WALKER
8G2
WALKER
he never resumed the place he once occupieil among the ministers of liis denomination. His last illness was at- lendL-d with great physical suffering, lie died, as was be- lieved, an humble Christian, accepted by his Lord in spite ol' all his frailties. His deatli occurred Sept. 20, 1792. See Benedict, History of the Baptists, ii, 390. (J. C. S.)
Walker, Jesse, a noted pioneer of the Methodist Episcopal Church, whose name was identified for years w itli the westward progress of Sletliodism, was a native of North Carolina. The date of his birth is not ascer- tained, and there is no record of his early life. He was admitted as a travelling preacher in the Western Con- tcrence in 1802. travelled circuits in Teiniessee and Kentucky for about four years, and in 1806 was ap- pointed to pioneer the Church through Illinois. His aijpointment was a mission to the whole territory. The country between Kentucky and the interior of Illinois was then a wilderness, and difficult to travel. M'Ken- dree. afterwards bishop, but tlien jiresiiling elder of the Cumberland District, set out witli liis [lioneer itinerant to assist him on the way. They journeyed on horse- back, sleeping in the woods on their saddle-blankets, and ct)oking their meals under the trees. '• It was a time,'" says bisliop Jlorris, who knew both of them, " of much rain ; the channels were fidl to overflowing, and no less than seven times their horses swam the rapid streams with their riders and baggage; but the travel- lers, by carrying their saddle-bags on their shoulders, kejit their Bibles and part of tlieir clothes above the water. This was truly a perilous business. In due time they reached their destination safely. M'Kendroe remained a few weeks, visited the principal ncighljor- hoods. aided in forming a plan of appointments for the mission, and the new settlers received them with much favor." Walker, though left alone in the territory, was not discouraged, and, as the result of liis first year's ex- periment in Illinois, two hundred and eighteen Church nieml)ers were reported in the printed Minutes. His next tield of labor was Missouri, and he continued to operate thenceforward alternately in the two territories until 1812, when, as presiding elder, he took charge of all the Methodist interests of both. The old Western Conference having been divided, in 1812, into the Ohio and Tennessee conferences, the Illinois and Missouri work pertained to the latter. He had charge of dis- tricts in the two territories until 1819, when he was ap- pointed conference missionary, that he might range about and form new fields of labor among tlie destitute — " a work to which he was peculiarly adapted, both by nature and grace, and in which he continued to be em- ployed for many years." In 1820 this veteran pioneer formed the purpose of planting IMethodism in St. Louis, where previously jMethodist preachers "had found no rest for the soles of their feet, the early inhabitants from Spain and France being utterly opposed to our I'rotestant principles, and especially to Methodism." Some idea of his success in this bold undertaking may be obtained from the fact that, as the result of the first year's experiment, he reported to the conference a chapel erected and paid for, a flourishing school, and seventy Church members in St. Louis. The next year (Oct. 24, 1822). the Missouri Conference held its session in that city, when '"an excellent and venerated broth- er. William Beauchamp, was apjioinfed" his successor. Walker was continued conference missionary, and in 1823 began to turn his special attention to the Indian tribes up the ^lississippi. In this self-<ienying work he continued, " breaking np the fallow ground and es- tablishing new missions, until 1834, when his health had become so infirm that he was obliged to take a super- annuated relation." He retired to his farm in Cook County, III., where he died in great jieace. Oct. 5, 1835. See Minutes of Annual Confcriiiccs, ii, 487; Sprague, Annals of the Amer. Pulpit, vii. 380; Stevens, Jlist. of the M. K. Church, iv, 354. (J. L, S.)
Walker, John (1), D.D., a minister of Esctcr,
England, is said to have been born in Devonshire near the close of the 17th century. He is best known by his work entitled .1 w .1 ttentpt towards Eecoreriuf/ an A ccount of the Numbers and Sufferings of the Clergy ivho were Sequestered in the Rebellion. He died in 1730. See Kni/lish Cyelop.s.v.
"Walker, John (2), a Church of England divine, was born in Cheshire in 1719. He was brought up to business; and after marrying and settling as a draiier, he experienced religious convictions by the preaching of the jNlethodists, among which body he first exercised his gifts as a preacher. He next went through a regu- lar academical course at Northampton in preparation for the ministry, after which he settled as ininister at Long Buckley, Northamptonshire. About 17t)0 he re- moved to Framlinghain, and a few years later to Wal- pole, Suffolk, where he continued until his decease, Aug. 31, 1805. iNIr. Walker was a man of eiriinent piety, hu- mility, candor, and benevolence. He possessed a clear understanding, a sound judgment, and was well versed in theologj'. See Theological Magazine, 1805, p. 437.
"Walker, John (3), an Irish clerg\-man, was born in 1707, and was edncate<l at Trinity College, Dublin, of which he was for some time a fellow, but was ex- pelled about 1800, and originated a sect called the Church of God. He died Oct. 25, 1833. He edited several mathematical and classical works. See (Lend.) Gentleman's Magazine, 1833, ii, 540.