Category Archives: Walker

Photos: Walker and related families

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These photos are primarily WALKER, Smithen & related families. Most were taken in and around Navarro Co. & Ellis Co. Texas … Blooming Grove, Ensign, Lone Cedar, Corsicana, Cryer Creek, Dresden. Many of these have been previously published on my Ancestry.com family tree but I felt they would be more accessible to others via this website.

If I have misidentified anyone or if any caption requires modification, please email me at the address listed on my “Contact” page of this website. If you have any photos you feel are related to these families that you would like posted on this website, please email me.

Before using any photograph from this website, please read the letter posted on May 1, 2016, entitled RELEASE OF PHOTOGRAPHS.

James Berry Walker (seated) with his youngest son, L.D., and his wife, Sarah Ann Parker Stills Walker, circa 1890. (Photograph provided by and in the collection of Johnny Taylor, Marshall, TX, 2017)

James Berry Walker (seated) with his youngest son, L.D., and his wife, Sarah Ann Parker Stills Walker, circa 1890. (Photograph provided by and in the collection of Johnny Taylor, Marshall, TX, 2017)

Sarah Parker Stills Walker (Photograph provided by and in the collection of Johnny Taylor, Marshall, TX, 2017)

Sarah Parker Stills Walker (Photograph provided by and in the collection of Johnny Taylor, Marshall, TX, 2017)

Nannie Hiler. (Photograph provided by and in the collection of Johnny Taylor, Marshall, TX, 2017)

Nannie Hiler. (Photograph provided by and in the collection of Johnny Taylor, Marshall, TX, 2017)

Mattie & Charlie Curl, and Sarah Parker Stills Walker. (Photograph provided by and in the collection of Johnny Taylor, Marshall, TX, 2017)

Mattie & Charlie Curl, and Sarah Parker Stills Walker. (Photograph provided by and in the collection of Johnny Taylor, Marshall, TX, 2017)

Melissa Thomason Hiler & Bessie Hiler, c. 1915 (Photograph provided by and in the collection of Johnny Taylor, Marshall, TX, 2017)

Melissa Thomason Hiler & Bessie Hiler, c. 1915 (Photograph provided by and in the collection of Johnny Taylor, Marshall, TX, 2017)

Clarence Hiler family. (Photograph provided by and in the collection of Johnny Taylor, Marshall, TX, 2017)

Clarence Hiler family. (Photograph provided by and in the collection of Johnny Taylor, Marshall, TX, 2017)

James Dewey Walker with father, John Alexander Walker. (Photograph provided by and in the collection of Johnny Taylor, Marshall, TX, 2017)

James Dewey Walker with father, John Alexander Walker. (Photograph provided by and in the collection of Johnny Taylor, Marshall, TX, 2017)

John A. Walker, James D. Walker, Clarence Hiler. (Photograph provided by and in the collection of Johnny Taylor, Marshall, TX, 2017)

John A. Walker, James D. Walker, Clarence Hiler. (Photograph provided by and in the collection of Johnny Taylor, Marshall, TX, 2017)

(Standing L.) Myrtle, James Dewey, Evie. (Seated L.) John Alexander Walker, Mattie, Laura J. Hiler Walker, Clarence. c. 1915-15

(Standing L.) Myrtle, James Dewey, Evie. (Seated L.) John Alexander Walker, Mattie, Laura J. Hiler Walker, Clarence. c. 1915-15 (Photograph provided by and in the collection of Johnny Taylor, Marshall, TX, 2017)

Evie Walker Loosier, Dorothy Loosier, Myrtle Walker Smithen. (Photograph provided by and in the collection of Johnny Taylor, Marshall, TX, 2017)

Evie Walker Loosier, Dorothy Loosier, Myrtle Walker Smithen. (Photograph provided by and in the collection of Johnny Taylor, Marshall, TX, 2017)

Clarence Walker, Laura J. Hiler Walker, Myrtle Walker Smithen. (Photograph provided by and in the collection of Johnny Taylor, Marshall, TX, 2017)

Clarence Walker, Laura J. Hiler Walker, Myrtle Walker Smithen. (Photograph provided by and in the collection of Johnny Taylor, Marshall, TX, 2017)

An old photo marked " Lone Cedar School" and a year date that appears to read, 1912. There are four children that have "X" marks on or over them. On the back of the photo is written, "Unknown, Evie, J.D., Myrtle". These would be Evie Walker (Loosier) my grand-aunt ... J.D. Walker, my grand-uncle, and, Myrtle Walker (Smithen) my grandmother. (Photograph provided by and in the collection of Johnny Taylor, Marshall, TX, 2017)

An old photo marked ” Lone Cedar School” and a year date that appears to read, 1912. There are four children that have “X” marks on or over them. On the back of the photo is written, “Unknown, Evie, J.D., Myrtle”. These would be Evie Walker (Loosier) my grand-aunt … J.D. Walker, my grand-uncle, and, Myrtle Walker (Smithen) my grandmother. (Photograph provided by and in the collection of Johnny Taylor, Marshall, TX, 2017)

Photos Lot #2 – Unknowns

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The individuals in the photos posted below are unknown/unidentified. Considering how (and from whom) I came into possession of these photos, I suspect they are related to the following families and geographical locations: Families – Walker, Hiler, Smithen, Loosier, Sabo, Lassiter, Curl, Hightower …. Locations: Texas, Navarro County, Ellis County, Ennis, Blooming Grove, Corsicana. If you can help me identify any of these individuals, please email me at the address listed on my “Contact” page of this website. If you have any photos you feel are related to these families that you would like posted on this website, please email me.

(Photograph provided by and in the collection of Johnny Taylor, Marshall, TX, 2016)

Unknown01 (Photograph provided by and in the collection of Johnny Taylor, Marshall, TX, 2016)

Unknown02 (Photograph provided by and in the collection of Johnny Taylor, Marshall, TX, 2016)

Unknown02 (Photograph provided by and in the collection of Johnny Taylor, Marshall, TX, 2016)

Unknown03 (Photograph provided by and in the collection of Johnny Taylor, Marshall, TX, 2016)

Unknown03 (Photograph provided by and in the collection of Johnny Taylor, Marshall, TX, 2016)

Unknown04 (Photograph provided by and in the collection of Johnny Taylor, Marshall, TX, 2016)

Unknown04 (Photograph provided by and in the collection of Johnny Taylor, Marshall, TX, 2016)

Unknown05 (Photograph provided by and in the collection of Johnny Taylor, Marshall, TX, 2016)

Unknown05 (Photograph provided by and in the collection of Johnny Taylor, Marshall, TX, 2016)

James Berry Walker Photograph

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In my years of WALKER family research, this is, undoubtedly, the most significant photographic find I have made. The photo was in a cache of paper ephemera I discovered in the residence of my late cousin, Dorothy Loosier Sabo. The photos were originally in the possession of Dorothy’s mother, my grand aunt Evie Walker Loosier. This photo was worn and had numerous scratches mostly over J.B. and for this reason I sent it off for a professional restoration. To enable other researchers to use J.B.’s face for possible comparison to other photos, I have cropped and made a second photo from the first.

James Berry Walker (seated) with his youngest son, L.D., and his wife, Sarah Ann Parker Stills Walker, circa 1890. (Photograph provided by and in the collection of Johnny Taylor, Marshall, TX, 2016)

James Berry Walker (seated) with his youngest son, L.D., and his wife, Sarah Ann Parker Stills Walker, circa 1890. (Photograph provided by and in the collection of Johnny Taylor, Marshall, TX, 2016)

Just James Berry Walker's face cropped from the larger family photo. (Photograph provided by and in the collection of Johnny Taylor, Marshall, TX, 2016)

Just James Berry Walker’s face cropped from the larger family photo. (Photograph provided by and in the collection of Johnny Taylor, Marshall, TX, 2016)

Photos Lot #1

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Before using any photograph from this website, please read the letter posted on May 1, 2016, entitled RELEASE OF PHOTOGRAPHS.

Isom Stockard and Nancy Hiler. (Photograph provided by and in the collection of Johnny Taylor, Marshall, TX, 2016)

Isom Stockard and Nancy Hiler. (Photograph provided by and in the collection of Johnny Taylor, Marshall, TX, 2016)

Fate and Mattie Seals. (Photograph provided by and in the collection of Johnny Taylor, Marshall, TX, 2016)

Fate and Mattie Seals. (Photograph provided by and in the collection of Johnny Taylor, Marshall, TX, 2016)

Christopher C Walker Jr. (Photograph provided by and in the collection of Johnny Taylor, Marshall, TX, 2016)

Christopher C Walker Jr. (Photograph provided by and in the collection of Johnny Taylor, Marshall, TX, 2016)

Claire P. Walker. (Photograph provided by and in the collection of Johnny Taylor, Marshall, TX, 2016)

Claire P. Walker. (Photograph provided by and in the collection of Johnny Taylor, Marshall, TX, 2016)

C.C. (Lum) Walker and son, Nathan. (Photograph provided by and in the collection of Johnny Taylor, Marshall, TX, 2016)

C.C. (Lum) Walker and son, Nathan. (Photograph provided by and in the collection of Johnny Taylor, Marshall, TX, 2016)

Release Of Photographs

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Dear Cousins,

As some of you may be aware, I have taken a break from genealogy research for most of the past two years due a number of deaths within my immediate family and also demands of my business. Several weeks ago something happened to end my genealogy break …. I unexpectedly came into possession of a cache of family photos which appear to have been originally in the safekeeping of my grand aunt Evie Walker (Loosier) who was the daughter of John Alexander Walker and the grand-daughter of James Berry Walker and his second wife, Sarah Parker (Stills) (Walker). In addition to photos of James Berry and Sarah, the collection includes photos of individuals from these families: Walker, Loosier, Curl, Lassiter, Hightower, Hiler, Smithen, Stockard, Sabo, Seals, and others. Also, there are many photos of unidentified persons.

I plan to share ALL of the photos online … they will be posted on my Ancestry.com tree (where I am username 1jtay) and also my personal genealogy website located at www.genwebsite.com which is a free access site. For way too long many old photos have been withheld from other family members and fellow researchers for various reasons that may have begun with good intentions but still resulted in the photos being kept “hidden”. I hope my gesture of total release of these photos will encourage others to share theirs. Only two stipulations will apply to these photographs …. (#1) You may not rename or relabel any photo … in other words, in your mind & heart you may not believe that that’s a photo of L.D. Walker but you may not change, rename, relabel or otherwise alter that photo in any way … my grand aunt Evie knew her family members names and she wrote them on the photos during her lifetime, 1904-1975. (#2) You should properly cite the source of the photo when and if you reprint it elsewhere. The citation should read, “Photograph provided by and in the collection of Johnny Taylor, Marshall, TX, 2016”.

With all my best wishes,

Johnny Taylor

(Standing L.) Myrtle, James Dewey, Evie. (Seated L.) John Alexander Walker, Mattie, Laura J. Hiler Walker, Clarence. c. 1915-15 (Photograph provided by and in the collection of Johnny Taylor, Marshall, TX, 2016)

(Standing L.) Myrtle, James Dewey, Evie. (Seated L.) John Alexander Walker, Mattie, Laura J. Hiler Walker, Clarence. c. 1915-15 (Photograph provided by and in the collection of Johnny Taylor, Marshall, TX, 2016)

The Black Sheep?

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Many people would say that my GGGrandfather, James Berry Walker (JBW), is/was the Black Sheep of the family.  He has been labeled a scoundrel, a coward, a deserter and a bigamist.  Based on years of research by myself (I stem from the Ohio/TX side of the family) and a fellow Walker cousin (from the Georgia side of the family), I believe that the first two labels couldn’t be further from the truth but the latter two are technically correct!

Rather than launch into a lengthy narrative (which will be forthcoming), let me simply say that I believe JBW found himself having become a pawn in a terrible war that was separate from the North-South Civil War, and as a result, he was forced into having to make an unimaginably dreadful decision.  It was a life/death decision that would alienate him forever from his Georgia family and result in a new family in Texas.  It was a decision that only a man with strong stamina and conviction could possible make regardless of the fact that he must have known the burden he would carry for the remainder of his life!

(Note – The lengthy narrative mentioned above will be posted in 2015 or 2016 and the Walker Family Tree, which has been kept private thus far, will also be made public several places online.  In the meantime I would strongly encourage those hungry to know more about JBW’s Civil War dilemma to read A Separate Civil War: Communities in Conflict in the Mountain South written by Dr. Jonathan Dean Sarris in 2006 … the book is available in a Kindle edition by Amazon.com.)