VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY
681
born July 17, 1845. and died March 10, 1910.
He was a shoemaker and worker in leather,
his activities in this line interrupted by the
outbreak of the civil war, when he enlisted
in the Confederate States army, remaining
in the service until peace was gained. In
the Confederate service he rendered devoted
service, each engagement of his company
linding him at the front, and when his pres-
ence was no longer needed in the line of
battle he located in Portsmouth, there con-
tinuing in his former business until his re-
tirement. Lewis Wilson Walker was a man
known by his fellows for his kindly nature,
the strict rectitude of his lite, and, by those
best acquainted with him, his loyalty to his
family and the rich happiness of his home
life. He wa-5 a member of the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows and the Improved
Order of Heptasophs. His father was one
ot the organizers of the Court Street Bap-
tist congregation, a charter member there-
of, and instrumental in the building of the
house of worship. Mr. Walker married,
September 22, 1875, Mary Eliza Robertson,
born July 12. 1851. died November i, 191 1,
daughter of William David, born in 1827,
died April 15, 1897, and Eliza Ann (Davis)
Robertson, born in 1838. died December 23,
1899. Issue: I. Grace E., born March 16,
1877; married. May i, 1905, William J.
Cobb. 2. William R., of whom further. 3.
Robert Davis, born February 12, 1883; he
is in the service of the United States navy ;
married. May 9, 1904, Bessie Ellis, and has a
daughter, Jane Ellis, born January 4, 1908.
4. Mittie S., born January 16, i88fi; mar-
ried, September 2. 1903, Harry Curling, and
has Marion, born April 4, 1905. 5- Eliza
Naomi, born November 10, 1889: married,
October 19, 1910, Leonard F. Savage, and
hag a daughter, Mittie, born April 2, 1912.
6. John, died in infancy.
William R. Walker, son of Lewis Wil- son Walker and his wife, Mary Eliza ( Rob- ertson ) Walker, was born in Portsmouth. Virginia, July fi, 1879. He was reared in the city of his birth, was there educated and trained in the baker's trade. After a sixteen months apprenticeship in this line he estab- lished, in 1896, in independent business dealings, continuing for five years, when he became identified with the Portsmouth Fire Department. It is not difficult to follow the course by which he was attracted to this calling, beginning with boyish enthusiasm
and the lure of the thrilling, eventful life,
through youthful respect and admiration for
those who so gallantly braved injury and
death to save life and property, to the
mature realization of the nobility and use-
fulness of such service that caused him to
enter it. From the day of his entrance into
the service he made duty his guiding star
and by his strict observance of every re-
quirement made upon him and his willing-
r.css to assume additional burdens, he
gained recognition and rapid promotion, be-
ing, at the time of his appointment as chief
of the Portsmouth Fire Department, the
youngest incumbent of this position in any
city of the United States. Under his rule
the fire-fighting force of the city has at-
tained a degree of efficiency never before
reached and is an instrument for the pro-
tection of the citizens of Portsmouth whose
value cannot be overestimated. The best
and most modern of equipment is manned
by a force of firemen uniformly brave, dar-
ing and bold, and nothing can bring to
Chief Walker greater satisfaction than the
praise of the efforts of his men. In critical
situations, when the prize at stake is rich
in life or money, he has risen to every emer-
gency, leading his men in person, disdain-
ing to order action where he would not
serve. His daily work is that of the general
on the field of battle, with the exception that
the foe he fights is unseen and unknown,
most often masquerading as a friend. His
years of service have proven to the citizens
of Portsmouth that constant vigilance and
watchful care guard them from the ravages
of fire, and for faithfulness ever and the
performance of duty to the utmost degree,
he is accorded their lasting regard. Poli-
tically a Democrat, Mr. Walker's fraternal
connections are with Lodge No. 82, Benevo-
lent and Protective Order of Elks; Mon-
tauk Tribe, No. 55, Improved Order of Red
Men, and the Fraternal Order of Eagles, of
which he is a charter member and grand
worthy vice-president.
He married, June 14, 1905, Beulah Vir- ginia, daughter of George W. and May Elizabeth ( Bunting) Broughton, and has children : Lewis Broughton, born March 12. 1906: George Robert, born May 21, 1909; May Ethelyn, born May 17, 1912.
Charles H. Callahan, an official of the highest worth and principles, who has
