Walker & Brother (Christiana, Pa.) Records, 1861-1867

Call Number:  MG-558

1 volume     .5  cubic ft.

Repository:  LancasterHistory.org (Lancaster, Pa.)

Shelving Location:  Archives South, Side 12

Description:  This collection contains a grain receipt book of grain merchants, Walker & Brother of Christiana, Pennsylvania. The business correspondence pasted to the receipt stubs documents the firm’s purchases and sales of grain, cigars, fertilizer, coal and lumber; banking; debt collection; and purchases of horses, cattle, and baling machinery.

Creator:  Walker & Brother (Christiana, Pa.)

Conditions for Access:  Patrons must make an appointment with the Director of Archival Services.

Conditions Governing Reproductions:  Collection may not be photocopied. Please contact Research Staff or Archives Staff with questions.

Language:  English

Source of Acquisition:  Purchased from dealer, 2008.

Administrative/Biographical History:  Joseph Coates Walker was born in Sadsbury Twp., Lancaster County on 4 April 1832. He learned the science of agriculture in his youth and in 1853 became a clerk at a mercantile business in Gap, Pennsylvania. He moved to Christiana briefly, then returned to Gap in 1857 to begin his career in general transportation, grain, coal and lumber, with his brother, Asahel. In 1880, the business became Joseph C. Walker & Son, when E. Enfield Walker joined his father. Outside of the mercantile business, Joseph served as postmaster, revenue collector, justice of the peace and president of Gap National Bank.

References:

Ellis, Franklin, and Samuel Evans. 1883. History of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania… Philadelphia: Everts & Peck, pp. 1055-1058.

Biographical Annals of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania… Chicago: Beers, 1903, pp. 308-9.

 

Grain Receipt Book, 1861-1867  The 3,800 grain receipt stubs record purchases of specified amounts of wheat, corn and oats from named local farmers with prices per bushel from November 1861 to August 1864. Attached to the receipt stubs are 640 pieces of correspondence from merchants, railroad shippers and others to Walker & Brother, dated April 1865 to September 1867.