The Day Book of Benjamin Walker, 1846

Emmitte R. Walker and Judith F. Russell[1]

East Texas Historical Journal, Volume XLIV, Number 2, 2006

Reprinted with permission

Benjamin Walker was born on 27 December 1811 in South Carolina[2] and moved with his family, friends, and kinsman to the newly opened Mississippi Territory around 1815. His father, Samuel Walker, Junior, had been a state legislator in South Carolina and became involved in Alabama politics soon after state was formed from the Mississippi Territory. Samuel Walker served several terms in the Alabama State House of Representatives, and, before his death in 1841, was the Speaker of the Alabama House. Benjamin’s mother, Fannie Eddins Walker, was one of a large Eddins family, the children of Benjamin Eddins of South Carolina, a Revolutionary War hero.[3]

When Benjamin Walker’s father died, he bequeathed to Benjamin the “plantation on which he now lives in Lincoln County, Tennessee.” Soon thereafter, Benjamin was on the move along with many other people of the time -- they were heading West. In 1846, about the time his wife Susan gave birth to their first child, Benjamin Walker was living in Aberdeen, Monroe County, Mississippi, and from there he set out to Texas to access the prospects of the newly admitted state. He was accompanied by his 2^nd cousin, Benjamin Holloway. The namesake of both of the cousins was probably their great grandfather, Benjamin Bell of South Carolina, said to have been killed in a Cherokee uprising in 1779. Their family line also included their grandmother Martha-Jefferson Bell Walker, 2^nd cousin of President Thomas Jefferson.

Among the supplies Benjamin bought for his Texas trip was a four by six inch leather-bound journal. One the first page he wrote “Benjamin Walkers Day Book, Bot in Aberdeen, Monroe County, Miss, September 3^rd, 1846.” The Day Book is still in the possession of the Walker family of Austin, Texas, and has been recently transcribed by family members. Some of the penciled pages are growing dim, but the pages written in ink are as clear as when they were written almost 160 years ago and the handwriting is very readable.

The Day Book’s pages chronicle one person’s impressions of life of East Texas in the autumn of 1846. Benjamin wrote about Texas prospects (“good prairie land, but badly timbered”) and dangers (“a cure for snake bite”). While traveling over a thousand miles looking for land, he recorded, in addition to the everyday details of the journey, many folk remedies that he heard about – including one he thought would interest his wife: how to keep calico from fading.

The travelers often stayed with friends and family members. Benjamin, the record keeper, carefully noted each expense, however small, not only for himself, but also so that he could settle up with his cousin – it would seem that they had agreed to share expenses equally. Although they may have been self-reliant when it came to finding game for food, they had to spend hard cash for whiskey and for each of the river crossings they made by ferry. Many crossings are listed; usually the price was $1.00 per person, which was about the same as they paid for their overnight stays.

At one point in the journey, or possibly on an entirely different trip, Benjamin visited the city of New Orleans. He made notes in his Daybook as he outfitted himself in very good style, buying “2 pair casimer pants” at five dollars each, at a time when cattle sold for $3.00 a head and land for less than $1.00 per acre.

After his trip to Texas, Benjamin bought land in Arkansas, recording the transactions in his Daybook. From 1849 until the mid 1850s he purchased at least seven Military Warrants for land in Arkansas, plus some other acreage there, and within a few years he had moved his family there. They are recorded in Polk Township, Arkansas County, Arkansas, in the 1860 Census of Population, but sometime after 1865 they moved to Texas. Benjamin died about 1868 in Hornsby Bend, Travis County, Texas. His descendants are now spread throughout the western states. His Daybook, transcribed below with his spelling and grammar intact, is his legacy to his twenty-first century family and readers.

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Benjamin Walkers

DAY BOOK

Bot in Aberdeen

Monroe County Miß

September 3^rd 1846

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Shackelford _____

Bot _____ 124 lbs Rope [?]

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B. T. Emry hickory _____

The probate court to be holden [?] in the post On the 3 _____ Monday in July

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Colic in Horses

Take one pound of Epsom Salts. dissolve it in not more than a half gallon of boiling _____ water. drench the animal with it. when you can hold your finger in it two seconds. don’t be afraid of scalding the animal and a cure will result.

*****

This is a note book of Grandpa Walkers.[4]

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A Receipt for the Cure of Pneuralgia

6 grains of Bromide of Pottassium daily

One month. Decrease one grain each month until cured.

cinchanedic [?]

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[Page torn out][5]

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We arrived on the Sabine Riv on the 30^th of Sept 1846. Croßsed over into Texas Sabine County thence up the river to Jas. M. Burroughs[6] through a poor pine hill country from thence on the 1^st of Oct to San Augustine a poor Pine Hill country within a few miles of San Augustine where we came to good looking ___land which produces pretty well but badly timbered. stayed all nite 11 miles west of San Augustine at Garretts from thence on the 2^nd of Oct to Nacogdoches 3^rd from thence acroßs the Angelina and up too miles to Sackville Easters[7] & stayed until Monday morning the 5 Oct from thence acroßs some poor Prairies & acroßs the Neches River.

*****

Wm. W. Hill[8]

Washing[ton] County Independence

15 miles up the Brazos Cavinaugh Washing[ton] County F __ guhas 3 miles ____ Thomas [?] Birdwell[9] near _____

Sackville A. Easter addreßs

Nacogdoches County Douglas Texas

L.[S.?] A. Easter in Cherokee County

John G. Berry[10] San Augustine Texas

*****

From Judge Lipscomb to Washington [18?] From thence to Montogomery 30 from Montogomery to Huntsville 30 miles from thence to Crockett 30 miles from thence to Easters 40 from thence to Nacogdoches 25 miles from thence to San Augustine 35 from thence Olford 40 from thence to Nacatosh 40 from thence to Grays 37 from thence to Iquines 38 miles from thence to Sicily Island 32 from thence to Rodney 35 from thence to Port Gibson 26 and to Eddins 11 from thence to Raymond 36 from thence to Clinton, Livingston, Canton 38 from thence Koscinsko 45 to Starkville 63.[11]

*****

Washington Oct 24 Ferriage acroß Beaos [Bravos?]	.50
Oct 29 one flask wiskey	.25
Oct 30 Boots for Holloway	3.00
[Oct] 31 for _____in Cincinati	.50
______ shoein J. H. horse	2.00
Nov 1 for staying all nite at Dillards’	2.00
Paid ______ Whiskey	.50
Staid at Mack Master	2.00
Ferriage at Nechea	.20
Nov 5 for whiskey ____	1.00
Loß in exchange	.25
At Nacogdoches	2.00
At San Augustine	2.00
Coß [loss?] in exchange	.35
Ferriage at Sabine	.25
At Olfords 8 Nov 184__	2.00
At Nachitochis	3.00

*****

Ferriage acroßs the Bonge [?] in Louisiana	.20
At Grays	2.00
Paid at Squires	2.00
At _____ whiskey	.20
Ferriages at Washiton	.40
Paid at _____ on Sisily Island	2.00
Ferriage at Mißs River	1.50
Ferriage at Te_____	.50
Paid at Rodney	4.00
At Port Gibson for apple	.30
At Lotts	2.50
At Jones	2.00
At Beamons	2.00
At Irvines	2.00
For whiskey at Spring _____t	.40
At _____	2.00

Settled

*****

B. Walker bot from John Shackelford 2789 lbs of fodder a 1 cent per pound.

*****

B. Walker paid for horses at Helena	4.50
Paid for Mr. Sergant	2.25
_____A _____Brown’s	2.25

Settled Paid

*****

Holloway paid	$6.00
Wm. Coopwood	5.00
Walker	5.00
Wm. Coopwood	10.00
Holloway	2.00
Holloway	1.00
Holloway	5.00

Expenses of Coopwood, Holloway _____Walker to Arkansas October 1847

Coopwood paid to Walker	$15.00
Holloway paid _____	14.00

*****

A receipt for the cure of Dysentary.

Take equal portions of peach tree & elder bark the out side bark scraped off. make a tea & drink freely. is said to cure in 12 hours.

*****

Bill of Expenses to Arkansas

Paid first nite Pontotoc	$4.50
2. Nite Oxford	3.75
Ferriage at Talhatchy	.30
3. Esq. Ellisons	2.65
4 at Robertson	[??]
5. at Houston	3.60
6. at Hellena	5.25
7. at Bro __ona	2.25
Ferriage acroßs the White River	.75
8. at Robertsons	1.80
9. at Wm Robinsons	[???]
10. at the gun ___Comills	2.50
11. at Stillwell	12.00
At Montgomery	1.50

*****

At Wm Robinsons	00
Hendy	2.75
Croßsing White River	.60

$44.20

Holloway & Walker at Pikeolloway HoHHH	1.60
At Helena	3.00
Ferriage at Helena	1.00
Ferriage at Coldwater	.30
At Poone	2.12
At Coffeville	3.00
At Houston	2.00
At Pikeville	.25
	$13.27 [divide by 2] $6.63
Holloway due to Walker	$6.63 .46 7.09

*****

44.20 [divide by 3] 14.73 1/3

$44.20

Coopwood paid	$ cts 15.00
Holloway do.	14.00
Walker do.	15.20
Due to Coopwood	Cts. 26 2/3
Due from Holloway	75 1/3
Due to Walker	46 1/3

*****

A remedy for snake bite.

A weed called croßswork. It grows various height. the leaves grow out of the stem to a T at a place opposite each other. The too next leaves come out from opposite sides of the stem and so on croßsing or changing sides as they grow ___. the leaf is long ____narrow and the top side quite rough. take the roots stem ___ leaves. bruise and boil in sweet milk. take it _____ _____ ____ apply some to the bite to affect a cure.

*****

B. Walker

*****

C. McClendon[12] D____ to

B. Walker

309 4 ____ 12.36 21.00	lbs bacon for corn
33.36 9.00
24.36	PAID

*****

L [?, possibly S] Holloway to B. Walker [Du?]

15 stacks fodder weighing 1227 lbs ech 15 18405 at ½ ct 9202	$92.02
To 108 head stock hogs at 1 dollar per head	$108.00
15 head stock cattle at $3.00 per head	$45.00
1000 bushel corn at 25 cts per bushel	$250.00

Due 1^st Nov 1849

*****

Benjamin Eddins

Or Or [possibly “do do as in ditto”]

To Benjamin Walker

Fifteen dollars loaned

Money 8^th of March 1850

Paid B. Walker

*****

Jan 28^th 1885[13]

D.R. James to T. J. Walker

To 180 lbs pork at 5 cts. 900

James, Goyens

To 664 lbs pork at 5 cts 3320

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Rect. of P. J. Crutchfield of State of Arkansas

Receives for $157.53 N [Warrant?]

No. 7314 Littlerock Oct 2^nd 1856 to Benj. Walker of Arkansas Co. Ark. Being for 315 6/100 acres of land.

Rect of C. P. Bashard, receive for $50 for 40 acres land – to Benj Walker of Ark. County Ark. Into Little Rock Ark 9 Nov 1852.

W.W. Adams ____ of State of Ark. Certificate of Comtion by Benj. Walker of Mil Land warrant no. 43180 in name of Mich’l Sheriden for 160 acres of land also of Mil Land warrant No. 47130 in name of Wm. Calvert for 160 acres also M.L. Warrant no 13801 in name of Hardy Robinson for 80 acres land

*****

M.L. W. 38489 in name of N. C. Hawkins for 76.88 acre all _____ 9 Nov 1852.

The above rects and certrificates enclosed by Registered letter to W. H. Halliburton[14] of Dewitt Arkansas. ‑‑‑‑‑ at McDade Bastrop Co T___

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Benjamin Walker Bot of Joel M. Acker one land warrant No. 59251 calling for 160 of land and issued in the name of William Cothran late a corporal in Capt. Stewarts company Battalion Mißs Voluntary under date of May 30^th 1849.

Benjamin Walker Bot of Benjamin L. Howell late a Sergant of Capt Ackers company 2^nd regiment Mißs Volunteers one land warrant No. 51580 calling for 160 acres of land issued to said Benj. L. Howell 22^nd day of March 1849.

*****

T. N. Porter

Helena, Ark.

Mr. I hangr [?]

Memphis, Tenn

*****

Between Millers and Connells some good prairie land

*****

To wash Calico.

Infuse three gills of salt in one gallon of boiling water and put the calico in while hot and leave it till cold and in this way the colours are sun dried permanent.

*****

Po[r]tage from Miller to N. Orleans

Bot in New Orleans	2.00
2 pair casimer pants	10.00
1 _____ common _____	2.00
1 vest	2.50
1 Blanket coat	2.00
1 shirt	1.50
1 pocket knife	1.00
1 purse	.25

*****

Take 1 Dram Ext Bark

½ oz aloes

½ oz Rhubarb

7 oz Black Snake Root

1 oz Pesuman Barks

Put the above mixture in one quart of good speritts. Take a common dram morning noon & at night so as cause at least 2 loose stools every 24 hours

[signed] Dock Jas. B. Vaught[15]

[signed] James B. Vaught

*****

Take 20 grs of Blue Maßs – 10 of specie -- 15 of Calomel – mix & make in to six Pills. Take 2 pills every 4 hours – until you have taking the last 2 pills. If they should not purge in two hours after taking last 2 pills – take a tea cup of strong sima tea every 2 hours until they have purged some four or five times. Any motion over five restrain by taking Landinains opium or paregoric—thus commences your Batters War _‑_ n teas as Drinks.

*****

From Holloway	$ cts 10. 37
At Nacogdoches	5.00
Holloway paid at Jones	1.00
At Beeman	5.00
At Theens	2.00
	23.37
To be taken from	5.00
	18.37

Settled

*****

Walker paid for Holloway
To one pr Boots	$3.00
For shoeing horse	2.00
	$5.00
Holloway and Walker Expenses from Washington, Texas home
Total divided by 2	$40.75 20.37 ½
Holloway paid	18.37 ½
Due Walker	2.00

Paid

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[This is a very faint penciled page]

Gave to ______

$10.00	______
5.00	T______
5.00	T _____
5.00	T_____
__5.00	To Holloway
2.00	To _____
32.00
17.88 Settled

*****

September the 12^th 1846 loaned S. Holloway[16] 50 cts. Paid.

Walker bot for Saml Holloway _____ pounds of pork _____ in 1846. $5.46 Paid

Due Walker from S. Holloway $2.30.

The above is paid except 30 cents.

[signed] B. Walker

*****

Town 2 Range 3

C.C. & I. W. Alday [?]

_______________

Walker loaned to S. Holloway on the 24^th of January 1848 $25. 00 to pay for Whiting gin.

*****

N[?]o Csamam____t

12.27

[x] 15

18405

Walker paid for Mitchell 2.05

Mitchell paid for Walker $15.00

*****

[Scratch page of additions, subtractions, and divisions of costs]

*****

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[1] The transcribers wish to thank all of the members of the Samuel Walker Research Group, especially Neva Carmichael and Shirley Nobles Erickson, for their help with interpretation and identification of the individuals mentioned in the Daybook.

[2] Judith F. Russell, “The Samuel Walker, Jr., Family Bible.” Quill, Old Edgefield District Genealogical Society, Volume XX, Number 6 (November/December 2004): 108 – 111. Also at http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/r/u/s/Judith-F-Russell

[3] Margaret Watson, Greenwood County Sketches: Old Roads and Early Families (Greenwood, South Carolina: The Attic Press, Inc, 1982) 224-225.

[4] Believed to be a notation by Benjamin’s granddaughter Mytle Walker, daughter of John and Demarius Hudler Walker

[5] The missing page possibly had information about the trip across Mississippi and Louisiana from their home in Aberdeen, Monroe County, Mississippi, since the next page begins with the Sabine River crossing.

[6] James M. Burroughs, Lawyer and farmer, is found in the 1850 Census of Population, Sabine District, Sabine County, Texas.

[7] Sackville Easter was the step-son of Benjamin Walker’s sister, Martha Jefferson Walker who married, as his second wife, Champion Easter of Limestone County, Alabama. S. Easter and his family are found on the 1850 Census of Population, Cherokee County, Texas.

[8] William W. Hill, farmer and his family, is found in the 1850 Census of Population, Burleson and Brazos, Burleson County, Texas.

[9] Thomas G. Birdwell, 1850 Census of Population, Walker County, Texas. In the 1840 Census of Population, he was living in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

[10] John G. Berry , farmer born in North Carolina and his family are found in the 1850 Census of Population, San Augustine District, San Augustine County, Texas.

[11] This series of mileage distances traces the 649 mile route from Texas beginning at Washington, north of Houston TX then to Mongomery TX, Huntsville TX, Crockett TX, Natchotochis TX, San Augustine TX, Sicily Island LA, Port Gibson MS, Raymond MS, Clinton, Livingston and Canton MS, Koscinsko MS and Starkville MS.

[12] Thought to be Charles McClendon, whose daughter Burma married into the Coopwood family. Charles McClendon was also closely associated with Samuel Holloway.

[13] This would appear to be an entry made by Thomas Walker long after the death of his father Benjamin Walker, some 15 years after settling in Lee County, Texas.

[14] W. H. Halliburton, clerk, and his family are found in the 1850 Census of Population, Arkansas Township, Arkansas County, Arkansas.

[15] James B. Vaught, doctor, and his family are found on the 1860 Census of Population for Beat Number 81, Nacogdoches County, Texas.

[16] Samuel Holloway was the brother of Benjamin Holloway. He died Aberdeen County, Mississippi, 1858.