John F. Walker Biography

 

John F. Walker

REV. JOHN F. WALKER is a son of William B. and Ann (Scott) Walker. The father was born in Virginia in 1789, and after his marriage immigrated to Tennessee and located In Wayne County. On building his first house in 1816 the logs were cut from the forest, the house erected and the goods put in one day. He was magistrate of his district twelve years, and died on the old homestead in April 1973. The mother was born in 1794 and died in 1876. Our subject was born January 17, 1821, and received such early education as the primitive schools of his day afforded, and finished his education at Cumberland University, at Lebanon, Tenn. He taught school, and devoted his time until twenty-four years old to completing his education, when he was ordained a minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and has been an active and efficient laborer in the cause forty-one years. He joined the Fifty-third Tennessee Infantry as chaplain, and was captured at Fort Donelson and kept a prisoner at Indianapolis, Ind., and later at Camp Chase, Ohio, where, through the influence of Gov. Tod, he was given the privilege of the city. He was confined at Johnson's Island for some time, when he, with a number of chaplains and surgeons, were released as noncombatants, and allowed to return home. March 21, 1855, he wedded E. A. Brown, and eight children were the results of this union: Herschel P., W. B., J. Luther, C. Herbert, Lure, Ida and Dezzie. Mrs. Walker was born January 17, 1831, daughter of Rev. B. Brown, who was an early pioneer of Tennessee and an efficient and popular divine. He died about 1875 and the mother in 1885. Mr. Walker is conservative in his political views. He owns a farm of l57 acres, and is a member of the Masonic fraternity.

From: Goodspeed's History of Giles County