James D. Walker
Encyclopedia
James David Walker was a Democratic Party
politician from Arkansas
who represented the state in the U.S. Senate from 1879 to 1885. His uncle was Finis McLean
who served as United States Representative from Kentucky
.
Walker was born near Russellville, Kentucky
on December 13, 1830; he attended private schools in Kentucky
, followed by the Ozark Institute and Arkansas College, both in Fayetteville, Arkansas
. He moved permanently to Arkansas in 1847, whereupon he began the study of law. On his admittance to the bar, in 1850, Walker began practicing in Fayetteville; he served as a circuit court
judge in the fourth judicial district for a time.
Upon the outbreak of the Civil War
, Walker served as a colonel of the Fourth Regiment of the Arkansas Infantry
; he was captured at Oak Hills, Missouri in 1861 and held as a prisoner of war for two years.
In 1865 he resumed his practice in Fayetteville, and soon became Solicitor General of the state. He served as a Democratic elector for the 1876 election; elected to the Senate, he served from 1879 to 1885, declining to run for reelection in 1884. He again resumed his practice in Fayetteville, where he died on October 17, 1906, and where he is buried.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician from Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
who represented the state in the U.S. Senate from 1879 to 1885. His uncle was Finis McLean
Finis McLean
Finis Ewing McLean was a United States Representative from Kentucky. He was the brother of John McLean and uncle of James David Walker. Born near Russellville, Kentucky, he attended the country schools and Lebanon Academy in Logan County, Kentucky. Later, he studied law, was admitted to the bar,...
who served as United States Representative from Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
.
Walker was born near Russellville, Kentucky
Russellville, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,149 people, 3,064 households, and 1,973 families residing in the city. The population density was 672.1 people per square mile . There were 3,458 housing units at an average density of 325.1 per square mile...
on December 13, 1830; he attended private schools in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, followed by the Ozark Institute and Arkansas College, both in Fayetteville, Arkansas
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Fayetteville is the county seat of Washington County, and the third largest city in Arkansas. The city is centrally located within the county and is home to the University of Arkansas. Fayetteville is also deep in the Boston Mountains, a subset of The Ozarks...
. He moved permanently to Arkansas in 1847, whereupon he began the study of law. On his admittance to the bar, in 1850, Walker began practicing in Fayetteville; he served as a circuit court
Circuit court
Circuit court is the name of court systems in several common law jurisdictions.-History:King Henry II instituted the custom of having judges ride around the countryside each year to hear appeals, rather than forcing everyone to bring their appeals to London...
judge in the fourth judicial district for a time.
Upon the outbreak of the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Walker served as a colonel of the Fourth Regiment of the Arkansas Infantry
Arkansas Civil War Confederate Units
Arkansas Civil War Confederate Units, a list of units formed from that state for service in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. Like most states, Arkansas possessed a prewar Militia organization, which consisted of seventy one regiments, organized into eight brigades, and divided into two...
; he was captured at Oak Hills, Missouri in 1861 and held as a prisoner of war for two years.
In 1865 he resumed his practice in Fayetteville, and soon became Solicitor General of the state. He served as a Democratic elector for the 1876 election; elected to the Senate, he served from 1879 to 1885, declining to run for reelection in 1884. He again resumed his practice in Fayetteville, where he died on October 17, 1906, and where he is buried.