments of this class is that conducted by Col. Paul Walter, it being one of the most popular ones in the city. The Colonel is a native of North Carolina, born in Cabarrus County, October 3, 1821.
His grandfather, Paul Walter, was born in Germany and came to America when a young man. He served in the Revolutionary War and was wounded four times. His son, Nicholas Walter, the father of our subject, was born in the Old North State, grew to manhood there, and learned the millwright's trade. He was married in his native State, to Miss Catherine Goodman, a native of France, who came to America with her parents when a child. They located in North Carolina and there Mrs. Walter grew to womanhood. After marriage, this worthy couple located in Cabarrus County, N. C., and there the father passed away in the year 1825. After his death, or in 1838, his widow came to Montgomery County, Ill., and located on a farm north of Hillsboro, where she passed the remainder of her days. They were the parents of eight children, four sons and four daughters, all of whom grew up, married, and became the heads of families. Only one beside our subject is now living, Henry J., of Hillsboro.
Our subject is the youngest of this family and was seventeen years of age when he came to Montgomery County, Ill. His first schooling was in North Carolina and after coming to Montgomery County, he attended the schools of the same. He remained with his mother and assisted on the farm until February 1, 1844, when he was married to Miss Emaline Scott, a native of North Carolina and the daughter of Alexander Scott, also of the Old North State. The fruits of this union were eight children, four sons and four daughters, as follows: George A., W. Scott, Marcilla, Illinois, Susan, Miller, Estella and James. Following his marriage, Mr. Walter located on a farm eight miles north of Hillsboro and was engaged in general farming until 1850, when he was seized with the gold fever. He crossed the plains to California, via Salt Lake City, with teams, and was a resident of that State for four years. He returned by way of the Isthmus to New Orleans and thence to his home.
Two months later, Mr. Walter returned to California and two years later returned to the East via, the Isthmus and New York City. During his two trips to the Gold State, he made $48,000. In the year 1861, he enlisted in Company E, First Illinois Cavalry, as a private and was made Captain of his company. He was in service two years and took a prominent part in many of the leading engagements. He was taken prisoner by Gen. Price and afterward paroled. He then re-enlisted and was discharged on special order. Returning to the farm, he continued to till the soil until 1867, when lie located in Hillsboro, where in connection with the livery business he embarked in the elevator and grain business, he is not in the grain business at the present time, but devotes his whole time and attention to the livery business, of which he has made a complete success.
In politics, our subject is a strong adherent of the principles of the Republican party and was Mayor of Hillsboro in 1873 and 1874. He was also Alderman for many years and has been prominently identified with all movements of note. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Mt. Moriah Lodge No. 51, Hillsboro, and is a member of the Frank 1). Hubbell Post No. 304, G. A. R., being the first commander of the same.
Extracted 10 Jan 2017 by Norma Hass from 1892 Portrait and Biographical Record of Montgomery and Bond Counties, Illinois, pages 298-299.
