Chief John “Jack” Walker

Chief John WALKER was the Lochinvar of the Cherokee Nation who fell in love and eloped with Emily MEIGS, the 13-year-old granddaughter of Return Jonathan MEIGS, a Revolutionary soldier and at this time an Indian agent, located at the historic town of Calhoun. Colonel MEIGS and a brother gave chase after the runaways, but "On all the wide border, his steed was the best." They made their escape and were married here in Bristol, Va. There was a law against white and red races marrying, the minister would not take them into the house, but married them out on the road in a downpour of rain. Chief Jack WALKER was educated at Harvard, and had but three-fourths of an Indian in him. He was said to be very handsome and captivating. His father was Major John WALKER who laid out the town of Calhoun, and was part Cherokee. He named the town after the famous South Carolina statesman in 1819.

Cause of Death: assassinated from ambush

John Walker [III] and Dick Jackson had been riding north on the old Spring Place Road. They passed a large chestnut tree about a mile west of a well-known watering place called Muskrat Springs (now known as Cedar Springs) and Walker was shot in the back. The force of the bullet knocked him from his horse, but he was able to regain his feet. He recognized the fleeing assailants as James Foreman and his half-brother Anderson Springston. Although seriously wounded, he managed to remount and, with the help of Jackson, continued to his home north of Cleveland, Tennessee. After three weeks of suffering John Walker [III] died from the wound. He was survived by his parents, two widows and seven children. He had been a Mason, and two funerals were held, one Cherokee, the other with full Masonic rites. His wife Emily [Emily Stanfield Meigs] buried him near their home.

• Reference: WikiTree Genealogy - SmartCopy: Oct 26 2019, 3:27:25 UTC