from The News-Leader, Springfield, Washington County, Kentucky

Thursday, January 30, 1908

Death of Mrs. Nannie Walker

Last Wednesday evening, the 22nd institute, at 7:30 o’clock, Mrs. Nannie Walker passed away at her home on Grundy Avenue, aged 76 years.  The deceased was born near Mackville and was a descendant of Robert Mitchell who, with the Shipleys and Brownings of North Carolina, emigrated to Kentucky over a hundred years ago.  They followed the “Wilderness Road” and camped for rest at Crab Orchard where they were surprised by Indians and Mrs. Mitchell was tomahawked and died, and her daughter, Sarah, take captive and sold into slavery to a Frenchman in Canada.  Robert Mitchell, grandfather of Mrs. Nannie Walker, hearing of his daughter’s whereabouts, three years later, in company with General Adair, set out on horseback to recover possession of her.  In an attempt to ford a river he was drowned and General Adair was forced to give up the quest, which was taken up then by General Bob Mitchell, the father of the subject of this sketch, who went to Canada where he found his sister, purchased her and brought her to Kentucky, where she later became the wife of John Thompson and mother of Mitchell  Thompson, whose widow, Aunt Mary Thompson, died on the 26th of December last.

It was from such brave, courageous pioneer stock that Mrs. Walker descended, and she bore the sorrows and disappointments of life with the same undaunted spirit that characterized her fore-fathers.  The deceased was the mother of five children:  John R., Abner, James C., of Lebanon, Nannie E. and Logan M. Walker, all of whom were with her in her last illness.

Mrs. Walker was a member of the Pleasant Grove Presbyterian Church, and a Christian of the purest type.  The funeral was conducted at Pleasant Grove Church Friday morning at 11 o’clock, by the pastor, Rev. W. T. Overstreet.

A Tribute

“The young may die – the old must die.”  While to the first death seems an awful monster, intruding upon ones plans and prospects; to the other if children of God by faith in Jesus Christ, is a welcome messenger, calling away from sorrow and pain to eternal rest and joy.  These thoughts come to me in connection with the death of my old friend, Mrs. Nannie Walker.  I first met her when I was a child and she a young lady.  I was then impressed with her kind, sympathizing manner.  As I grew older I learned to love and admire her as a true Christian.  God led her as he always does His children through the fires of affliction, but the heavenly graces only shone the brighter for the ordeal.  Left a widow, with five little children to provide for (one an infant) she bravely shouldered the burden, and no soldier could have fought life’s battles with more courage than she did.  It was a touching scene, one that is engraved on my memory, of how at the bier of her husband she stood and dedicated her babe to God in baptism.  She wanted all her children to have the seal of the covenant.  She tried to teach them by precept and example.  she labored for their maintenance and all the while was so cheerful and bright, it was refreshing to look upon her countenance.  And when in the latter part of her life continued suffering was her lot she bore it with unmurmuring patience, and then God took her home.  She, like the “Captain of his salvation was made perfect through suffering”.  To her children I would say, don’t grieve for mother.  Think of her residing in one of the “many mansions” which the Savior has prepared, “waiting and watching for you”.

Mrs. E. C. D. Janes

Murray Walker, 1821-1866

Nannie R. Walker, 1831-1908