Gov. Joseph Walker Burial, Rapides Parish Louisiana Submitted by Jane Parker McManus ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** GOV. JOSEPH WALKER BURIAL - Rapides Parish History: Although Joseph Walker was born in New Orleans, his family later moved to Natchez, Mississippi where he was reared. When he was just a young man he traveled to Mexico where he bought horses, and herded them on the old Texas Trail through Bayou Rapides to be sold in Natchez. It was in Mexico that his military career began when he was commissioned a Lieutenant of the Dragoons with the Spanish army and became master of a military school at Chihuahua. Walker resigned his commission in Mexico to fight with Andrew Jackson during the Battle of New Orleans, and was later commissioned Brigadier General of the Militia. After the war, he moved to Rapides Parish and settled on Bayou Jean de Jean on a 197.95-acre land grant he had received in 1803. His interest in politics became the prime mover in his life now. He was a parish syndic, and by 1820 was in charge of building the First Rapides Parish Courthouse. In 1822 he was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives where he eventually became Speaker of the House, and later was elected to the Senate. In 1845 Joseph Walker was named not only to the office of State Treasurer, a position he held for four years, but was also named president of the constitutional Convention held in 1845. While he served on the constitutional committee, a permanent school fund was established from the sale of Federal land. A Seminary of Learning was established and later put in Rapides Parish, and eventually became the starting point for Louisiana State University. The new constitution also decreed that a university devoted to the study of medicine be established in New Orleans, from which the present Tulane University evolved. Although Walker had very little formal schooling, he was a "self-taught" man. He had become a well-rounded, knowledgeable person on many subjects, fluent in French, Spanish, and English. With a strong interest in education for future generations, he helped establish the Spring Valley Academy in Rapides in 1827. It was on educational reform that Joseph Walker decided to run for governor. Although he lost heavily in South Louisiana where the majority of large plantations were located, he gained much support from North Louisiana hill country farmers, who saw ahead an opportunity for education of their offspring. In one of the hardest-fought campaigns in the state's political history Democrat Walker squeezed into office with a scant 800 majority over his Whig opponent. Governor Walker immediately directed the legislature to establish free schools throughout the state. While his primary interest was the educational future of Louisiana's children, he also accomplished major state reforms during his tenure. He initiated a levee building and drainage program, improved water transportation, pushed for railway construction and telegraph line installation, and stimulated the creation of a banking system ranking among the best in the country. At the age of 70, Governor Walker's term expired and he retired from public office. His last official task was to take charge of the erection of a monument to his old friend, President Andrew Jackson, to be placed in New Orleans. In 1856, the year the job was completed, Governor Walker died. As was the custom in those days, he was buried on his plantation. An obelisk, nine feet tall, marked his grave. After the war, the Walker family experienced financial problems. Records in the Rapides Parish Courthouse indicate the estate of some 528 acres and 2 plantations were seized and sold at Sheriff's Auction on October 14, 1873 for $3,000. With the passage of time, his grave was somehow forgotten. Yesterday's hero is today's forgotten man (1). --------------- Today Governor Walker's remains lie somewhere beneath the plowed ground in Rapides Parish. His tombstone was removed by a landowner who wanted the "stones" out of his field. The property owner where the tombstones were found maintains the area although it is not a cemetery, and is not fenced or marked in any way. To reach the area, take Parish Rd. 496 West (Bayou Rapides Road) from Alexandria, and go several miles past the entrance to England Industrial Park. About .3 miles past Cooper Road on the left is a white house and a trailer. Directly behind the trailer are the three tombstones. At this date, it is not known why the graves were not moved along with the stones. Read by Mary Parker Partain, August 1993. ----------- Walker, Joseph - 1 Jul 1781 / 21 Jan 1856, 71 yrs 6 mos 21 das Born New Orleans / died Rapides Parish "From the year 1822 until near the period of his death, he was engaged in the Public Service having been frequently elected member of the General General Assembly of the State of which also he was Governor from Jan 1850 to Jan 1853. Whether as a Private Citizen, Legislator or Chief Magistrate, he won universal confidence and esteem, and died respected and regretted by all who knew him." Holt, John Jr. - 31 Jul 1851/4 Aug 1851 [this stone is to the left of Gov. Walker's stone] [Note: an obelisk off its pedestal to the left of the baby's stone is lying face down and too heavy to turn over. No information available. MPP] (1) Alexandria Daily Town Talk, Alexandria-Pineville LA, Sunday, 4 April 1976.