Contra Costa-Santa Clara-Amador County CA Archives Biographies.....Walker, James T. 1825 - 
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Author: W. A. Slocum & Co., Publishers (1882)

JAMES T. WALKER.—The subject of this sketch, whose portrait will be found in
this volume, is the son of Samuel S. and Barbara (Toomey) Walker, and nephew of
the renewed Captain Joe Walker, whose name to Californians is as familiar in
their mouths as household words. The gentleman of whom we write was born in
Roane county, Tennessee, November 25, 1825. At the age of six years he was taken
by his parents to Jackson county, Missouri, whither they had transferred their
home, and here our subject attended school and dwelt until 1847. In July, of
that year, Mr. Walker, with eight others, started for California with ox-teams
to brave the dangers of a then little-known journey. In the month of November
that portion of the Green river known as Henry's Fork they reached, and here
leaving the regular Northern route, made the attempt to enter the country by the
Southern Pass, but on account of the depth of snow, were compelled to retrace
their steps to Brown's Hole, on Green river, eighty miles below the old emigrant
crossing, on that stream. Here, our subject and three companions, with nought
but the pine trees for their shelter, and no food save the fruits of the chase,
passed a forlorn and desolate Winter, while it was not until the following July
that they were able to continue their journey, arriving in California in
September, 1848. Mr. Walker at once proceeded to Gilroy, Santa Clara county,
purchased and butchered a lot of cattle, with which he intended to supply the
mines during the Winter months. Subsequently, he proceeded to those at Dry
creek, and, finally, commenced teaming between Sacramento and Coloma, an
occupation he followed until the Winter rains compelled him to desist. He then
engaged in mining at Drytown, Amador county, with good success, until the Spring
of 1849. Mr. Walker is next discovered located at Stockton for a short period,
whence he found his way to the mines at Angel creek, and there remained until
June of that year. At this period he returned to Gilroy, purchased cattle, drove
them to the mines, then disposed of them, and continued in this trade until
1850. In February, of that year, he determined to return to visit his home in
Missouri. Mark his route. Taking passage in the steamship Panama, from San
Francisco, he proceeded to the Isthmus, thence proceeding down the Chagres
river, to the island of Cuba he went in the steamer Georgia, there he joined the
British packet Avon bound for Mobile, from that place he voyaged to New Orleans
on the steamer James L. Day, whence he journeyed by steamer to his home. The
visit was a flying one, however, for in April of the same year, we find him once
more with his face turned towards the plains and California, where he arrived in
August. Our subject now sojourned in Sacramento City until January, 1851, when,
with a party of six, besides himself, he started for New Mexico and Arizona,
districts of which little then were known, but which had been visited by, and
found favor with his uncle, Captain Joe Walker. In June, of that year, the
eleventh day, we find Mr. Walker leaving Santa Fe, with five comrades, for
Missouri, where his stay again was not long. In April, 1852, we see him for the
third time about to undertake the arduous journey across the plains to the
Pacific Slopes, on this occasion being accompanied by his father's family, and
having with him a drove of cattle and horses. In the Fall of 1853, he moved from
Gilroy to Contra Costa county, and settled on his present estate of one thousand
four hundred acres, where he has since resided. Mr. Walker served three years as
a member of the Board of Supervisors of Contra Costa, while he has been
prominently identified with all movements tending to the advancement of the
interests and prosperity of the county. Married, May 14, 1861, Mary C. Vaughan,
a native of Jackson county, Missouri, and has: John M., Louisa B. and Josephine E.

Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

HISTORY OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY,
CALIFORNIA,
INCLUDING ITS GEOGRAPHY, GEOLOGY, TOPOGRAPHY, CLIMATOGRAPHY AND DESCRIPTION;
TOGETHER WITH A RECORD OF THE MEXICAN GRANTS; THE BEAR FLAG WAR; THE MOUNT
DIABLO COAL FIELDS; THE EARLY HISTORY AND SETTLEMENT, COMPILED FROM THE MOST
AUTHENTIC SOURCES; THE NAMES OF ORIGINAL SPANISH AND MEXICAN PIONEERS; FULL
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY OF THE COUNTY; SEPARATE HISTORY OF EACH TOWNSHIP, SHOWING
THE ADVANCE IN POPULATION AND AGRICULTURE;
ALSO,
Incidents of Pioneer Life; and Biographical Sketches
OF EARLY AND PROMINENT SETTLERS AND REPRESENTATIVE MEN;
AMD OF ITS TOWNS, VILLAGES, CHURCHES, SECRET SOCIETIES, ETC.
ILLUSTRATED.
SAN FRANCISCO: W. A. SLOCUM & CO., PUBLISHERS
1882.



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