Finding aid for the Ezra Walker Collection

Biography of Ezra Walker

Ezra Walker was born around 1802 in East Poultney, Vermont. His father Dr. Ezra Walker moved the family to the Marietta, Ohio are in 1810. In the next year, they traveled further into Ohio, settling in Athens County where Dr. Walker became the first resident physician in Ames Township.

Ezra graduated with a class of four from Ohio University in 1826. He promptly relocated to the Charleston, Kanawha County, Virginia (now West Virginia) area to read law in the office of the Honorable Lewis Summers. He also taught school in the Kanawha Salines for a short while. Following his study of law and admission to the bar, Ezra Walker remained in the Kanawha County area to practice. In 1829 he was awarded his Master of Arts degree from Ohio University--these were then awarded to graduates who continued academic studies for three years following completion of the bachelors degree.

Around 1834 Walker was appointed to the position of Engineer and Superintendent of Western Improvements by the James River and Kanawha Company, where he remained until his death. Ezra also edited and published the Kanawha Banner for a few years. He died in Kanawha County, Virginia in March 1853 leaving a widow, Julia Shepard Walker, and two children, Ezra and Kate.

Scope and Content

The collection consists of 46 documents: 7 bills, 1 printed document, 1 diagram, 1 hand written manuscript copy (the only document attributed to Ezra Walker), and 36 autographed, signed letters. Each letter is in an individual folder, accompanied by a typewritten transcript. The contents of each are also summarized in a short description in the container list. Correspondence is arranged alphabetically by writer, then chronologically. The bills are separated into two folders; one contains 5 postal bills while the other contains 2 account bills.

All but a few of the letters are incoming correspondence to Ezra Walker. The correspondence is of both a personal and a business nature. Many letters mention Ohio University, giving information on the financial and educational status of the University ranging from good to troubled, in addition conveying how it was to be a student there in that time. The letters also give details of the salt industry and development of the Kanawha Valley and the Hocking Valley including the Athens, Ohio area. The importance of the available modes of transportation is emphasized with the development of the mail service, overland roads, railroads, and canals noted. George Summers' letters written from a Whig perspective candidly discuss the relationship between President and Congress, including references to "Loco Foco" Democrats.

The main correspondents are as follows: William Holmes McGuffey, educator, text book author (The Eclectic Reader), and President of Ohio University 1839-1843. George W. Summers (OU 1825), lawyer, judge, and member of the Virginia State house of delegates 1830-1832 and 1834-1836, delegate State Constitutional Convention 1851, delegate State Secession Convention 1861, member United States House of Representatives 1841-1845. Lewis Summers, lawyer, judge, OU Trustee 1829-1843, and elder brother to George. Archibald B Walker, Hocking Valley businessperson, local historian, founding member and Recording Secretary of the historian, founding member and Recording Secretary of the Athens County Pioneer Association, and Ezra's brother. Ralph M. Walker, younger brother to Ezra, author of letters while in attendance at OU.

Statement of Arrangement

Subject Terms

The following terms have been used to describe this collection.

Subjects:

Preferred Citation

Researchers are requested to cite collection name, collection number, and Ohio University, Athens, Ohio in all footnotes and bibliographical references.

Other Finding Aid

A paper copy of the folder list is available.