John Franklin Walker born February 23, 1838, came from Whalen, Minnesota, to Dakota Territory in 1883. He had been in the flour milling business at Whalen but after many labor disappointments, cloudbursts and his dam washed out, he decided to move farther west.
He bought and operated a flour mill at Daily, a little settlement 18 miles south of Valley City. He also worked on dams at Kathryn, Fort Ransom and Valley City. Seeing the great prospects of the community, he decided to move closer to Valley City. He purchased homestead rights from Dr. Coe, on 151 acres, 3 miles west of Valley City, at the top of the hill, later known as Walker Hill. In 1886 J. F. Walker brought his wife, Josephine Dikeman, born September 15, 1846 at Limerock, CT, and their two children, Helen May and Frank Holton Walker, here to make their future home. All they brought with them was a pair of oxen, a walking plow and a log chain.
Helen Walker married Albert Russell. She was left a widow when their two children were small. Irma and John Russell. Helen Russell worked in the Barnes County court house for many years. Frank Walker worked as assistant engineer at Russell-Miller Milling Co. for a year. He joined Co "G" of North Dakota, National Guard, serving five years. He fought in the Spanish-American War. Upon returning home, he married Bertha Roedeske. They had one son, Gordon. Frank Walkers farmed the old homestead until 1924 when they moved into Valley City.
Bertha Walker operated the Women's Exchange in part of the old Opera House building, for a number of years, selling eggs, butter, cream, baked goods and fancy work consigned by others. Frank Walker did carpenter work for Philip Schoefter at this time.
Gordon Walker married Magdalene Diemert in 1930. Gordon is still farming. They had three children: a son who died in infancy, daughter Phyllis, who teaches business education in high school, and a son James, who is in maintenance in the National Guard at Valley City. He married Wanda Jean Lueck of Spiritwood, North Dakota. They have a one year old daughter Lori Kay.
Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 259