Biographical Sketches
Joseph Reddeford Walker & Joel Walker
Came to Fort Osage vacinity in 1819, not intending to become permanent settlers. No greater figures emerged from the hundreds of mountain men who came and left from the Missouri frontier than the Walkers. Only 2 of the 5 Walker brothers,
Joseph and Joel, lived out their natural lives. According to family tradition, JOHN WALKER, died at the Alamo, ISAAC WALKER was killed in a Mormon battle, and SAMUEL WALKER failed to survive crossing the plaints in 1849. (1)
Joseph's experience as a mountain man began in 1823 when he set out with a company of trappers for Santa Fe. On the trail they encountered the STEPHEN COOPER party which included Joel Walker. The party had been stampeded by Indians who had run off all but six of their horses, and they were returning to Missouri for more. The 2 parties combined forces and continued on to Santa Fe. (2)
Joseph, a strapping six-footer, at the age of 29, became Sheriff of Jackson county. His appointment was by GOVERNOR JOHN MILLER in 1827, and on March 29, he was qualified in the office before CIRCUIT JUDGE DAVIS TODD.(3) He assumed the sheriff's responsibility to keep peace in the growing settlements of Jackson county for 4 years. Joseph manifested characteristics in this job which won him respect throughout this career - "Never a braggart, soft spoken, yet capable of maintaining discipline". The new Jackson county officials had found the right man to handle the incoming settlers, trappers and Indians.
Joseph Walker again took this departure from Fort Osage on May 1, 1832, acting as lieutenant for CAPTAIN L. E. BONNEVILLE, who had been given a 2 year furlough from the army for a combined exploring and fur trading adventure to the Rocky Mountains. Walker had spent most of his life trapping beaver in the ice-fringed mountain streams, bartering with Indians; herding horses, mules, cattle and sheep; and guiding emigrants and explorers. He became a lifelong friend of KIT CARSON and in 1843 they joined the immigrant train of JOSEPH B. CHILES for California. He and Carson met Fremont's second expedition and traveled with it for awhile. Fremont was attracted to Walker and induced him to lead the 3rd expedition to California in 1845.
During the war with Mexico, Walker supplied ALEXANDER DONIPHAN and his Missouri Volunteers with horses and valuable information about the enemy. He continued to lead expeditions. It was not known how wealthy Walker was in his later years, but when the lure of the wilderness, the challenge of the trackless land and Indians began to wear off, he bought a large ranch near Ignacio Valley, California, where he died in 1876. (4)
Joel P. Walker rivaled his famous brother, Joseph, in a variety of scenes and experiences. In 1819 he rented government land near Fort Osage and raised a crop, then went to Texas for a time, and returned home in 1832. He then settled down for 20 years as a farmer and county officeholder (5).
Joel is credited with building the first brick house in Independence and was justice of the peace when his brother was sheriff. He left Jackson county in 1840 with the caravan of ANDREW DRIPS for the Oregon county. He was superintendent at Sutter's Fort when gold was discovered. He fought with ANDREW JACKSON against the Seminole Indians, and died shortly before his brother, Joseph (6).
(1) Ibid., Vol. 1:113
(2) Ibid., Vol. 1:121
(3) Times and Seasons, Vol. 5:434
(4) Gregory M. Franzwa, The Oregon Trail revisited, Patrice Press, 1972, p. 87
(5) John Corrill, a brief history, p. 19, published in 1839
(6) Ensign of Liberty, March 1847; article by W. E. McLellin
This page was last updated August 2, 2006.