Evening star., 1901-10-21
GEN. JAMES a. WALKER DEAD.
Prominent Nirginfau Passed Away at
His Home in wytheville.

Gen. James A. Walker died at his resi-
dence In Wytheville. Va. at O'Clock yes
terday morning of dysentery. His illness
dated from a month ago, before which
time he was in rugged health and A splen-
did specimen Of physical manhood. His
condition had been critical since Saturday
last and he continued to grow weaker daily
until the end came.
General Walker was born in Augusta
county, Virginia, in September. 1893. He
graduated at the Virginia Military Insti-
tute and afterward studied law at he Cnf-
versity of Virginia under The late Prof.
John B. Minor. He married Miss Sarah
A. Poage of Augusta county and in 1854
he removed to Newbern, in Pulaski county,
where he entered upon the practice of his
profession. A notable incident of his early
life was that while a cadet at the Vir-
ginia Military Institute he challenged Ma
for Thomas ]. jackson, afterward the
world-renowned "Stonewalr jackson, to
fight a duel. jackson was then a professor
In the school.
At the beginning of the war between the
states he was captain Of a fine volunteer
company-the Pulaski Guards tafterward
Company C. 4th Virginia InfantryD--and
was successfully promoted TIL he reached
the rank of brigadier general ami was as
signed to the command of the ''StonewalI'
Brigade.
At the Bloody Angle" in May. 1864. he
was severely wounded. In July following
his arm yet in sling, he was put in COM
mand of the reserve troops guarding the
line Of the Richmond and Southside rail-
roads, which roads were the feeders Of
General Lees army.
In January, 1865. he was assigned to
the command of Early's Division, which lie
surrendered at Appomattox.
Ear u-a xr-ffh Con- ssr-aT Tu.-
son in the famous valley campaign and
participated in all the battles of the Army
of Northern Virginia
At the close of the war he returned to
Pulaski and resumed the practice of his
profession.
General Walker was elected to The yir-
ginia house of delegates from Pulaski
county, serving two terms in that body.
In 1877 he was nominated tor lieutenant
governor by the democrats on the ticket
with the late Fred w. NJ Holiday. He
was elected and served until ISL
In 1885 he was a candidate for attorney
general before the democratic state con.
vention which nominated Gen. Fitzhugh Lee
for governor, but was defeated by Rufus
A. Ayres.
In 1894 he was nominated in Nytheville
by the republicans of the ninth congress
sional district for Congress. He accepted
the nomination and defeated Judge Mori-
son of Scott county by less than LOCO IEa-
Jority. He was again renomlnsted in 1885,
1898 and 1900. He was reelected In 1885,
but was defeated in 1898 and 1900 by Judge
William F. Rhea of Bristol
After his defeat in 1898 General Walker
contested Judge Rhea's seat. The follow
ing winter. while taking deposltions In Bris-
tol. General Walker shot Rhea's attorney,
William Hamilton. and was himself twice
shot by one of Rhea's friends. Both OF
his wounds were very severe. but. TO the
astonishment Of his friends, he recovered
from them. His right arm was partially
paralyzed from the effects Of one of the
shots.
General Walker attended three national
conventions, the first one q democrat, In
1876. That convention nominated Samuel
]. Tiiden for President. The others were
the conventions OF 1896 and 100. which
nominated the late William Mckinley Tor
President
General Walker was the father OF six
children. Three OF them-Messrs. James
A. Frank and Allen Pare dead and
three are living-Mrs. NJ NJ. Caldwell and
Mrs. James r. Jordan of Wythcville and
Mr. A e. Walker of Florence Ala
In 1880. General Walker removed to
Wytheville. where he resided until the time
Of his death.