Ancillary Notes of Relatives of the Rich Billy Walker Clan

People mentioned here have more distant relationship, perhaps more distant cousins or people related by marriage, but had intriguing stories that have piqued my interest as I have been researching my main family ties. Information contained here will be more anecdotal rather than fully researched, but I have included references where appropriate. For further information, or especially if you have information to provide, contact me at dwalker127@neonclock.org

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George's brother Thomas (Rich Billy's Uncle)

Thomas Walker (1719-1809), Mary Walker (1742-1825) - George's brother, Rich Billy's Uncle. Family history outlined in "A Lost Arcadia" by Walter A. Clark, Thomas and Mary's great-grandson, published in 1909. Most of the following information is based on that book. It's interesting to note that Clark mentions seven sons and five daughters, goes on to provide information on eight sons, but only three of the daughters. In a separate book that contains information about Thomas' will, the two missing daughters, Elizabeth and Patty, are confirmed.

Based on Thomas' will, when he died in 1809, the following children were "under age": Elijah, Reuben, Abraham, John, Margaret, Rebecca, Rachael. Daughters Elizabeth, Patty, and son Isaac were married, and presumed "of age". Sons Benjamin and William were added to end of will and link to "above named four sons (under age). The will was written in 1797, and probated in 1810. Because of this, I assume that Benjamin and William were born after 1797. (link,  page 64)

According to Clark, Thomas, his brother George, and sister Mary came from Ireland to the Colonies in 1735, settling on the Delaware River in Pennsylvania. Sometime around 1840, Thomas and George relocated to Georgia, George settling in Burke County on Brier Creek. Thomas either lived for a while in Burke county, or settled near Hephzibah in Richmond County (Augusta) GA. In 1750, Thomas left Georgia due to Indian troubles, and lived for 18  years in Beaufort District, South Carolina. He returned to Richmond County Georgia in 1768, and lived there until his death in 1809. He is reportedly buried in Richmond County, probably near Hephzibah (ref 15, pg. 6).   

 Thomas and Mary's children include:   

·  Isaac (1768 - 1814) (Find-a-Grave) - married Bethiah Whitehead (1771-1851). The information in Lost Arcadia book is in agreement with the information on several of the children in Find-a-Grave*. The children include:

     §  Rebecca Harlow (1790-1865)*

     §  Mary Garlick (1795-1827)*

     §  Hester Ann Walker (1796-1818)*

     §  James Bayard Walker (1803-1882)*, physician, married Julia Woolfolk, lived in Augusta. Sons James W. Walker, John W. Walker, daughters Virginia Schley, Lucy Caswell, and Mary Wallace.

     §  Susan Amanda (Walker) Morris (1810-1873)*

     §  John Auterbridge Walker (1813-1850)* - married Cornelia Woolfolk, children Woolfolk, Cornelia, and Louise.

     §  Thomas

     §  Amos

     §  William

     §  Issac Jr. - Six children: Issac, Amos, William, Thomas, Hattie, and Polly

     §  Susan married William S.C. Morris. Daughter Maria married first Major Thomas Spalding McIntosh (died in Battle of Sharpsburg Maryland) then second Dr. John Madden, Asst. Surgeon.

   o   Issac is buried in the Bath Presbyterian Church cemetery in Augusta. This is interesting as most of the other Walker clan with church leaning are Methodists or Baptists.

·  Elizabeth - wife of Jacob Lewis - - info based on will (link, page 64)

·   Patty - wife of John Davis - info based on will (link, pg. 64)

·  Abraham (Abram) - married Miss Whitehead, no children, lived in Athens GA.

·  Rebecca - never married

·  Reuben (1780 - 1820) - Married Martha Jones Evans. Children Alexander Curran Walker.

  o   Martha was daughter of Daniel Evans, a Revolutionary War soldier in Captain Patrick Carr's Burke County Rangers.

  o   Reuben and Martha had one son, Alexander C. Walker, known as Col A.C. Walker (photo in ref 15, pg. 14a), was the Georgia General Assembly Representative for Richmond County for many years, and was nominated to fill the U.S. Congress seat to replace a retiring Representative, but Walker declined the honor. Col. A.C. Walker was also a skilled writer. (ref 15 pg. 12).

  o   According to Clark, Reuben died of accidental poisoning at a wedding dinner. It seems that a demijohn that had been sitting open had been sent to be filled with wine. After Reuben's death, the attending physician found a poisonous spider in the wine. Several other wedding guests got ill, but only Reuben died. (ref 15 pg. 12)   

       · Col. A.C. Walker married first Virginia Anderson then Mary Louise Stafford

       · Reuben and Martha had two daughters, Mary Celestia Walker (married Edward Carswell), and Martha Rebecca Walker (married Dr. Samuel B. Clark). (ref 15, pg 11).

  o  Reuben died of accidental poising at a wedding (ref 15 pg. 11). Martha died in 1825, and Reuben's brother Abraham becomes guardian of Alexander, Mary Celestia, and Martha Rebecca (link, pg. 132-133)

·  Benjamin G. married Caroline Edwards, and they had one daughter, Mary (Walker) Martin. Benjamin was  executor of brother John D. Walker's estate.

·  Elijah (1777 - ?) - married Elizabeth Collins Jan. 1, 1799 - They had two children:

  o   Robert T. Walker  married Anne Polk, daughter of Maryland Supreme Court Judge William Polk and niece of President James K. Polk. hey had son, William.

  o   Cynthia Maria (Walker) Carr (12/07/1799 - 07/17/1833) married Col. William A. Carr on July 31, 1817. They had four children who died in infancy, and four surviving children: Thomas Walker Carr (1822-1895) never married; William Walker Carr (1824-1903) married Caroline Tucker then Mattie Rawles; Elijah Walker Carr (1829-1872) married Anna Macon; and Florida Cynthia Carr (1831-1905) never married, raised by her grandmother Elizabeth after her mother's death (from childbirth in 1833, ref 16, pg. 74-75), and her adult life spent caring for her invalid father, and many orphans who were committed to her care (ref 15, pg 10, portrait as child with grandmother pg 12a).

· Amos - Buried near his father and left no descendants. (ref 15, pg. 13)

·  John D. Walker (d. 1829) - Buried near his father and left no descendants. (Clark, pg. 13). At his death, willed to nephew James Bayard Walker $300, to brother Benjamin G. Walker one-third of estate, to sisters Rachael, Margaret, and Rebecca one-third of estate, and to children of deceased brother Reuben one-third of estate. Benjamin G. Walker executor. (link,  page 64)

· William - no other information.

·  Margaret - never married

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George's other children (Rich Billy's siblings) include: 

George Walker Jr. (b. 11/14/1763) - Son of George Walker (b. 1695) of the trunk of the family tree.  George Jr. was the founder of "Longstreet" community in Pulaski County, and was Rich Billy Walker's brother).  

• Keeping names straight in this family line:

  • For the purposes of keeping the various Georges straight, in the following notes I will refer to George Jr. as George II, and his son George as George III.

  • Note that there is also a George Walker Jordan, grandson of George II, and son of George II's daughter Ann Rebecca (Walker) Jordan and George Washington Jordan.

  • There are also several Thomas's, including Geroge II's son Thomas D. Walker. There is also Dr. Thomas Duhart Walker (aka Dr. Tom), grandson of George II, son of David Walker, and also Dr. Tom's son Dr. Tom Jr.   

• George II was a Revolutionary War veteran (Ref 14, Pg. 8).

• In 1804, at 44 years old, George II received a passport from the Georgia governor to travel through Creek Indian Territory "for the purpose of viewing the country". While still residing in Burke County in 1808, he bought 202.5 acres on Shellstone Creek in Pulaski County. Over the next five years, he moved to Pulaski County and bought another seven 202.5 acre lots.  (Ref 14, pg. 8)

• George Walker II was appointed one of the Land Commissioners of Pulaski County in 1810, and also was appointed commissioner to establish the Pulaski County Academy. (Ref 14 pg. 11)

• During the War of 1812 when the Creek Indians threatened uprising, George II's son George III (19 years old) and Joel (22 years old) served in a Pulaski County Militia. (Ref 14 pg. 15)

  • Joel, as a 4th Corporal in the Militia, helped cut the Blackshear Road from the Okmulgee River to St. Mary's on the Georgia Coast. (Ref 14 , pg. 16)

• George II expanded his plantation holdings into Twiggs and Houston Counties, and he died on his Houston County plantation in 1830 (Ref 14  pg. 23). Upon his death, his wife Betsy remained on the Houston County plantation, but ownership of the Houston County plantation passed to their son Thomas D. Walker. Thomas never lived on the plantation, but remained living in Longstreet. (Ref 14 , pg. 24).

  • George II's sons George III, David, Charles, and Thomas all built their homes along Shellstone Creek in Pulaski County, a mile east of Geroge II's original home. The area became known as "Longstreet", and boasted two churches, an academy, a doctor, a store, and a post office. Charles and  George III each served as postmasters. Son Joel lived elsewhere. (Ref 14 , pg. 23-24).

  • By the mid-1840's, George II's sons living at Longstreet (George III, David, Charles, and Thomas), owned a total of 256 slaves, and operated the plantation like a community. George III had 120 slaves in 1861. (Ref 14  pg. 76).They produced cotton, rye, wheat, corn, oats, Irish potatoes, and sweet potatoes. They raised cattle for dairy products and meat, swine, and sheep for wool.

  • In 1860, George III produced 520 gallons of wine from his half-acre vineyard.

  • The Walker's evidently treated their slaves relatively well. They bought but did not sell slaves, and when a Walker died, the slaves went to other family members. They did not lose slaves to bad debts (like many slave owners did), and there don't appear to be newspaper ad looking for runaway slaves. Thomas Walker had accounts with a local physician for medical care of the slaves. One of George III slaves bragged about the Walker farming methods, and stated that the Walkers worked along with the slaves. (Ref 14, pg. 25).

• The Walkers in Longstreet began to break up in the 1850's, possibly due to religious differences. Charles and Thomas were Methodists, and George III and David were Baptists. Charles left Longstreet in the 1850s to settle in Alabama, due to family differences according to descendants. Thomas D. died in 1847, David in 1861, so by then only George III was still living at Longstreet. (Ref 14, pg. 25).

• The Walkers were active in establishing schools in Longstreet and Cochran and also in teaching.

  • The Longstreet Academy was across from the Methodist and Baptist churches, and educated the Walker children. The education must have been adequate, as one of George II's grandchildren attended Emory College, and two received medical degrees. (Ref 14, pg. 39).

  • George II's grandson, David C. Walker, son of David Walker and Ann Dawson, taught school in Texas before the Civil War (Ref 14, pg. 63), and followin gthe war, taught school in Longstreet.  His wife gave music lessons, and his sister Laura Walker conducted a school for primary children (Ref 14, pgs. 156-157)

  • In 1887, Dr. Frank Walker supported the opening of Ebeneezer College in Cochran, and the dean of the college leased Dr. Frank's home on Beech Street in Cochran and boarded students there. (Ref 14, pg. 158)

  • In Longstreet., Dr. Tom Walker gave land for Walker School for white children, and his cousin George Walker Jordon (son of George II's daughter Ann Rebecca) donated land for the Longstreet school fo b lack children. (Ref 14, pg. 160)

• George III was elected to the Board of Trustees of the Macon & Brunswick Railroad as plans were developing in 1857 to route the railroad through Pulaski County. George III became the fourth largest investor in the railroad.  (Ref 14 pg. 55).

  • George W. Walker IV, worked as  a section hand on the railroad. (Ref 14, pg. 82).

• During the Civil War, several of George II's grandsons sons served with the Confederates: 

  • David's sons: Thomas Duhart Walker served as a Private in Company P, Pate's Battalion, Georgia Militia; David C. Walker was in the 10th Texas Regiment; James Lucas Walker and George Walker served in Company E Phillips Legion; Charles was in the Grays, and he was captured in the battle of the Wilderness and died in a prison camp.

  • Thomas D.'s son, Dr. T. Frank Walker was a Captain in the 14th Military District, Georgia Militia 36th Regiment.  (Ref 14, pg. 59). Towards the end of the war, as Sherman was marching to the sea in 1864, George III offered Longstreet as a refuge for families feeling the destruction, as Sherman's route did not take him through Pulaski County. (Ref 14, pg. 63).

  • It was mentioned somewhere (find reference) that a Walker allowed his home to be a hospital for the Texas Confederate regiment, and since David C. Walker was in the Texas 10th Regiment, that may have been at Longstreet.

  • David C. Walker taught school in Texas before the war, and after the war returned to Longstreet and did some survey work in Cochrane. (Ref 14, pg. 80).  

• Following the Civil War, George III served as Postmaster  for Longstreet until his death. (Ref 14, pg. 68). Also, money (hard currency) was scarce prior to and following the Civil War, and George III acted as a small private banker for his neighbors, and upon his death his estate lists forty-seven notes owed to George III by his neighbors (Ref 14, pg. 73). 

• Many of George II's descendants had major roles in the governing of Pulaski County.

  • Dr. T. Frank Walker served on the Inferior Court in 1866 (Ref 14, pg. 71)

  • Dr. T . Frank Walker was very active organizing the Democrats in Pulaski County in 1873 (following Georgia's re-entry into the Union by Congress in 1872), and Pulaski County voted for the Democrat candidate for Governor 187-5. (Ref 14, pg. 81).

  • Dr. T. Frank Walker (son of Thomas D.) and James Lucas Walker (son of David) represented Pulaski County at the 1876 Democratic Convention (Ref 14, pg. 119).

  • Dr. Thomas Duhart Walker served as executive secretary of Pulaski County's Democratic party. George Washington Jordon, widower of George II's daughter Ann Rebecca and husband to the widow of another of Geroge II's son, also served on the Democratic executive committee, as did his son George Walker Jordan. (Ref 14, pg. 120).

  • In the 1880's, one of George II's grandsons, George Walker Jordan (son of Ann Rebecca Walker and George Washington Jordan) served on the Pulaski County Commission.  George Walker Jordan leased the county's convicts on a chain gang to maintain public roads, a task that normally fell to the citizens the roads served. (Ref 14 pg. 135).

  • Dr. T. Frank Walker and Dr. Thomas D. Walker both served as mayors of Cochran. They didn't necessarily see eye-to-eye, as Dr. Frank favored a $250 license fee for barrooms, and Dr. Tom favored a $500 fee. A city vote was held, and Dr. Frank won. When Dr. Tom subsequently was elected mayor in 1881, he upped the fee to $500. (Ref 14, pg. 143).

  • Dr. Frank was a civic crusader in Cochran. In 1877, he lobbied for better upkeep of the Cochran cemetery, and in 1886 he lobbied for adding a night shift to the police force. (Ref 14, pg. 145).

  • In 1910 Pulaski county was split into two counties, Pulaski and Bleckley. George II's grandsons and great-grandsons were at odds. Dr. Tom Walker, grandson of George and son of David, favored staying as one county, and George Walker Jordan, George II's great-grandson (son of George Washington Jordan and  Ann Rebecca (Walker). (Ref 14, pg. 171).

  • Dr. Tom Walker, son of Dr. Thomas Duhart Walker, served as Bleckley County's state representative 1915-1919, and his son-in-law Guy D, Jackson served terms from 1925-1937. (Ref 14, pg. 176)

• Dr. Thomas D. Walker and his wife Jimmie (Oberry) Walker were supportive of the First Baptist Church in Cochran. Dr. Tom and eight others provided a guaranty for the Pastor's salary. When the minister left with the church still owing him back pay, Jimmie Walker collected the funds for the pastor. (Ref 14 pgs. 154-155)

• The Longstreet Walkers were also active in fraternal organizations.

  • When the Longstreet Grange, an agricultural fraternal organization, formed in Pulaski County in 1873, of the 13 officers, six were Walkers or kin to Walkers. Dr. T. Frank Walker served as secretary. However, by this time, many of the Walkers were already moving away from Longstreet. Dr. Frank was already practicing medicine in Cochran. (Ref 14 pg 124-125.)

  • In 1874, Cochran formed the Masonic Lodge, and Dr. Frank Walker was the Worshipful Master (Ref 14, pg. 164)

• Two of George II's  grandsons, Thomas Duhart Walker (Called Dr. Tom), son of David Walker, and Thomas Frank Walker (called Dr. Frank) son of Thomas D Walker, became physicians in Cochran.

  • Dr. Frank attended Emory University and attended Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia (class of 1858) (Ref 14, pg. 95), and link to alumni page) where second cousins Thacker Vivion Walker and William A. Walker (grandsons of Rich Billy Walker) attended and graduated in 1854. Dr. Frank also was inthe newspaper business,  owning part interest in two Cochran newspapers for a short time, and editing "Cochran Note Book" in the Hawkinsville News from 1885-1888 (Ref 14 pg. 96, 107).

  • Dr. Tom attended Louisville Medical College and graduated in 1875 (Ref 14, pg. 96). He also operated Walker's Pharmacy in Cochran, as well as practiced medicine, and also continued their planter activities  (Ref 14 pg. 96). He also served on the board of the Cochran Cotton Mill Company (Ref 14, pg. 97). Dr. Tom's son, Thomas Walker, also became a physician and attended Louisville Medical College (Ref 14, pg. 162).

  • Walker's Pharmacy, started by Dr. Thomas D. Walker, lasted 51 years, closing due to bankruptcy in 1931. Dr. Tom's son-in-law V.L. Adams had run the business since 1908. (Ref 14, pg. 189).

  • Dr. Tom Walker Jr., son of Dr. Thomas D. Walker, opened "Walker Sanitarium" across the street from his father's house. Dr. Tom Sr. was still practicing medicine in 1918, and also working with the Railway Surgeon's Association chairing their executive committee. (Ref 14 pg. 193).

  • Late in life, Dr. Thomas D. Walker's sister and brother-in-law, Antoinette and Dr. Virgil Homer Walker, grandson of Rich Billy Walker, George II's brother, moved to Cochran. I'm not sure whether Dr. Virgil practiced medicine in Cochran.

• Another of George II's grandchildren, James Lucas Walker, son of David, was another interesting character.

  • His nickname was "Jim Crow" (Ref 14 pg. 111), and his wife "Nellie" Penelope (Lamkin) Walker kept journals from her childhood on a plantation until late in life (Ref 14, pg. 112) that provides interesting insights into plantation life and humorous (and not-so humorous) stories.

  • Although Jim Crow operated a 2000 acre farm in Pulaski County, Nellie missed the antebellum life and felt they were living in poverty (Ref 14, pg. 112). Once Jim Crow hired a lawyer to keep a black farm worker from being put on a chain gang. When the man didn't pay Jim Crow for the lawyer fee, Jim Crow took his dog. (Ref 14, pg. 112).

  • Jim Crow and Penelope had a dispute (Ref 14, pg. 113) with George Washington Jordan who had married Ann Rebecca Walker, daughter of George II, and after Rebecca died, G.W. Jordan married Henrieta Brezeal Walker, the widow of another Jim Crow cousin, ??? Walker.( https://www.accessgenealogy.com/georgia/biography-of-george-washington-jordan.htm). Henrietta sent the sheriff to collect $500 from Jim Crow three day after Jim Crow and Penelope were married.