John Wesley Walker

A native of Ontario, Canada, John Wesley Walker was born on February 2, 1844. After a conversion experience at the age of 13, Walker joined the Primitive Methodist Church. An ernest and passionate youth, he became an exhorter at 17 and a locally licensed preacher at 18. After serving several Churches in Canada between 1865 and 1871, Walker went to the United States. There, he joined the New Hampshire Conference of the M. E. Church and began his education. He attended the Boston University School of Theology and graduated in 1876. The same year, he married Emma B. Kelley. The couple had two children, one boy and one girl.

Throughout his career, Walker proved to be a hardworking and useful member of the Church. In 1882, he joined the Northwest Iowa Conference, where he served a number of Churches. He was also the Presiding Elder of the the Fort Dodge District. In 1895, Walker was elected to be a delegate to the General Conference.

During his last pastorate, Walker was stricken with paralysis. He died in Lost Angeles, California on June 18, 1905. He was 62.