Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 2.djvu/318

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signation of J. ^I. Berrien. He opposed nullification, voted for the Compromise Act of Henry Clay in 1833, and supported Jack- son in the debate regarding the removal of deposits from the United States bank. In 1832 he was a delegate to the Anti-Tariff Convention, held in Milledgeville, Georgia, but withdrew on the ground that it did not fairly represent the people of Georgia. June 27, 1834, he resigned from the United States senate, to become secretary of state under President Jackson, and continued to serve under Van Buren until March 3. 1841. He died in Washington, D. C, October 21, 1841.

Walker, Freeman, born in Charles City county. Virginia, October 25. 1780, sou of Freeman Walker and Sarah Minge, daugh- ter of George Minge. He removed to Georgia in 1797, was admitted to the bar, and began practice in 1802 in Augusta, soon becoming eminent in his profession. In 1807 he was a member of the legislature, and in 1819 he was elected United States senator from Georgia, but in 1821 he re- signed. His speech on the Missouri com- promise question attracted general atten- tion. He died in Richmond county. Georgia, September 23, 1827. He was brother of Wyatt Walker, clerk of Charles City county, Virginia, from 1800 to 1817.

Vawter, John, born in Orange county (now Madison), Virginia, January 8, 1782. He was licensed as a Baptist minister in 1804, and in 1807, with his father, removed t(» the sparsely inhabited territory of In- diana, and settled in Madison, of which he uas the first magistrate. He was soon after- ward elected sheriff of Jefferson and Clarke counties, and in 1810 was appointed United States marshal for the state. * He served as

a frontier ranger during the Indian cam- paign of 1811-13. was elected colonel of militia of Jennings county in 18 17, and fijunded Vernon, the county-seat. He was pastor of the Baptist church in Vernon in i-i2i-48, a member of the legislature in 1831-35, and in 1836 of the senate, where he was instrumental in securing the adoption ci a policy of internal improvement by the state. He removed to Morgan county in 1848, founded Morgantown, and presented a brick church to the Baptist congregation of that place. He died in Morgantown, In- diana, August 17. 1862.

Barry, William Taylor, born in Lunen- burg county, \'irginia, February 5, 1785. He graduated at Transylvania University and coming to William and Mary College studied law under Judge St. George Tucker, and natural philosophy under President James Madison. He was admitted to the bar. and practiced at Lexington, Kentucky, where his eloquence soon brought him into notice. He served in both branches of the Kentucky legislature, and in December, 18 10, was elected to congress to fill a va- cancy, serving until March 3, 1811. In the war of 1812 he was aide to Gov. Shelby, and v.as present at the battle of the Thames, October 5, 181 3. He was appointed to the United States senate in February, 1815, to fill a vacancy, and resigned in 1816 to become a judge of the Kentucky supreme court. He was afterwards lieutenant-governor, state secretary, and chief justice of the state. On March 9. 1829. he was appointed postmaster- general. The incumbent of this office was not then a cabinet minister. President Jackson elevated him to gratify his friend Maj. Barry. Much dissatisfaction was ex-

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