My Genealogy Hound

Hon. J. T. Walker was born in the state of Georgia, December 19, 1847, and is a son of J. F. and Julia (Dixon) Walker. The mother of J. T. Walker was born about 1822, and died in Georgia in 1852. The father is of English descent, and was born August 25, 1822, in Virginia. When a boy he moved to Greene County, Ga., and after residing there some time went to Talbot County, where our subject was born. In 1885 he removed to Florida, where he still makes his home with his second wife. He was an influential man in the locality in which he lived, being engaged in farming, milling, wood-working, etc., and was successful, although he met with several reverses and lost his slaves after war. The subject of this sketch was reared on his father’s farm, and received his education at Collingsworth, Ga. He remained with his parents until he was eighteen years of age, and then began to teach, which profession he has since followed. In 1866 he went to Columbia County, Ark., and after teaching there two years, followed that profession in Louisiana the same length of time. He then spent two years at Atlanta, Ark., two years in Lonoke County, same State, and then went to Boone County, where he taught until 1879. While in the last named county he was county examiner one term. After coming to Huntsville, in 1879, he became the principal of the Huntsville College and High School; here he taught till 1885, when he removed to Bentonville, where he taught two years. In 1877 he returned to Huntsville, and during the spring of 1888 taught a select school. Politically Mr. Walker is a Democrat, and was elected to represent the counties of Madison and Benton in the State Senate from 1883 to 1885; he was assistant secretary of the Senate of 1887. During his service he was on the committees on finance, railroads and public buildings in the session of 1883, and in the session of 1885 was chairman of the committee on education, member of the commit on State lands, auditor’s and treasurer’s accounts, and enrolled bills. He discharged his duties to the satisfaction of all, and is a well-respected citizen. While living at Bentonville, in Benton County, in 1855-56, he was appointed county examiner, but afterward returned to Huntsville. May 27, 1875, our subject wedded Nettie McKay, of Lonoke County, Ark., daughter of Henry T. and Fannie McKay, the former of whom died during the war; the latter is yet living. To Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Walker have been born five children, four of whom are living: John Fletcher, Edna E., Prentiss K. (deceased), Fannie B. and Kate J. Mr. and Mrs. Walker are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Mr. Walker is a member of the I. O. O. F., in the apprentice degree. During the Civil War he served six months in the service of the State of Georgia, and afterward enlisted in Company I, Forty-sixth Georgia Infantry, of the regular Confederate service, in which he served throughout the remainder of the war. He was wounded in the left arm at the siege of Atlanta, Ga.