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Submitted: 3/30/14 • Approved: 4/1/14 • Last Updated: 4/4/14 • R992652-G0-S3
March 11, 1859 - December 20, 1933
*Obituary
Fayetteville Daily Democrat
Wednesday, December 20, 1933
J. VOL WALKER PASSES AWAY EARLY TODAY
Widely Known Attorney Goes Peacefully At 6:45 a.m.
LAWYER 52 YEARS
Son of Distinguished Family, U. S. Senator J.D. Walker:
Funeral Wednesday
James Volney Walker, widely-known lawyer and political leader of Northwest Arkansas, died at his home here this morning at 6:45 o'clock after an illness of nearly two weeks.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 o'clock from St. Paul's Episcopal church, Rev. Samuel H. Rainey, rector, officiating. County Offices will be closed during the funeral hour.
Pallbearers will be:
Honorary--All members of the local bar and officers of the court; district judiciary and court house officers; Drs. E. F. Ellis, A. S. Gregg and H. D. Wood; J. M. Williams and Col. C. F. Armistead.
Active—Guy Taylor, Will Summers, Tom Pearson, Wiley McNair, Jim MeIlroy and Jerome Reynolds.
Mr. Walker's funeral will be held on the 5fth anniversary of the death of his brother, J. Wythe Walker, also for years a prominent, lawyer of Northwest Arkansas.
He leaves besides hie wife, Mrs. Nancy Cravens Walker, and his son, Randall, one sister, Miss Sue Walker; one brother, Dr. David Walker, both of Fayetteville; and three nephews; J. Wythe Walker Jr., of Chicago, Byrnes Walker and Courtney Walker, both of Cleveland, Ohio, all sons of the late J. Wythe Walker and Mrs. Walker.
Mr. Walker had completed 52 years of brilliant legal practice when he closed his office here about a year ago because of poor health. During part of this time
he had been a partner of his father, the late J. D. Walker, a United States senator and a colonel in command of a regiment of Arkansas soldiers in the Civil War. He was a fourth generation member of his family to follow the legal profession.
His father and grandfather had taken a leading part in locating the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and Mr. Walker was one of its first students and graduates. His alma mater honored him with an LL.D. degree only a few years ago. During his lifetime Mr. Walker had been a strong supporter of the institution and was the leader who was credited with turning the tide against removal of the University to Little Rock when this movement against the institution was at its height. He was a charter member of the board of trustees for City Hospital and a leader in the movement to locate the Methodist Western Assembly in Fayetteville, drawing up the plan by which its location was financed.
Entered U. of A. in 1874
Mr. Walker wan born in Fayetteville, March 11, 1859, son of the late James D. Walker and Mary Walker, and is a direct desendant of John, brother of Augustine, father of George Washington.
He was educated in the public school at Cane Hill College and the University of Arkansan which he entered in 1874, graduating with the class of 1877.
Thereafter he began the study of law in his father's office, following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather and great-grandfather, all of wham were lawyers of eminent distinction.
Throughout his practice of law, which he carried on actively until only a short time ago when, because of poor health he quietly closed his down-town office, Mr. was considered by many the foremost lawyer of Arkansas, and it was acknowledged frequently that "had he had political aspiration, any office within the gift of the people might have been his.
He was admitted to the bar at the age of 21 and was associated with his father until 1888 when he formed a partnership with is late brother, J. Wythe Walker, an association he continued until it ended with his borthers death.
Appointed by President Cleveland
In 1895 President Grover Cleveland appointed Mr. Walker United States district attorney of the Central District, Indian Territory, as office he held six months when he resigned to resume his low practice in Arkansas.
*Obituary
Benton County Record & Democrat & Sun
Thursday, December 21, 1933
WALKER, James Volney - J. Vol. Walker, 74, widely known Northwest Arkansas attorney, died at his home in Fayetteville yesterday morning. His condition had been critical for the past week and death was not unexpected. He was one of Fayettevilles native sons, being born in that city in 1859. Following attending the pioneer Cane Hill College he entered the University of Arkansas two years after its establishment. He was made Doctor of Laws by the university four years ago. Funeral services will be held on Friday afternoon at the St. Paul's Episcopal Church. Several Bentonville attorneys will attend the services. He is survived by his widow and a son, James Walker of Fayetteville.
*Obituary
Rogers Daily News
Thursday, December 21, 1933
Funeral service for J. Volney Walker, one of northwest Arkansas' most outstanding attorneys, were held at St. Paul's Episcopal church at Fayetteville at 2:30 p.m. Thursday. Mr. Walker died early Wednesday following a critical illness of only a few days. All offices in the Washington county courthouse were closed during the funeral hour as a tribute to Mr. Walker who had practiced law in Arkansas courts for 52 years. James Volney Walker was born at Fayetteville March 11, 1859, the son of Mr. and Mrs. James D. Walker. He attended the public schools at Fayetteville, later attending Cane Hill college, a pioneer institution of higher education, and entering the University of Arkansas in 1874, two years after the institution had been established. Graduating from the university in 1877 Mr. Walker took up the study of law in the office of his father. His father, grandfather and great-grandfather had been engaged in the practice of law. Mr. Walker was admitted to the bar in 1880 and was associated with his father in the practice of law until 1888 when he formed a partnership with his brother, J. Wythe Walker, a partnership which continued until the death of J.W. Walker several years ago. Mr. Walker continued the practice of law following the death of his brother and was active in his work until recently when ill health forced his retirement. President Grover Cleveland appointed Mr. Walker United States district attorney for the central district of the Indian territory in 1895 but after serving six months in this office Mr. Walker resigned to return to his private practice in Fayetteville. He was elected prosecuting attorney of the fourth Arkansas district in 1896, serving for one term. In 1917 Mr. Walker was selected to fill a place on a state commission to pass upon a claim which had been pending against the state since 1901. He was drafted as a candidate and elected to the constitutional convention in 1917. When a fight for removal of the University of Arkansas to Little Rock was brewing in 1922 Mr. Walker became a candidate for the legislature and was elected by an overwhelming majority. His work during the session of the legislature in 1923 played a large part in defeat of a bill that would have removed the state institution to Little Rock.
Contributed on 3/30/14 by wfields55
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Record #: 992652