 1800 - 1874 (73 years)
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| Name |
William Walker [1, 2] |
| Title |
Gov. |
| Born |
5 Mar 1800 |
Gibralter, Wayne Co, MI  [3] |
- His birth date is given in his journals as in 1800 (p.11), and in his obituary in the same work as 1799 (p.15).
|
| Gender |
Male |
| Died |
13 Feb 1874 |
Kansas City, Jackson Co, MO [4] |
OBITUARY.
Governor William Walker.
Wyandott Herald of February 19, 1874
The distinguished gentleman whose name heads this article was for many years as well known in Kansas as any citizen in the State.
He was born at Gibralter, Michigan, March 5th, 1799, and died at the residence of Mr. H. H. Smalley in Kansas City, Mo., on Friday, the 13th inst., having accomplished seventy-five years of useful and eventful life.
Governor Walker received a thorough education at Worthington, Ohio, under the immediate instruction of the venerable Bishop Chase.
After acquiring his education, William Walker entered almost at once upon an active life in behalf of the North American Indians in general, and of the Wyandott Nation in particular, among whom he became leader and counselor, devoting the best years of his life to their interests.
As early as 1831 he visited the "Platte Purchase" as agent of the Wyandott Nation with a view to purchasing a new location for it. He was at the treaty of St, Marys and rendered efficient services to all contracting parties.
He was for some years the private Secretary and friend of Gen. Lewis Cass, his secretaryship beginning after the close of the war of 1812, and the friendship continuing until the death of the General.
In 1843 William Walker came to Kansas with his tribe, where he has remained ever since, except when he was called away on business or for his health which for some years has been feeble.
He acquired his title of Governor in 1853, when he was appointed Provisional Governor of Kansas Territory,
With him died more Indian archaeological knowledge than has been preserved by any writer on the subject. Indian antiquity and history were his special study, and being an Indian hi^iself, highly educated and with a natural taste in that direction, his success was not surprising.
He furnished Schoolcraft with a large amount of information contained in his works on the Indians of North America, and also gave General Butterfield many incidents contained in his new work on Crawford's campaign against Sandusky.
Governor Walker wrote much himself for newspapers and periodicals but unfortunately has left none of the results of his deep research in a form to be used by the historian or antiquary.
He was buried on Saturday last in Oak Grove Cemetery, with Masonic honors, having been one of the Charter Members of Wyandott Lodge No. 3, and for many years an honorary member thereof.
So has passed away one of our oldest and most valued citizens.
The Journals of Gov. William Walker, 1902. - Kansas City, Missouri is in Jackson, Clay, Platte and Cass counties. Kansas City shares as county seat for Jackson County with Independence, MO.
|
| Buried |
Oak Grove Cemetery, Kansas City, Jackson Co, MO [5] |
| Person ID |
I7091 |
adkinshorton |
| Last Modified |
16 Aug 2016 |
| Father |
William Walker, Sr., b. 1770, Green Brier, Rockbridge Co, VA , d. 22 Jan 1824, Upper Sandusky, Wyandot Co, OH (Age 54 years) |
| Mother |
Catharine Rankin, b. 4 Jun 1771, d. 6 Dec 1844, Upper Sandusky, Wyandot Co, OH (Age 73 years) |
| Married |
Y [6] |
- In Genealogy of the Descendants of John Walker of Wigton, Scotland, an illustration adjacent to page 8 of that work is presented as Gov. William Walker. Catherine Rankin Walker. The drawing appears to be a standard husband and wife portrait. However, Gov. William Walker was not married to Catherine Rankin Walker...she was his mother. The text concerning the genealogy of both William Walker, Sr. (father of Gov. Walker) and of Gov. William Walker give the proper relationships.
|
| Family ID |
F166 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
| Family 1 |
Hannah Barrett, d. 7 Dec 1863 |
| Married |
8 Apr 1824 |
Upper Sandusky, Wyandot Co, OH |
| Children |
| | 1. James Finlay Walker, b. 1825, d. 1825 (Age 0 years) |
| | 2. Martha Round Walker, b. 21 May 1826, d. Clay Co, MO |
| | 3. Henry Clay Walker, b. 12 Jan 1829, d. 16 Oct 1842 (Age 13 years) |
| | 4. Sophia Walker, b. 11 Oct 1830, d. 4 Jul 1861 (Age 30 years) |
| | 5. Harriet Walker, b. 15 Apr 1833 |
| | 6. Nancy Walker, b. 22 Dec |
|
| Last Modified |
15 Aug 2016 |
| Family ID |
F167 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
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| Notes |
- 'He belonged to the Big Turtle Clan of the Wyandot tribe. He had two Indian Names. The first was Hah-shah'-rehs, meaning "the stream over full"; the second was Sehs'-tah-roh, meaning "bright," and is taken from the brightness of the turtle's eye as seen in clear water.' - Journals of Provisional Governor William Walker, p.12.
- He spoke "...English, he read and spoke Greek, Latin and French. He spoke the Wyandot, Delaware, Shawnee, Miami, and Pottawatomie Indian languages." - ibid.
- "He was Head Chief of the Wyandot tribe while it was yet in Ohio, and was Postmaster of the town of Upper Sandusky, Ohio." - ibid.
- "He was an ardent Democrat, and a slave holder. He hated abolitionism and contended for the rights of slavery as he understood those rights, to the commencement of the war. But he was never in favor, so far as I have been able to learn, of secession." - ibid, p.13.
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-
| Sources |
- [S7] The Journals of William Walker Provisional Governor of Nebraska Territory, William E. Connelley, Ed., (Lincoln, NEB.: State Journal Company, Printers 1899), 11, 12 & 36.
Verifying his English name, his two Indian names, and his appointment as governor.
- [S6] Genealogy of the Descendants of John Walker of Wigton, Scotland, Emma Siggins White, (Tiernan-Dart Publishing Co., Kansas City, KS - 1902), Index 2966., 6, 8.
- [S7] The Journals of William Walker Provisional Governor of Nebraska Territory, William E. Connelley, Ed., (Lincoln, NEB.: State Journal Company, Printers 1899), 11.
- [S7] The Journals of William Walker Provisional Governor of Nebraska Territory, William E. Connelley, Ed., (Lincoln, NEB.: State Journal Company, Printers 1899), 15-16.
- [S7] The Journals of William Walker Provisional Governor of Nebraska Territory, William E. Connelley, Ed., (Lincoln, NEB.: State Journal Company, Printers 1899), 16.
- [S7] The Journals of William Walker Provisional Governor of Nebraska Territory, William E. Connelley, Ed., (Lincoln, NEB.: State Journal Company, Printers 1899), 11.
Only the fact that they were married verified.
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