Los Angeles County, CA, Biographies

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


G. B. WALTER, 
 
a retired farmer residing near Downey, was born in Highland County, Ohio, in 
1812. He is a son of John and Mary (Bentley) Walter, natives of Virginia, and 
early pioneers in the Buckeye State. In 1837 they moved to Indianapolis, 
Indiana, where the father died about the close of the war. In 1845 Mr. Walter 
located in Washington County, Iowa; after a short time moved to Van Buren County 
and still later went to Lee County. In 1852 he came overland, with ox teams, to 
the Golden State, leaving his home April 12, and landing in San Jose, November 
12. Here he engaged in farming and was very successful in raising wheat for 
twenty-five years. In 1878 he moved to Los Angeles County. Since coming here he 
has purchased real estate in different parts of the county, at Long Beach, San 
Diego, and has several farms, all within a mile and a half of Downey. Mr. Walter 
has been twice married, first in Iowa, in 1843, to Miss Tabitha Shepard, of 
Ohio, born near Bridgeport. They had three children, all of whom, with the 
mother, died in Iowa in 1848. In 1849 Mr. Walter was united in marriage with 
Miss Ann Gruewell, of Quincy, Illinois. This union was blessed with two 
daughters: Georgiana, now Mrs. Rev. R. R. Pratt, of San Diego; and Mary M., now 
Mrs. Henry Stephens, living near Downey. The mother of these two daughters died 
in Santa Clara County in 1856.
 
An Illustrated History of Los Angeles County, California �  Chicago, The Lewis 
Publishing Company, 1889   Page 830
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler