Date Original
1840-1879
Description
This collection contains typescripts of business, court, and personal correspondence sent to David Walker. Also included is a short biography of Walker.
Biographical/Historical Note
David Walker (1806-1879), a Kentucky native, moved to Arkansas in 1830, and studied law under Benjamin Johnson and Edward Cross. He settled in Fayetteville, Washington County, where he acquired a large amount of land and many slaves. He was elected circuit attorney in 1832. In 1833, he returned to Kentucky to marry Jane Lewis Washington. He was an important figure in Arkansas politics, and an active member of the Whigs until they went defunct in the 1850s. In 1835, he was elected to the territorial legislature. In 1836, he served at the Constitutional Convention that created the state's first constitution. He was elected state senator in 1840. From 1848 to 1855, Walker served on the Arkansas Supreme Court. Although he opposed secession, he was elected to the Secession Convention and became its president. During the Civil War, Walker served on a Confederate military court. In 1866, he was elected chief justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court. He remained active in politics until his death in 1879.
Physical Description
Document, 8.5" x 11"
Geographical Area
Arkansas; Kentucky
Language
English
Identifier
SMC.019.003
Resource Type
Text
Collection
David Walker papers, SMC.019.003
Publisher
Arkansas State Archives
Contributing Entity
Arkansas State Archives
Recommended Citation
David Walker papers, Arkansas State Archives, Little Rock, Arkansas
Rights
Use and reproduction of images held by the Arkansas State Archives without prior written permission is prohibited. For information on reproducing images held by the Arkansas State Archives, please call 501-682-6900 or email at state.archives@arkansas.gov.
Disciplines
United States History