Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 10.djvu/308

 WALKER

WALKER

the American Statistical Society " (No, 38. 1897). Dr. W.ilker ilieil in Boston, Mass., Jan, 5, 1897,

WALKER, Freeman, senator, was born in Cliarles City county, Va., Oct. 25, 1780. He re- moved to Augusta, Ga.. in 1797; was admitted to the Au;?usta bar in 1802, and served as major in the state militia. He was a representative in the state legishiture, 1807. and was elected a U.S. senator from Georgia as a Democrat to complete the term of Jolin Forsyth (resigned to become U.S. minister to Spain), serving from Dec. 15, 1819. to Aug. 8. 1821, when he resigned, and was succeeded l«y Xicliolas AVare. Senator Walker died in Ricliinond county. Ga., Sept. 23. 1827.

WALKER, George, senator, was born in Cul- peper county. Va., in 1768; son of George Walker, and brotlier of Jacob Wythe Walker, father of David Walker, the jurist (q.v.). He removed at an early date to Kentucky, where he attained a liigli position as a lawyer, and married a niece of the wife of General Jackson. He was appointed a commissioner, from Jessamine count}-, of the Kentucky River company in 1801; was a state senator, 1810-14. and appointed U.S. senator from Kentucky by Governor Shelby to fill the vacancj' caused by the resignation of George M. Bibb, and served from Oct. 10, 181 4, to Feb. 2, 1815. when he was succeeded by William T. Barry. He died in Nicholasville. Ky.. in 1819.

WALKER, George, financier, was born in Peterborougli. X.H.. in 1824. He was graduated from Dartmouth, A.B., 1842, A.M., 1845, and from Harvard, LL.B., 1845. In 1847 he was admitted to the bar in Springfield, Mass., where he prac- tised until 1875; was a state senator, 1858-59; subsequently bank commissioner of Massachu- setts, and also president of the Third National bank in Springfield. He was sent to Europe in 1865, on a secret mission, by Secretary of the Treasury Hugh McCuUoch; was a representative in the state legislature, 1868, acting as chairman of the finance committee, and in 1869 visited Europe on financial business for the state of Massachusetts. In 1875 lie removed to New York city, where he continued his banking interests and was also vice-president of the Gold and Stock Telegraph company; and went to Europe in 1879. by commission from Secretary Evarts, to obtain the opinion of the respective governments on the subject of bimetallism. He was U.S. con- sul-general at Paris, 1880-87, and upon his resigna- tion in June, 1887, made his home in Washing- ton, D.C. where he died. Jan. 15, 1888.

WALKER, Gilbert Carlton, governor of Vir- ginia, w;us born in ('Ml)a. Allegany county, N.Y., Aug. 1. 1M3.3; son of Sabinus and ^^latilda Gallo- way Walker; and grandson of Marshall and Hannah (Dimhar) Walker. He attended Dela- ware and Binghamton academies and Williams

college, 1851-52, and was graduated from Hamil- ton college, A.B., 1854, A.M., 1857. He studied law under Judge Horace S. Griswold in Bing- hamton; was admitted to the bar in September, 1855; practised in Owego, N.Y., 1855-59, being defeated as candidate for district-attorney, 1856, and in Chicago, 111., 1859-64. He was married, April 15. 1857, to Olive E., daughter of Alfred J. and Lucinda (Williams) Evans of Binghamton, N.Y. Upon his removal to Norfolk, Va., in 1864, he established and became president of the Ex- change National bank, and was also connected with the American Fire Insurance company and the Atlantic Iron Works and Dock company, serving as president of the latter, 1866-69. He was governor of Virginia, 1869-74, during his ad- ministration strongly supporting the re-organiz- ation of the state free-school .system. He was a Democratic representative from the Richmond district of Virginia in the 44th and 45tli con- gresses, 1875-79. He took up the practice of law in Binghamton. N.Y., 1879, and in 1881 removed to New York city, where he died. May 11. 1885.

WALKER, Henry Oliver, artist, was born in Boston, Mass., May 14, 1843; son of Tliomas Oliver and Sarah (Lucy) Walker. He studied art under Bonnat in Paris, 1879-82, and establislied a studio in New York city. He was made a mem- ber of the National Academy of Design in 1903, and a member of the Society of American Artists in 1887; of the National Society of Mural Painters and of the National Institute of Arts and Letters. He was married, April 19, 1888, to Laura Mar- garet, daugliter of John Phillips and Laura (Wood) Marquand. His canvases include various figure pictures. He also painted decorative panels in the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C, in the Appellate Court House, New York city, and John Eliot Preaching to the Indians, un- veiled in Memorial Hall, Massachusetts State House, Boston, April 8, 1903, a comi)anion to his Pilgriins on the Mayfloicer on the opi)osite side of the Hall, and completing the series of historical paintings provided by the legislature.

WALKER, Isaac Pigeon, senator, was born in Lynchburg. Va., Nov. 2, 1813; son of George W. and Rebecca (Haymer) Walker. He was admit- ted to the bar in 1834, practised in Springfield, 111., and was married in 1840 to Elizabeth Hast- ings, daughter of Jonas and Lovisa (Houghton) Wliitney of Brattleboro, Vt. In 1841 he re- moved his practice to Milwaukee, Wisconsin Territory. He was a repre.sentative from Mil- waukee in the fifth territorial assembly, 1847-48, and served as speaker. When the state was ad- mitted and the state government formed. June 7, 1848. he was elected with Ilenrj* Dodge one of the first U.S. senators, drawing the short term and serving from June 26, 1848, to Marcli 3. 1849.