Henry Walker (1807 - 1891)

Born 2 Feb 1807 in Monroe, Virginia, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Maria Rankin (Shawver) Walker — married 16 Jul 1832 in Alleghany Co., Virginia, USA

Descendants

Died 10 May 1891 at age 84 in Mountain Home, Craig, Virginia, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Rick Gardiner [send private message]

Biography

Henry Walker was born on 2 Feb 1807 in Monroe, Virginia, United States, son of Andrew Woods Walker (1782–1862) and Elizabeth Handley (1786–1861).^[1]

Henry (26) married Maria Rankin Shawver (15) (born about 1816 in Virginia) on 16 Jul 1833 in Botetourt, Virginia, USA.^[2] The ford on Potts Creek at the base of Peters Mountain is where Henry and Maria Shawver first met. That is where the historic old brick "Shawver Tavern" once stood during the heyday of the stagecoach. Maria's parents', John and Margaret Shawver, owned and ran the tavern on the old stage road.

Henry was a stagecoach driver, farmer and toll gate keeper. He and his brother, John, were also mail contractors. They owned stagecoaches and fine horses. Mail delivery by stagecoach predates the "Pony Express" by about three years. Henry's brother, John, owned one of the historic old taverns, "Mountain House Tavern", along the old stage road at the "Fincastle-Sweet Springs Turnpike" and later on Henry came to own it. They had a perpetual charter for the road and there was a toll gate.

Henry and Maria at one time owned a farm on Potts Creek, Alleghany County, Virginia. Their 2½ story frame and log house was built about 1830. Henry's father, Andrew Walker, later moved in with Henry's family and died at the Walker home. Henry was an obliging man and lost his farm due to signing notes for others which eventually came back on him to pay. That is when Henry and Maria moved to Mountain House where they spent their last days. Henry did not join a church until later in his life. He was baptized in Potts Creek by a Presbyterian minister. Maria continued to live at Mountain House for many years after Henry's death in 1891. Mrs. Emma Childs, Maria's daughter, wanted Maria to come live with her family as Maria was old and weak. She lived for only a short period of time after she left Mountain House. Maria was interred beside Henry at the Walker Cemetery (Shawver Cemetery).^[1]

Henry and Maria's children are:

• Margaret Elizabeth Walker (1835–>1921)
• Wade Hampton Walker (1838–1878)
• John Thomas Walker (1840–1861)
• Areanna Sophia Catherine Walker (1844–1873)
• Sarah Taylor Walker (1847–1918)
• Julia Hamilton Walker (1849–1913)
• Mary Malvina Walker (1851–1911)
• Andrew Floyd Walker (1853–1915)
• Mariah H. Walker (1856–1913)
• Emma Tinsley Walker (1859–1950)^[3]
• Florence Walker (1865–1865)^[4]

Census Information

1850 census, Allegheney Co., Virginia: Henry Walker, 44-M-VA stage driver. Maria Walker, 34-F-VA. Margaret Walker, 14-F-VA. Wade H. Walker, 12-M-VA. John Walker, 9-M-VA. Sophia Walker, 6-F-VA. Sarah T. Walker, 3-F-VA. Juliet Walker, 1-M[sic]-VA.^[5]

1860 census, Alleghany Co., Virginia: Henry Walker, 53-M-VA farmer, $2,000/3620. Maria R. Walker, 39-F-VA. Margaret E. Walker, 23-F-VA. Wayde H. Walker, 21-M-VA farm laborer. John T. Walker, 19-M-VA farm laborer. Arianna S. Walker, 15-F-VA. Sarah T. Walker, 13-F-VA. Julia H. Walker, 11-F-VA. Mary M. Walker, 8-F-VA. Andrew F. Walker, 5-M-VA. Maria H. Walker, 3-F-VA. Emma T. Walker, 8m-F-VA. William Rayhill, 20-M-VA farm laborer, 0/$60 [future son-in-law].^[6]

1870 census, Boiling Springs Twp., Alleghany Co., Virginia: Henry Walker, 63-M-VA farmer, $1,200/300. Mariah R. Walker, 50-F-VA keeping house. Julia H. Walker, 18-F-VA without occupation. Mariah H. Walker, 13-F-VA at home. Emma T. Walker, 11-F-VA at home. Andrew F. Walker, 15-M-VA at home. James M. Sizer, 21-M-VA farm laborer [son-in-law]. Mary M. Sizer, 19-F-VA without occupation.^[7]

1880 census, Boiling Springs District, Alleghany Co., Virginia: Henry Walker, 73-M-VAVAVA <occupation?>. Mariah R. Walker, 62-F-VAVAVA wife, keeping house. Mariah R. Walker, 23-F-VAVAVA daughter, at home. Emma T. Walker, 23-F-VAVAVA daughter, at home. Birtie Walker, 1-F-VAVAVA daughter [?].^[8]

Henry died on 10 May 1891, aged 85. He is buried in the Walker Cemetery Potts Creek, Alleghany County, Virginia, USA ^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/32919478/henry-walker: accessed April 18, 2024), memorial page for Henry Walker (2 Feb 1807–10 May 1891), Find a Grave Memorial ID 32919478, citing Walker Cemetery, Potts Creek, Alleghany County, Virginia, USA; Maintained by LuvMtns (contributor 47088037).
2. ↑ "Virginia, County Marriage Records, 1771-1989", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:668H-ZYK1 : Fri Mar 08 05:53:17 UTC 2024), Entry for Henry Walker and Maria R Shawver, 12 Jul 1833.
3. ↑ "Virginia Births and Christenings, 1584-1917", , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X5VB-6VB : 28 January 2020), Henry Walker in entry for Emma J. Walker, 1859.
4. ↑ "Virginia Births and Christenings, 1584-1917", , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X5VB-ND7 : 28 January 2020), Henry Walker in entry for Florance Walker, 1865.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1850", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M88L-6CB : Sat Mar 09 04:54:03 UTC 2024), Entry for Henry Walker and Maria Walker, 1850.
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4BB-CHF : Fri Mar 08 06:23:05 UTC 2024), Entry for Henry Walker and Maria R Walker, 1860.
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1870", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFL6-3NZ : Tue Mar 05 09:43:39 UTC 2024), Entry for Henry Walter and Mariah R Walter, 1870.
8. ↑ "United States Census, 1880", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCPX-Y57 : Tue Apr 02 11:53:20 UTC 2024), Entry for Henry Walker and Mariah R Walker, 1880.

• "Virginia, Library of Virginia State Archive, Births, Marriages, and Deaths 1853-1900", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:68WW-4YMX : Sun Mar 10 04:51:45 UTC 2024), Entry for William Rayhill and John B. Davis, 23 Jun 1866.
• "Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940", , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XRC2-6VG : 29 January 2020), H. Walker in entry for R.b. McCaleb, 1869.
• "Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XRC2-XQ3 : 29 January 2020), H. Walker in entry for J.m. Sizer, 1870.
• "Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XRC2-X2S : 29 January 2020), N. Walker in entry for A.d. Byer, 1871.
• "Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XRC2-VJN : 29 January 2020), Henry Walker in entry for Andr. F. Walker, 1874.
• "Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XRCL-BYR : 29 January 2020), Henry Walker in entry for Allen Childs, 1880.
• "Virginia, Vital Records, 1715-1901", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6JSJ-ZJXD : Sat Mar 09 16:51:15 UTC 2024), Entry for Geo. W. King and G. P. King, 16 Feb 1881.
• "Virginia, County Marriage Records, 1771-1989", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6DM8-BMBD : Fri Mar 08 03:27:41 UTC 2024), Entry for Andrew Floyd Walker and Henry, 23 Jun 1887.
• "Virginia, Death Certificates, 1912-1987", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVRQ-5FBS : Fri Feb 23 16:43:20 UTC 2024), Entry for Andy F Walker and Henry Walker, 23 Sep 1915.
• "Virginia, Death Certificates, 1912-1987", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVR7-QM7J : Fri Feb 23 18:45:19 UTC 2024), Entry for Sarah Taylor Wiemier and W H Walker, 01 Jul 1918.
• "Virginia, Death Certificates, 1912-1987", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVRD-8431 : Fri Feb 23 21:24:17 UTC 2024), Entry for Emma Tinsley Childs and Henry Walker, 05 Oct 1950.

Acknowledgements

• Profile created by James Gardiner through the import of " Desc. of Henry & Agnes Walker to 5 generations.ged" researched and authored by Charlou Dolan.