Biography of Luther Walker, Mississippi Co, AR

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Submitted by: Michael Brown
        Date: Sep 1998
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Bibliography: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Eastern Arkansas.
Chicago:  Goodspeed Publishers, 1890.

Luther Walker is recognized as one of the prosperous
agriculturists of this region, where he was born in 1855. His
grandfather, Hardiman Walker, was one of the early pioneers of
Missouri, and [p.563] was residing near Cotton Plant, in that State,
during the earthquakes of 1811. His son, John Walker, was born in the
State of Virginia, and at the age of about fifteen years began to hunt
and trap in the woods of Missouri, and until about twenty-five years
of age, followed this occupation for his father, having under his
management several Indians, who were expert trappers and hunters. At
the above mentioned age, he was married to Miss Sarah Chadwick, who
was born in Ohio, and moved to Hickman Bend, where he settled on some
land and began farming in a limited way, being also engaged in
operating a wood-yard until 1861, at which date he removed to
Chickasawba Township, and bought 160 acres near where Blythesville is
now situated. On this tract he made some valuable improvements, in the
way of buildings, and here resided until his death, in 1876, his wife
having died in 1860. They were the parents of eight children, of whom
Luther is the fifth, and after his father's removal to Chickasawba
Township, he went to Illinois, and made his home with an uncle for ten
years. During this period his time was employed in assisting at farm
labor, and in attending school; he also traveled some through Iowa and
Minnesota, with his relatives, but upon the settlement of his uncle in
Northwest Missouri, he returned to his father's home in Arkansas, and
the same year made a crop on his father's plantation. The next year he
came down the river and rented land above Barfield, on which he lived
until 1882, then went to Blythesville and purchased a lot, and built a
house in the village. In 1883 he purchased a tract of land comprising
sixty-six acres, on which he cleared fifteen acres and resided until
three years ago, since which time he has resided in Barfield. He now
has 320 acres, with 100 under cultivation, which will yield a bale of
cotton to the acre. The dwelling house is in excellent condition, and
near it is a fine apple and peach orchard. His marriage to Miss Bell
Buckner was celebrated in 1874, but she died the following year, and
in 1878, he wedded Kittie Buckner, a sister of his first wife, and a
daughter of Bill Buckner, an old pioneer of this section. The last
union has resulted in the birth of four children: Billie, Maud,
Lizzie, and Berde Jesamine. Mr. Walker has always been a patron of
education, and is now serving as school director.