Jonas P. Walker, well-known attorney of Greenfield, one of the leaders of the bar of the Hancock circuit court, is a native son of Hancock county, having been born on a farm in Brown township, this county, November 23, 1874, son and only child of James R. and Mary C. (Piper) Walker, both natives of this same county, the former of whom was born in Jackson township and the latter in Green township.

James R. Walker was reared on the paternal farm in Jackson township and made his home there until his marriage, after which he moved to the farm in Brown township where the subject of this sketch was born and there he followed farming until well past middle age, when he moved to Greenfield and engaged in the insurance business, in which he has been quite successfully engaged ever since, being one of the best-known residents of the county seat. Mr. Walker is a Democrat and for years has given a good citizen's attention to the political affairs of the county though not included in the office-seeking class. He is a member of the United Brethren church, as was his wife, who died in 1910. The Walkers are one of the old families in Hancock coumty, having come here in pioneer days by way of Kentucky. The Pipers were also early settlers in this county, coming from Tennessee, both families having done well their parts in the respective communities in which they settled.

Jonas P. Walker was reared on the home farm in Brown township, receiving his elementary education in the old Buchanan district school in the neighborhood of his home, supplementing the same by a course in the high school at Warrington, upon the completion of which he entered the Central Normal school at Danville, this state, and was a student of that excellent old institution during the years 1893-4-5.

On September 16 of the latter year he began reading law in the office of Marsh & Cook at Greenfield and at the end of two years of careful tutelage under those able preceptors was admitted to the bar and immediately thereafter, in 1897, formed a partnership with John G. Wiggins, who was then the prosecuting attorney for this judicial district. He continued in partnership three and one-half years with Mr. Wiggins, at the end of which time the partnership between him and Mr. Wiggins was dissolved and he entered into a partnership with Elmer J. Binford, under the firm name of Binford & Walker, which continued for five years, during which time the firm of Binford & Walker acted as general counsel for the company operating the interurban railway line between Newcastle and Indianapolis. In January, 1913, Mr. Walker formed a new business connection, entering into a partnership with Charles H. Cook, for the practice of law in Greenfield, and this mutually agreeable partnership continued under the firm name of Cook & Walker, one of the best-known firms of lawyers in the county, the senior member of the firm being the son of an eminent attorney under whom Mr. Walker read law upon taking up the study of the same at the conclusion of his school course, and the firm is doing business in the same offices at that time occupied by the old firm of Marsh & Cook.

On May 6, 1903, Jonas P. Walker was united in marriage to Margaret A. White, who was born in Greenfield, this county, March 8, 1886, daughter of Albert and Isabelle (Brandon) White, the former of whom is a native of Indian and the latter of the state of New York. Albert White is a well-known general contractor of Greenfield, his particular line being street paving, and he and his wife are the parents of two children, of whom Mrs, Walker is the youngest. The latter was reared in Greenfield, receiving her education in the local schools and was graduated from the high school with the class of 1895. To her union with Mr. Walker one child was born, a daughter, Isabel M., who is now attending school. Mr. and Mrs. Walker take a proper part in the social and cultural activities of the county seat town and are held in high esteem by their many friends throughout the county.

Mr. Walker is a Democrat and is an ardent party man, having been prominently connected with the party organization in this county ever since taking up his residence in Greenfield. Mr. Walker was elected vice-chairman of the Hancock county Democratic central committee and upon the resignation of the chairman was elected chairman to fill out the term ending March 11, 1916. He is an active member of the Greenfield lodge of the Masonic order, as well as a member of the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Improved Order of Red Men and Knights of Pythias, and in the affairs of these several organizations takes a warm interest.

Transcribed from History of Hancock County, Indiana, Its People, Industries and Institutions by George J. Richman, B. L., Federal Publishing Co., Indianapolis, Indiana, 1916. Pages 837-839.

Submitted by Sylvia (Rose) Duda, Laingsburg, MI September 11, 2001.

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