My Genealogy Hound

RICHARD A. WALKER, one of the oldest and best known merchants of Rockport, was born September 9, 1823, in Yorkshire, England, and when eight years old immigrated with his father to the United States, and found employment as clerk in Evansville, Ind. In 1845 he came to Rockport, where he embarked in merchandising and flat-boating, also operating a wharf-boat many years. In April, 1851, he wedded Amanda M. Smith, and to their union six sons and two daughters were born, two of the former being prominent merchants of Rockport. When Mr. Walker first located here, Rockport was but a small village, and he assisted in graveling and grading the streets the first time, and has seen it increase in size and importance to the present time. He was fairly successful in business pursuits until 1868, when he met with reverses from which he is not yet fully recovered. Mr. Walker has seen considerable of the world, having made 103 trips to New Orleans, sixty-three times of which were by flat-boats. He also, while in England, rode on the Manchester & Liverpool Railroad, the first in the world. Since 1875 he has been engaged in the grocery trade with his son, John H. He bears the high esteem of all who know him.