6i6 WALKER WALL. At the breaking out of the war, when only fourteen years of age, he left school and entered the service as a drummer-boy. fie joined the Belchertown militia company, which was being recruited, with the expec- tation of entering the United States serv- ice in the 10th Massachusetts volunteers. Before the company could be filled, how- ever, this regiment was completed, and the Belchertown company was disbanded. With seven others, young Walker went to Springfield, where the 10th regiment was encamped, and offered his services to the Northampton company. On account of his age and size, the officers declined to enlist him, but lie was afterwards accepted as a drummer-boy in this regiment, with which he remained, frequently at the front and under lire, until the return of his regi- ment in J line, 1S64. During his absence his father had died, and being obliged to abandon his hopes (if a collegiate education, he began life in a country store in Bell hertOWIl, where he spent a year and a half, and then accepted a clerkship in Springfield. In 1868 he de- termined to seek his fortune on the Pacific coast, where for a time he was again be- hind the counter. In 1S70 he accepted a situation with the general agency of the Pacific Mutual Life Insurance Company, of Sacramento, Cal. He afterwards went to San Francisco as secretary of the Trust Fund Insurance Association, and with his associates held the general agency of the New York Life Insurance Company, for the Pacific slates. Here his reputation as a successful insur- ance man was firmly established. In 1S7S he returned to his native town, and purchased the property which he now owns. In 1SS6 he was appointed assistant adjutant-general, with the rank of colonel, on the military staff of Governor Robin- son. Col. Walker is a member of Post 97, G. A. R., and has served on the staff of the national commander of the Grand Army. He has been president of the 10th, and is an honorary member of the 37th, Massachusetts regiment associations, also of the armed guard of Wilcox Post, G. A. R., a member of Springfield Com- mandery. Knights Templar, and an Odd Fellow. He is also a member of the An- cient and Honorable Artillery Company. In [888 he was made commander of the Grand Army for the department of Massa- chusetts. Col. Walker represented his senatorial district in the Senate, i8S5-'S6, serving on the insurance (chairman), mili- tary, and treasury committees, and was a member of the Republican state central committee, 1887, '88, and '89. Col. Walker was married in London, England, [878, to Mary X., daughter of lion. E. I!. Crocker, judge of the supreme court of California. WALL, JAMES T., son of P. Henry and Mary J. (Burker) Wall, was born in Middlelield, Hampshire county, August 19. ' s 55- He received his early educational train- ing in the common and high schools of Ins native town, supplemented by a business course at Carter's commercial college at Pittsiield. Ills first entrance into business life was as book-keeper for a grocery firm in Me- thuen. Subsequently he became manager for J. A. Magee & Co., manufacturing chemists, Lawrence, where he remained three years. He is at present postmaster of the town of Methuen, which position he has held since his appointment on March 31, [886, by President Cleveland. On the 6th of July, 1879, at Methuen, Mr. Wall was married to Mary l', daugh- ter of Joel Foster, 2d, and Elizabeth Foster. Mr. Wall has been a justice of the peace for three years, having received his ap- pointment from Governor Robinson ; a
