Robert A. Walker, 1845-1933. Sudie Ann Walker, 1845-1916. Martha J. Walker, 1939-1922. Pearl N. Walker, 1877-1944. Perryville Cemetery, Hillcrest Cemetery, Perryville, Boyle County, Kentucky.
Our story begins at the end, with the gravestone for the Walker family in Perryville Cemetery, also known as Hillcrest Cemetery, in Boyle County. There are four names on this stone. Robert and Susan ‘Sudie’ are married. Martha J. Walker is Robert’s older sister, and Pearl is their daughter.
Robert A. Walker was the son of John Lapsley Walker and Emily Gaines. He is first found living with his parents in Boyle County in 1850 at the age of six. John was 43, Emily was 35. Robert was the youngest of four children; the older siblings were Nancy L., 14; Martha J., 12; and George Ann, 9. Robert lived with his parents through 1870.
In 1876 Robert married Susan Ann Marksbury, the daughter of Randolph Marksbury and Nancy West. In the 1880 census after their marriage we find the couple living in the Marksbury household. Randolph in 71, a farmer. Nancy is 61. Son Benoni is 31. Robert Walker is 35; Susan, 33; daughter Myrtle Elizabeth is 4, and daughter Nancy Emily Pearl is 2.
John L. Walker died October 24, 1878.
J. L. Walker died October 24, 1878, aged 71 years, 10 months and 5 days.
Emily walker lived another 12 years after her husband’s death.
Emily, wife of J. L. Walker, born January 15, 1814, died December 1, 1890, aged 76 years, 10 months, 16 days.
Twenty years later in 1900 Randolph Marksbury has passed away and Susan’s mother, Nancy, lives with the Walker family. They live in the Perryville area their entire lives.
Susan Marksbury Walker died January 9, 1916.
The Danville Advocate, Boyle County, Kentucky
Monday, January 10, 1916
Walker – Mrs. Robert Walker, aged seventy years, a most highly esteemed lady, of Perryville, died at the family residence there yesterday morning at 8:30 o’clock. Deceased is survived by her husband and two daughters, Miss Pearl Walker and Mrs. Joe Davis both of Perryville. The funeral will be held this afternoon at 1:30 o’clock
and will be conducted by Rev. Mr. Crutchfield. Burial will be in the Perryville Cemetery.
Just two years later daughter Myrtle died at the young age of 43. This was the year of Spanish Influenza. Her death certificate validates that was her cause of death.
The Danville Advocate, Boyle County, Kentucky
Tuesday, October 15, 1918
Mrs. Joe Davis Dead
Mrs. Joe Davis, aged 43 years, died Saturday morning, October 12th at 5 o’clock after about three week’s illness. She is survived by a husband, a four-year-old daughter, her father, Mr. R. A. Walker and sister, Miss Pearl Walker. For years she has been an active member of the Christian church and a member of the Ladies Aid Society since its organization. She will be missed by the church and this entire community. Everybody was her friend. She was a devoted wife and mother. “She added to the sum of human joy, and were every one for whom she did some loving service to bring a blossom to her grave she would sleep tonight beneath a wilderness of flowers.”
For the next two censuses, Robert and daughter Pearl lived together in the family home. Robert was aged 88 when death took him November 12, 1933.
The Danville Advocate, Boyle County, Kentucky
Monday, November 13, 1933
Perryville
Perryville, Ky., Nov. 13 – Mr. Robert Walker died at his home here Sunday morning at 5 o’clock after a several years illness. He was 88 years old and was born and raised in this community where he had spent his entire life. He was a member of the Methodist church to which he was always faithful when in good health. He had a host of friends and was liked by all who knew him. Mr. Walker is survived by one daughter, Miss Pearl Walker, and one granddaughter, Miss Gladys Davis. Funeral services were conducted at the residence this afternoon at two o’clock by his pastor, Rev. L. M. Omer. Burial took place in Hill Crest Cemetery beside his wife who died seventeen years ago. Pallbearers were Messrs. Joe Davis, J. L. Webb, John B. Webb, O. G. Webb, Lee Chatham and T. W. Chatham.
Nancy Emily Pearl Walker lived until 1944, dying July 7th. There was no obituary to be found, but the following announcement of her removal to Ephraim McDowell Memorial Hospital for treatment and the notice of claims against the estate of R. A. Walker or Nancy Pearl Walker listed by brother-in-law J. K. Davis.
The Advocate Messenger, Danville, Boyle County, Kentucky
Friday, March 17, 1944
Removed to Hospital
After a several weeks illness in the home of Mrs. Emma Watts in South Perryville, Miss Pearl Walker was on Wednesday removed to Ephraim McDowell Memorial Hospital for treatment.
The Advocate Messenger, Danville, Boyle County, Kentucky
Monday, July 17, 1944
Notices
All persons having claims against the estate of R. A. Walker or the estate of Nancy Pearl Walker will file same duly proven with the undersigned on or before September 15, 1944.
J. K. Davis, Administrator of the Estate of R. A. Walker and Nancy Pearl Walker, Box 194, Perryville, Ky.
Thus ends the story of another family, living their lives to the fullest, enjoying their community and church activities. The story of normal, ordinary lives that, at the end, received their eternal rewards.
Categories: Family Stories
