Mortimer Eugene Walker, whose prominence in the profession of law entitles him to more than passing notice as a representative of the Racine bar, is today well known as a member of the firm of Simmons & Walker. Endowed by nature with keen intellectual force, he has so directed his energies and developed his talents that he is found adequate to the solution of most intricate legal problems.
Racine County numbers him among her native sons. He was born in the town of Mount Pleasant, June 25, 1872, and represents an old New England family. His paternal grandfather, Nelson A. Walker, was a native of Vermont and on foot made the long journey across the country from the Green Mountain state to Wisconsin, where at one time he owned a farm on the present site of Racine, which was then known as Sagetown. For a number of years he occupied that place but two or three years prior to his death removed to Chicago, where he passed away at an advanced age. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Lucinda Taggart, died at the age of sixty-five years, leaving four children.
That number included Robert M. Walker, who was born in Vermont but was yet a young lad when his parents came to Wisconsin, so that he was reared in Racine County-then the western frontier. The occupation with which he became familiar during his youth he made his life work and became the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of very rich, productive and valuable land pleasantly and conveniently situated about three-quarters of a mile west of the corporation limits. He always followed farming save for the period of the Civil war, when he offered his services to the government and went to the front with the boys in blue of Company K, Eighth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, the regiment which carried with it throughout the war the famous eagle known as Old Abe. With the close of hostilities he resumed agricultural pursuits and from time to time his fellow townsmen called him to public office, the duties of which he discharged with promptness and fidelity. As a companion and helpmate for life’s journey he chose Minerva Secor, a daughter of Gurdon Secor, a native of New York, whose mother was of Holland-Dutch, while his father was of French lineage. While in the east M. Secor followed merchandising; upon his arrival in Racine County he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits and secured a tract of land in Mount Pleasant Township which he developed and improved, making it the family home while he was rearing his eight children. His wife bore the maiden name of Jane Stuart and both lived to a ripe old age.
Mortimer E. Walker was the second in order of birth in a family of three children, his elder brother being Nelson A., of Mount Pleasant Township, while his sister is Mabel E. Walker. His youthful experiences were those of the farm-bred boy. He worked in the fields from the time of early spring planting until crops were harvested in the late autumn and he enjoyed such educational opportunities as were accorded in the district schools, in private schools and in Racine College. In the meantime he determined to make the practice of law his life work and with that end in view entered the law department of the University of Wisconsin at Madison and completed his course by graduation with the class of 1895.
The same year Mr. Walker was admitted to practice in the courts of the state and upon his return to Racine sought actual experience by entering the offices of Cooper & Nelson. The firm later admitted him to a partnership and in the intervening period he has won a place among the able and representative lawyers of the Racine County bar. He prepares his cases with thoroughness and the zeal with which he has devoted his energies to his profession, the careful regard evinced for the interests of his clients, together with an assiduous and unrelaxing attention to all the details of his cases, have brought him a large business and made him very successful in its conduct.
On the 24th of July, 1900, Mr. Walker was joined in wedlock to Miss Florence Bull, a daughter of Wakely T. and Caroline (Curtis) Bull. They have become parents of two daughters, Jane Stuart and Florence Bull, who are with their parents in the family home at No. 1228 Main Street. Mr. Walker is an exemplary representative of the Masonic fraternity, holding membership in Racine Lodge, No. 18, F. & A. M.; Racine Commandery, No. 7, K. T.; Wisconsin Consistory, Scottish Rite; and Tripoli Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He also belongs to the Elks lodge of Racine and his wife is a member of the Episcopal Church. Mr. Walker gives his political endorsement to the Republican Party and from 1902 until 1906 filled the office of city attorney, making an excellent record in that position. He is well known in the County where his entire life has been passed and he occupies an enviable position socially as well as professionally.