Date Original
1861
Description
This collection contains one telegram from David Walker to Jesse Burner announcing the call for a secession convention in 1861.
Biographical/Historical Note
David Walker (1806-1879), a Kentucky native, moved to Arkansas in 1830, and studied law under Judge Benjamin Johnson and Judge Edward Cross. He settled in Fayetteville, Washington County, where he acquired lots 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 state 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 on the Constitutional Convention that wrote the state's first constitution. He was elected State Senator in 1840. From 1848 to1855, he served as associate justice on the Arkansas Supreme Court. Although he opposed secession, he was elected to the Secession Convention and became its president. During the Civil War, he was appointed as colonel to the Confederate military court. In 1866, he was elected as 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.025.005
Resource Type
Text
Collection
David Walker telegram, SMC.025.005
Publisher
Arkansas State Archives
Contributing Entity
Arkansas State Archives
Recommended Citation
David Walker telegram, 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
