WALKER.--Rev. J. F. Walker was a native of Middle Tennessee, Wayne County, his parents immigrating to this division of the State from Virginia. He was born on Jan. 17, 1821, and departed this life Sept. 21, 1895, aged 74 years, 8 months and 4 days. Brother Walker enjoyed the counsel and prayers of a devoted Christian mother, which environment early in life impressed him with the beauty of Christian character. This good mother's influence led all her children to Christ and gave to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church four preachers. Soon after his conversion he felt impressed to preach the gospel of Christ, and commenced the work necessary to this end. He was taken under the care of Richland Presbytery, October, 1844, at Old Savannah Camp Ground, Hardin County, Tenn.; licensed October, 1845, by Moderator Rev. W. C. Baldridge, at Mount Moriah, Giles County, Tenn. Ordained at Old Hebron Church, Maury County, Tenn. Rev. M. B. Malloy preached the ordination sermon, and Rev. James B. Foster presided and gave the charge. This solemn and impressive service took place April, 1848. Being impressed with the great necessity of equipping himself in order to efficiency in this great work he entered the Cumberland University at Lebanon, Tenn., but owing to poor health he was forced to leave school before finishing the course. Yet he acquired a fairly good education. In his early ministry he served an itinerancy with Rev. Bardie Brown, whose daughter, Miss M. A. Brown, he married in March, 1855. Brother Walker somewhat early in his ministry took charge of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Campbellsville, Giles County, Tenn., and served that organization consecutively twenty or more years, thus demonstrating the very high esteem and confidence this people reposed in him. It was during this long service at Campbellsville that he joined the Masonic fraternity, which institution he loved and honored during his life. After resigning his Campbellsville charge, he came to Pleasant Hill community, Giles County, Tenn., and purchased a farm and took charge of this church, and served it as pastor for eight years; and during his administration here this church had some very precious revivals. During his sojourn in this jurisdiction of Bethel Lodge, Giles County, Tenn., he was one of our most honored and beloved members. About the year 1891 he moved to Florida, taking a dimit with a view to membership in Auborndale Lodge, but owing to ill health, failed to do so, hence he held a dimit from Bethel Lodge up to the time of his death. Brother Walker was broad and liberal in heart and mind, a strong, interesting and forcible preacher, esteemed as a wise and discreet presbyter and enjoyed an enviable place in the hearts and councils of his presbytery. He was remarkably modest and unassuming, yet he was most highly esteemed for his discretion and wisdom. His brethren confided in him and readily gave him a high place among them. Safe in counsel, judicious in conclusion, kind in disposition and forgiving in spirit. His faith was unfaltering in God, and ever ductile to the directions of the Holy Spirit. A few days before his death he was interviewed by Rev. W. E. McKenzie to learn of his prospects, and acceptance. He replied: "My way is clear and my acceptance undoubted. For fifty years I have fought a good fight. I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day." We trust that the mantle of this good man of God will fall upon some one who shall be able to catch up the thread broken by his death, and carry forth the glorious work of human redemption through Jesus Christ, which was the golden thread of his life.

Resolved, 1. That Bethel Lodge attend the funeral services and inter his remains with Masonic honors, and wear the badge of mourning for thirty days.

2. That Christianity and the Masonic fraternity have lost a true and honored brother, and his family and relatives have sustained an irreparable loss.

3. That a copy of these preambles and resolutions be sent to the family of the deceased and "The Cumberland Presbyterian" for publication, and also spread upon the records of Bethel Lodge.
    FERRIS HANNA.
    L. Z. REAGIN,
    M. S. WATERS.
        Committee.
[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, January 30, 1896, page 463]

Name: J. F. Walker
Presbytery: Florida
Date: Sept. 21, 1895
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1896, page 45]

WALKER.--The following resolutions in respect to the memory of Rev. J. F. Walker were adopted:

Whereas, the Rev. J. F. Walker, a minister in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and a member of the Fla. Presbytery, departed this life on the 21st day of September, 1895, at the age of 74 years; and

Whereas, he was consecrated to the work of the ministry for a long term of years, and his ripe experience rendered him a valuable and safe counselor in the work of the church and presbytery; therefore,

Resolved, 1, that in his death the Fla. Presbytery and the church have sustained a great loss.

2. That this presbytery expresses a high regard for his long, faithful and successful work in the ministry.

3. That with great reverence and humility we bow to this dispensation of divine providence.

4. That our sympathy is hereby expressed for the bereaved family, and that they be furnished a copy of these resolutions.
       A. A. WILSON.
[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, June 18, 1896, page 783]

Wm. Walker and wife, Anna, at an early day settled in Wayne County, Tenn., where they raised seven sons and four daughters, who became members of the C. P. Church, largely, no doubt, through the training of their mother. John Floyd and three younger brothers became preachers in Richland Presbytery, and two others elders. John was born Jan. 17, 1821, professed religion and joined the church at Mt. Joy, Maury County, in 1843; joined presbytery Oct. 19, 1844; was licensed Oct. 20, 1845, and ordained April 14, 1848. He died Sept. 20, 1895, aged 74 years, 8 months and 3 days. From February, 1846, until the fall of 1851, he took charge of Macedonia Circuit, having about thirty monthly appointments (except, a few months from October, 1846, as a student at Cumberland University from which he retired on account of sickness). After this he took pastoral charge at Waynesboro until 1855, when he married Miss Amelia Ann, daughter of Rev. Basdell Brown. From this time he served Mt. Pleasant and Mt. Joy, in Maury County, until 1858, when he engaged one-half of his time at Campbellsville, Giles County, where he lived and labored about twenty-eight years. In 1884 he bought a farm near Pleasant Hill Church, fourteen miles south of Pulaski, and served it one-half of his time with good success about eight years. But his health became so impaired that he, in 1892, left his home and located at Auburndale, Fla., and joined Florida Presbytery. In 1895, being impressed that his days would soon be numbered, he returned to his Tennessee home where, on Friday, September 20, he peacefully passed away. When his summons came he was ready to go. He said, a few days before his last, "I have never had a doubt of my preparation for death for fifty years." Brother Walker was buried on the 21st, at the church with Masonic ceremonies, and on Sabbath, the 22d, as he had requested, his memorial sermon was preached to a very large congregation by this writer, whom he claimed as his spiritual father, and by whom he was baptized and received into the church. Brother Walker left his wife, three sons and three daughters to follow him, one son having a short time before closed an honorable and useful life. His surviving family have the cheering anticipation of a glorious family reunion in "The sweet by and by." Brother Walker's ministry, of about fifty years, was greatly blest from the beginning to the close in winning souls. Hundreds if not thousands will doubtless call him blessed in eternity. His field of greatest success was Campbellsville. Here, under his aggressive labors, hundreds were converted, the church largely increased, and the whole community greatly benefited in every respect. Brother Walker is not dead but liveth with his blessed Master in heaven, also in the affections of a host of surviving brethren and friends. He was kind and tender as husband and father, was true and faithful as a minister and presbyter, was loyal to Christ, lived in love and harmony with his brethren, never sought honor nor promotion, "esteemed others better than himself." We say that, "for him to live was Christ, and to die was gain," for he was "a man and full of the Holy Ghost and faith, and much people was added to the Lord."
G. W. MITCHELL.
[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, October 28, 1897, page 543]

REV. JOHN F. WALKER is a son of William B. and Ann (Scott) Walker. The father was born in Virginia in 1789, and after his marriage immigrated to Tennessee and located in Wayne County. On building his first house in 1816 the logs were cut from the forest, the house erected and the goods put in one day. He was magistrate of his district twelve years, and died on the old homestead in April 1873. The mother was born in 1794 and died in 1876. Our subject was born January 17, 1821, and received such early education as the primitive schools of his day afforded, and finished his education at Cumberland University, at Lebanon, Tenn. He taught school, and devoted his time until twenty-four years old to completing his education, when he was ordained a minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and has been an active and efficient laborer in the cause forty-one years. He joined the Fifty-third Tennessee Infantry as chaplain, and was captured at Fort Donelson and kept a prisoner at Indianapolis, Ind., and later at Camp Chase, Ohio, where, through the influence of Gov. Tod, he was given the privilege of the city. He was confined at Johnson's Island for some time, when he, with a number of chaplains and surgeons, were released as noncombatants, and allowed to return home. March 21, 1855, he wedded E. A. Brown, and eight children were the results of this union: Herschel P., W. B., J. Luther, C. Herbert, Lure, Ida and Dezzie. Mrs. Walker was born January 17, 1831, daughter of Rev. B. Brown, who was an early pioneer of Tennessee and an efficient and popular divine. He died about 1875 and the mother in 1885. Mr. Walker is conservative in his political views. He owns a farm of l57 acres, and is a member of the Masonic fraternity.

[Source: Goodspeed's History of Giles County, 1886]