Virgil Homer Walker

 Virgil Homer Walker, the oldest son of "Rich Billy" Walker, was born in Burke County, GA on September 14, 1792. The Walkers moved from Burke County into Putnam County, GA in the early 1800's. Virgil married Ann Champion Bell, the daughter of Benjamin Bell and Ann Champion,  in Putnam County on January 25, 1820. 

Putnam County Record of Marriages, Book B, 1816-1820, p.99

In 1826, Virgil was shown to still be living in Putnam County. An advertisement was placed in the Georgia Journal listing 2,000 bushels of corn for sale on his plantation in Putnam County. (The 1820 Census for Putnam County, GA shows him and his wife in the household along with 16 slaves.)

Georgia Journal, March 28, 1826

Virgil and Ann moved to Harris County in the late 1820's. Virgil's father built homes for each of his children and Virgil's home is still standing today. The house was built between 1822-1825. Many of the original features of the house have survived. In his book, Pine Log and Greek Revival, William Davidson stated that bricks for the tall chimneys were made on the property. The chimney faces are inlaid with a series of diamond patterns, worked by the brick masons into the chimney with glazed brick in a contrasting color. There was a wine cellar under the house, where the sills on which the house rests can still be seen. 

Virgil Walker Home

Before moving to Harris County in the late 1820's Virgil had served in the Army and was a Captain during the First Seminole War (1817-1818)  under General Duncan Clinch. In 1836 he wrote Governor Schley asking for help to subdue the Creeks that kept crossing the river and plundering and even burning homes and outbuildings. "It has become my painful duty to inform you that the Creek Indians opposite Harris has shown within a few days that they intend to commence hostilities on our side of the Chattahoochee River several friendly Indians has come over in haste to inform the settlers. Yesterday they burnt two farms....." (You can read the entire letter and others concerning the Creek Wars in The History of Harris County, Louise Calhoun Barfield, 1961, pp. 284-291.) There's also a Columbus connection to the Walker's. Virgil purchased a lot in Columbus for $105.00 and built a house that the family could use when travelling to Columbus. It took a day to travel to Columbus at that time. A few of the family's possessions are in the Walkers-Peters-Langdon house including a portrait of Ann Bell Walker, Virgil's wife. 

 

Walker-Peters-Langdon House 

Ann Bell Walker

Virgil Walker was a Mason, one of the founders of the Hamilton, GA Lodge #16. 

Virgil and Ann Walker had eight children:

1) Calvin J. Walker (lawyer, judge and civil engineer) 1820-1892 m. Elizabeth Frances Parker

2) Luther William Walker   1822-1888 m. Mary Victoria Thompson 

3) Virgil Homer Walker, Jr (physician)  1825-1896 m. Antoinette Walker       (second cousin)

4) Ann Bell Walker 1827-1895   m. Abram Phillips

5) Mary Lucina Walker  1828-1879  m. George Nix Phillips

6) John B. Walker  1830-1864  (died during the Civil War)

7)Thacker Vivion Walker (physician) 1832-1917 

8) Merriott Warren Walker 1834-1887

Virgil Walker died in 1848, and was buried in the Walker family plot in Mulberry Grove. There are two interesting newspaper articles about Virgil Walker. The Masonic Lodge printed an homage to Virgil. There was also an estate sale advertisement. 

Columbus Enquirer

January 18,1848

Columbus Enquirer

Dec. 26, 1848

Ann  continued to live in the plantation home until 1869 when Ann sold the house and land for $5,000.00 to E.C. Hood and Charles Hudson. (Harris County Deed Book H, p.239). She moved to Union Springs, AL to live with her son Luther. Ann died on October 17, 1869. She was buried in the Walker Family Cemetery beside Virgil Walker. 

Virgil Walker

Walker Family Cemetery

Cataula, GA

I would like to thank David Walker for sharing his research with me.