Albert Shield Walker

Albert Shield Walker (January 1, 1846 in southwestern Missouri – September 15, 1915 in Springfield, Oregon) was the first mayor of Springfield, Oregon in 1885 and a blacksmith.

In 1868, William Walker's son Albert Shields Walker married Sarah "Lizzie" Higgins and at this time the Walker household contained William, Polly, son Albert and wife Lizzie and their infant son Alva, and youngest daughter Tryphena.^[1]

He was a founding member of the local chapter of Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Springfield Lodge, No. 70, organized October 24, 1881, and entitled with the position "L.S.V.G." Four years later he would become this city's mayor.

He died on September 15, 1915; his obituary appeared September 16, 1915 in the Eugene Daily Guard:

ALBERT WALKER, FIRST MAYOR OF SPRINGFIELD, DIES

Albert Shield Walker, first mayor of Springfield upon its incorporation in 1885, and prominent in the civic and social life of Springfield, died at his home here yesterday morning after an illness of a year. He was 69 years of age and had lived in Lane Co. 62 years. In 1868 he married Miss Sarah Higgins of Salem, who survives him. There are also eight children, Herbert E., W. F., Ralph, Joy, Mrs. O. C. Woolf, of Albany, Mrs. H. F. Parsons, Jessie and Grace, of Springfield. Mr. Walker was a charter member of the Springfield Methodist Church, the Springfield lodge of Odd Follows and Eugene lodge of Woodman of The World. Interment will be made in Laurel Grove cemetery. Mr. Walker was born in southwestern Missouri January 1, 1846, and when he was six years of age his people 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, but in April, 1853, they again started for Oregon, and arrived in Lane county in October of the same year. His parents William and Mary Shields Walker, took up a donation land claim eight miles south of the present site of Springfield.

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