WALKER, PHILIP (1815~1897) Philip Walker, Republic of Texas veteran, was born in Chester District, South Carolina on March 11, 1815. Shortly after his birth, Walker and his family moved to New Market, Alabama. In 1835, Walker and a friend, Joseph Burns, worked their way down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers from Paducah, Kentucky to Natchitoches, Louisiana. From there, they walked to San Augustine, Texas, where on September 28, 1835, they joined Vehlin's Colony and made application for land.
During Texas' fight for independence, Walker and Burns joined Captain William Ratcliff's Company of San Augustine Volunteers. While marching to San Jacinto, Ratcliff resigned and formed his own company, while Leonard Mabbitt was elected captain of Walker's group. Even though both groups marched all night, they arrived at San Jacinto at 10 o'clock in the morning on April 22, 1836.
After leaving the army, Walker received 640 acres of land in Shelby County. In 1855, he moved to Johnson County, Texas and died there on July 11, 1897.
Walker married Elizabeth Cooper of Shelby County, who was born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee on October 21, 1827, and died on July 22, 1868. The Walkers were buried in Oakland Cemetery, west of Grandview in Johnson County, but were moved to the Texas State Cemetery on October 31, 1937, by the William B. Travis Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas.
Philip and Elizabeth had six children: James H., Martha Ann, Solon S., Sarah Jane, James Hemphill, who became Commissioner of the General Land Office and who is also buried in the Texas State Cemetery, and Josie E.
Information taken from biography compiled by Louis W. Kemp and the San Jacinto Monument website, http://www.sanjacinto-museum.org/kemp/v838.html. |
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