Death of a Young Artist.

Our community was pained to learn on Monday last of the reception of a dispatch by Mr. Martin Walker, of this city, announcing the death of his son, James E. Walker, in Philadelphia, whither he went in 1876 to perfect and establish himself as a portrait painter.

The course of this young man was watched with a peculiar interest by those who knew him. It was early that he gave indication of the possession of genius. While a school boy, unassisted and untaught he produced with his pencil drawings astonishing in accuracy and good taste, and immediately received the encouragement of every person to whom his productions were shown. In 1876, after having pursued his studies as far as possible here he went to Philadelphia and entered the studios of several of the most eminent artists in that city. In a short while he established a stupid of his own work that received the most favorable mention in the art journals, and city publications.

He was born on the 4th of November 1853, and at his death was 27 years of age. The young artist was devoted to his art, and aside from his merits in that line he was admired and esteemed for other social and moral attributes.

Had his life been spared he would have reached fame, undoubtedly, and his untimely end may well be of the greatest regret to this community.

We leave farther remarks concerning the young artist for an abler pen to write.

cem: probably Philadelphia, PA

January 27, 1881

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Upon the Death of James E. Walker

[See January 13, 1881. Additional information available in this obituary: Married Miss Mary E. Murray, in 1877 and died of smallpox January 9, 1881. Leaves a wife and child.]