The gentleman whose name forms the caption of this article is one of
Cobden's progressive and highly esteemed young citizens. Lindorf Walker,
cashier of the First National Bank, is a banker of honorable and
unassailable methods, and in his residence in this place he has won the
unbounded confidence of his fellow citizens. He is a native son of Illinois,
his birth having occurred, September 29, 1881, on a farm in Johnson county.
His father, William P. Walker, is now living on his farm in Johnson county,
and that section of the great state of Illinois is the scene of his birth
and lifelong residence. He is a son of Robert J. Walker, a native of North
Carolina, who first migrated to Tennessee and thence to Southern Illinois.
He was one of the dauntless company of pioneers who paved the way for latter
day prosperity and civilization. The maiden name of the subject's mother was
Sarah E. Gillespie, and she was born in Tennessee, the daughter of John H.
Gillespie, who came to Johnson county with her parents when five years of
age. This worthy lady was born in 1848 and was summoned to the life eternal
in June, 1911, when her years numbered sixty-three. Mr. Walker was the
second of a family of three children to grow to maturity, the others being
Dr. H. W. Walker and Lizzie Naomi (Hand). William P. Walker has made a great
success of the great basic industry of agriculture and enjoys the esteem of
his particular community.
Lindorf Walker was educated in the public schools of Johnson county and at
an early age, feeling inclined toward a business career, he took an
appropriate preparatory course in the Gem City Business College, from which
well-conducted institution he was graduated in 1900. His first experience as
an actual factor in the world of affairs was in the capacity of bookkeeper
for a mercantile firm in Saxton, Missouri. He first entered upon his
connection with the banking world when he took the place of the cashier of
the Drovers' State Bank at Vienna, the incumbent of the office suffering
from ill health. In the spring of 1901 he was. employed in the county
clerk's office and at the conclusion of these services he spent a few weeks
on his father's farm and then wishing like most alert young men to see
something of the world he started out in June, 1901, and journeyed to
Oklahoma and Texas. He then remained in the Indian Territory for a year and
returned to Illinois in 1902, entering the mercantile business at Ganntown
and remaining thus engaged for a year. He worked for his brother, the
Doctor, for a few months and then came to Cobden, in September, 1903,
remaining here for a year and a half. During the sojourn he was employed in
the First National Bank. He later returned to Vienna and acted as bookkeeper
of the First National Bank of that place until May 1, 1907. At the date
mentioned he returned to Cobden to accept the position of cashier with the
First National Bank. This thriving and well managed monetary institution is
incorporated with a capital stock of twenty-five thousand dollars, while its
total resources amount to two hundred and thirty thousand dollars. Its
officers are as follows: President, William C. Rich; vice-president, I. H.
Lawrence; and cashier, Lindorf Walker. The directorate consists of the three
given above with the addition of H. A. Dubois and H. H. Lamar. No small part
of the bank's prosperity is directly traceable to the intelligent methods of
its cashier.
Fraternally Mr. Walker is one of the most enthusiastic of Masons, and
exemplifies in his own living the principles of moral and social justice and
brotherly love for which the order stands. He belongs to the Blue Lodge of
Cobden; the Chapter of Vienna; and the Eastern Star; and he is also
affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and the Pythian Sisters of Vienna.
Mr. Walker established a pleasant home and congenial life companionship by
his union, in November, 1905, to Pearl Debnam, of Johnson county, daughter
of William C. and Lizzie (Dunn) Debnam. They share their pleasant home with
one son, W. Tillard, aged three years.
Extracted 13 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from 1912 A History of Southern Illinois, volume 3, pages 1102-1103.
| Jackson | Williamson | |
| MO |
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Johnson |
| Alexander | Pulaski |
