John C. Walker papers, 1910-1957

Series

Identifier: MSS 1099

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

The collection consists of the following: certificates belonging to John H. Walker; his personal mementos; materials on small business operations, and remembrance books from his funeral services. Also included are Eva C. Walker's papers, including genealogy records of both sides of the family; school materials; letters of correspondence; certificates; information on John C. Walker, including newspaper clipping of his band; a collection of family photos and post cards with pictures of family, friends, and information on places. Also preserved in the collection are some materials created by Alice Wray Walker.

Dates

1910-1957

Creator

Walker, John C. (John Chris) (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Open for public research.

Conditions Governing Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances. Permission to publish material from John H. and Eva C. Walker family collection must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Board of Curators.

Chronological List

From the Collection:

A Chronology of Important Dates

1889 John H. was born to John W. and Mary E. Walker. 1897 John H. was baptized into the LDS Church. 1903 The family came to Utah. 1907 The family moved to Somerset, Colorado. 1909 John H. married Eva L. Conrad. 1910 John C. was born. 1916 Alice Wray was born. 1919 John C. was baptized into the LDS Church. 1923 John C. married Lyle. 1924 Alice Wray was baptized into the LDS Church. 1940 Alice Wray married Parley Alden Olsen. 1951 John C. died. 1957 John H. died after a long illness.

Biographical History

From the Collection:

Utah miner, foreman for the Utah Fuel Company, and a worker for the United States Steel Corporation. He married Eva Lucinda Conrad in 1909. John Henry Walker was born August 2, 1889 in Hawsville, Kentucky of John William and Mary Eva Schafer Walker. He came to Utah in 1903 with his family who were converts to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. They first settled in Mapleton and later in Winter Quarters, Carbon County. He worked with his father as a miner for the Utah Fuel Company. In 1907 the family moved to Somerset, Colorado to work for the same company. On December 20, 1909 John married Eva Lucinda Conrad in Delta, Colorado. The young couple made a home in Somerset until 1917 when they moved to Hiawatha, Utah. In this community John H. worked for United States Steel Company. The Walkers were active in the LDS Church. While in Hiawatha, John helped to organize a church Sunday School. Although they were busy with the church and John's steel job, the stay in this area was short because of Eva's health. Seeking a better climate, the Walker's moved back to Somerset and lived there until 1923. During the year the couple bought a home in Provo, Utah and settled there permanently. John and Eva became the parents of two children, a son, John Cris, and a daughter, Alice Wray. John C. did not follow in his father's footsteps but grew up to become a very popular singer and entertainer. He spent nearly twenty years with his group of four, singing and playing at the Cowboy Bar in Jackson, Wyoming. His life came to an early end when he died in a hospital of pneumonia in 1951. Alice Wray Walker grew up to become a happily married housewife as Mrs. Alden Olsen.