George H. Walker

George H. Walker (October 22, 1811 – September 20, 1866) was an American trader and politician who helped found the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He served as the 5th and 7th Mayor of Milwaukee, and represented Milwaukee in the Wisconsin State Assembly and its predecessor body in the Wisconsin Territory.

George H. Walker
1856 portrait by Fuller and Johnson
5th and 7th Mayor of Milwaukee
In office April 1853 – April 1854
Preceded by	Hans Crocker
Succeeded by	Byron Kilbourn
In office May 1851 – April 1852
Preceded by	Don A. J. Upham
Succeeded by	Hans Crocker
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Milwaukee 4th district
In office January 1, 1851 – January 1, 1852
Preceded by	John E. Cameron
Succeeded by	Jonathan L. Burnham
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the Wisconsin Territory
In office December 4, 1843 – January 5, 1846
Preceded by	Albert Gallatin Ellis
Succeeded by	Mason C. Darling
Representative to the Legislative Assembly of the Wisconsin Territory from Milwaukee and Washington counties
In office December 5, 1842 – January 5, 1846
Personal details
Born	October 22, 1811 Lynchburg, Virginia, U.S.
Died	September 20, 1866 (aged 54) Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Resting place	Forest Home Cemetery Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Caroline Pratt Spencer
Relatives	Isaac P. Walker (brother)
Known for	Founding Walker's Point

His younger brother, Isaac P. Walker, was one of the first two men elected to the United States Senate from Wisconsin.

Biography

Walker was born in Lynchburg, Virginia, and moved with his family to Illinois in 1825. The fur trade brought him to the vicinity of the Milwaukee River in 1833, and, on March 20, 1834, he established himself on the south bank of the river.[1] In June 1835, he founded the settlement of Walker's Point and established a fur trading post. In 1846, Walker's settlement combined with two rival villages - Solomon Juneau's Juneautown (present-day East Town) and Byron Kilbourn's Kilbourntown (present-day Westown) - to incorporate the City of Milwaukee.[1]

Warehouse District in Walker's Point

Land that belonged to Walker is now part of the Walker's Point Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[1]

Walker served in the first three sessions of the 4th Legislative Assembly of the Wisconsin Territory, serving from 1842-1845, and was speaker for the 2nd and 3rd sessions. He was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1850, serving in the 3rd Wisconsin Legislature. Walker also served as the city's supervisor, register of the land office, alderman, and as mayor in 1851 and 1853. He was one of the builders of the city's first street car line in 1859, and was invested in the Milwaukee and Mississippi Railroad, the Milwaukee and Watertown Railroad, and the La Crosse and Milwaukee Railroad.[1]

He died on September 20, 1866, and is buried at Forest Home Cemetery in Milwaukee.[2]

Family life

Walker's younger brother, Isaac P. Walker, was a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, serving from 1848 to 1855.

Electoral history

Milwaukee Mayoral Election, 1851[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
General Election
	Democratic	George H. Walker	1,841	55.19%
	Democratic	Abram D. Smith	1,495	44.81%
Plurality			346	10.37%
Total votes			3,336	100.0%
	Democratic hold

References

1. "Walker, George H. (1811-1866)". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
2. "Historical People". Forest Home Cemetery. Archived from the original on April 3, 2016. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
3. "Charter Election Returns". Daily Free Democrat. May 21, 1851. p. 3. Retrieved May 22, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.

Further reading

• "Jovial George Walker". (Mar. 15, 1934). Milwaukee Journal.

External links

• George H. Walker portrait at Wisconsin Historical Society
• George H. Walker at Find a Grave