Notes for Alexander S Walker

Family Group Sheet

Notes for Alexander S Walker

Alexander S. Walker , known by the title of Colonel. He was
a colorful person of flaamboyant manner and dress. He has been described
in the books of several early historians of Arkansas. He was born in
Virginia about 1786. On July 1, 1808 he enrolled in the new First
regiment of United States Riflemen. They were sent to Fort Adams in
Mississippi. He advanced to Capitan and was cashiered from the Army at
Arkansas Post in 1810. He settled there and educated himself in law by
reading in 1811 and 1812. He was elected by the people as representative
of Arkansas district in 1812 to the Territorial Legislature of Missouri
at St. Louis, He rode from Arkansas Post on horseback. On November 1,
1819, Walker was registered in the Territorial Court at Arkansas Post as
a licensed attorney.

Of several stories recorded about Colonel Walker, I will tell
only one which is representative of his impulsive actions. It concerns
an other one of his friends at Arkansas Post who was even more colorful,
Frederick Notrebe was a Frenchman who had fought for Napoleon in France.
He was so disappointed in Napoleon when he established an empire that he
came to America. He had a large planation which he cultivated with
slaves and a merchant and soon became a wealthy man. He entertained a
great deal and was popular because of his hospitality. Walker and
Nortrebe were great friends but one day in a quarrel Walker made a remark
about Notrebe which was taken as an insult. Since the only way a
Frenchman knew how to settle an insult was by a duel Notrebe challenged
Walker.

A sandbar on the south bank of the Arkansas River away from the
Post was the scene of this and several other duels. Notrebe was first to
arrive and brought with him not only his second and surgeon but a large
crowd of his dependents and nearly all of his negro slaves. When Walker
arrived a few minutes later with only his second and surgeon, he
exclaimed, "Well, Frederick, if I had known you were going to come with
an Army at your back, I would have come over during the night and thrown
up some breastworks." At hearing this several of Notrebe's friends
laughed; While his second sepped forward and asked if the duel need go
on as arranged. Walker withdrew the remark to which Notrebe had taken
exception; Notrebe withdrew the challenge; and promptly peace was made.
This story was taken from J. Gould fletcher's Arkansas History, page 60.

Walker moved his family to Little Rock when the capital was
changed from Arkansas Post. He lived on the north side of the river
opposite Little Rock and owned property there. He seems to have been a
successful lawyer in the capital. He ran for the legislature several
times but was only elected to one term in 1826. He served as council for
the Legislature in 1825 and 1827. He was such a demonstrative person he
overshadowed his wife Emelia who was a good but plain woman. They had a
son and 2 daughters but only 1 girl lived to maturity. See numbers 31
thru 33. In 1837 Walker was appointed Sub-Agent to the Seneca Indians.
He was on his way to take that positon when he stopped for the night at
Ft. Gibson (now Oklahoma west of Fort Smith, Ark. ) He died there
suddenly on July 12, 1837. His widow lived until August 26, 1855 and was
the last child of Joseph Stillwell II, to die.