Born in Tompkins county, New York, July 10, 1820, and is the son of Peter and Esther (Bigelow) Walling, both native Americans. He lived at home, working on the farm and teaching school winters, until 23 years of age, when he removed with his sister and settled in McHenry county, Illinois. While there he worked rented land and taught school winters, and was married, May 11, 1848, to Miss Lois J. Gillett, daughter of David and Chloe Gillett. In 1855 he came to this township, and after a short stay went to Waterloo, where he farmed for two years. In 1859 he went with his family to Pike's Peak, and engaged in the dairy business, and built the first house erected on South Boulder River. He returned to the township in 1863, and bought a farm from Jeremiah Turk. In 1868 he was elected to the State Legislature from the Forty-eighth Representative District. He has been town trustee and town clerk, and has held other offices. He is in religious matters a spiritualist, and is politically a republican.