Abraham Walker

Abraham Walker, engineer of the Buffalo Gas Works, was born of Scotch parentage, February 8, 1863, his parents being James and Ann (Rothwell) Walker. He came early to this country, being educated in Buffalo at the public schools, after which he spent six years learning his trade, that of machinist, in several shops. The principal part of the time, however, he was in the employ of the Pitts Agricultural Works.

In the spring of 1882 Mr. Walker started upon the lakes as greaser of the steamer Delaware, of the Anchor line, but did not remain on her all of the season. His next employment in connection with the lakes was in Buffalo harbor, where he worked as engineer on various tugs from 1882 to 1886. In the latter year he went as second engineer of the steamer Passaic, remaining one season, after which he became chief of the D.M. Wilson, where he remained until 1889, at that time taking the position of second engineer of the John F. Eddy for a season. The next season he remained ashore in the employ of the Buffalo Gas Works for a year, and, beginning with 1891, he acted as chief engineer of the Erie County Alms House and County Hospital for three years, in 1894 returning to the Buffalo Gas Works. Mr. Walker has been a member of the I.O.O.F. for twelve years, and of the Royal Arcanum three years.

At Buffalo, April 19, 1892, Mr. Walker was married to Levina Lampshire, and they have had two children: Annie and James Raymond. Isaac Lampshire, the father of Mrs. Walker, was an old sailor, and in the early history of the lakes was mate and captain, respectively, of many sailing vessels.

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Volume I

This version of Volume II is based, with permission, on the work of the great volunteers at the Marine Captains Biographies site. To them goes the credit for reorganizing the content into some coherent order. The biographies in the original volume are in essentially random order.

Some of the transcription work was also done by Brendon Baillod, who maintains an excellent guide to Great Lakes Shipwreck Research.