The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-04-22


Col. John Absalom Walker died at his
residence on Sycamore street yesterday
afternoon, after a brief illness. He was
in the seventy-ninth year of his age
Notwithstanding his nearly four score
years, he was able to be about up to a
few days ago. Last Monday he was on
the street and was looking and feeling
well. But that night he was seized with a
malady from which he did not rally
The deceased leaves wife two sons
]. T. Walker and r. II. Walker and a
daughter, Miss Annie Kendricl1 Walker.
Brief services will be held at the resi-
dence this afternoon at 2:3O o'clock. These
services will be conducted by the Rev. DR..
A. c. Davidson and the Rev. DIR. j. C.
Hidden. The body will be carried on the
Louisville and Nashville train leaving at
APO .. m. to Eufaula, where the funeral
will take place on Monday from the First
Baptist church. The services in Eufaula
will be conduted by the Rev. DIR. II. NJ
Wharton.
These gentlemen have been requested to
act as the pail bearers in birmingham:
john ". .0edlAleys II. II. Cdpdiiiss, o. -
Weakley. s. p. Fowlkes,., B. b. Conner
Sam VIII Johns. j. p Stiles and G. H.
Estes. - s& .
Veterans to Attend.
Adjt. JaL. Darby of camp Hardee has
requested Confederate veterpns TO atten(
the services this afternoon and escort the
remains to the pa ssenger. station
CoIo,,a1 we'll 80 iv<<.,,t
county Georgia, May 9. 1897. but wal
reared in Muscogee county and after
wards removed from Georgia to Barbour
county, Alabama.
When this state seeded in 1861 the de
ceased was selected out of five hundred
men to escort thirteen young women tc
Greenville college. where the secession
speeches were made. When war was de.
clared he was one of three to organize
company G of the Thirty-flrst Georgia
regiment. He was appointed commssarS
of the regiment, remaining in Savannah
from October, 1861, until June, 1862 From
Savannah he went to Richmond, where
he engaged in the famous seven days
fight. The Thirty-irst went into actor
was in the battle of Cedar Creek. was al
the second battle of Manassas, was al
Charlottesville when Stonewal Jackson
received his fatal wound was at Harper,
Ferry, and was afterwards in the fght
at Sharpsburg.
On Gordons Staff.
When John b. Gordon was made briga
der general he appointed Colonel Walker
commssary of his brigade. He went witt
the army to Gettysburg and then returned
to the Valley of Virginia. After the bat
ties in the valley he was sent to Peters
burg and from there to Lynchburg Col
onel Walker was with the army in all thu
principal campaigns in the Valley of Vir
ginia. He was promoted by order of Gen
eral Robert E. Lee over five majors fol-
efficiency in the commssary department
He was at Appomattox in April, 1865, an(
was within twenty feet of General Lee
at the surrender. The illustrious com
mander complinented him in these words
IF had a few more such men l coult
whip the fight" A furlough of which h,
was justly proud, read:
II cheerfully grant you furlaugh, bu
hope you will not avail yourself of it
You are of too great service to the army.
(Sgned) ROBERT L. LEE
Burned BY Custer.
This with other effects, was burned b,
General Custer S troops the evening before
the surrender. On the day of the sur
render Colonel Walker went in person Il
General Grant and asked for supplies 70,
the Confederates at Appomattox Gran
replied with a request that General Rob
ert Il, Lee order Fitzhugh Lee to ceas,
burning his Grant 81 commissary wagons
After that order was issued the supple,
We're forthcoming. Colonel Walker ais,
asked General Grant for a team to carr,
baggage to the railroad Grant asked 4
he would promise to return the team +,
the United States government. The repl,
was: II cannot promise that, General
you can have the team said Grant
Several years afterwards Colonel Wal
ker met general Grant on a ferry coins
from Jersey city to New York. He SHOOT
hands with the union hero and introduced
himself. You are the man to whom
gave the mules" Colonel Walker said hi
was and felt very grateful to him. He
met General Grant sometime after thai
meeting on the ferry and the Genera
recognized him at once.
Lived in Eufaula.
After the war Colonel Walker lived fol
many years at Eufaula where he was
recognized as the foremost merchant in
that section. He owned large estates but
through the failure of bank he mel
with financial reverses which he bore witt
his characteristic fortitude. He came witt
his family to Birmingham about fifteen OIL
sixteen years ago and was engaged II
business here up to the time Of his death
Brave, courteous and true Colonel Wal
ker was highly and affectionateiy regard