Henry Walker was born 02 FEB 1807, Botetourt County, Virginia, the son of Andrew Woods Walker and Elizabeth "Betsy" Handley. Henry had at least twelve siblings: Margaret H. Walker, John H. Walker, Arcibald W. Walker, Martha Woods Walker, Emily Houston Walker, Mary Handley Walker, Elizabeth Murray Walker, Jane Susan Walker, Andrew Jackson Walker, Floyd Walker, Newton K. Walker and Melvina Catherine Walker. Henry's sister, Elizabeth, married Andrew Jackson "Andy" Elmore, 12 DEC 1837. They lived in New Castle, Virginia, where Andrew worked as a wagon maker.
Henry married Maria Rankin Shawver, the daughter of John and Margaret Wiley Shawver (Shawver family were the proprietors of the old Shawver Tavern), 15 JUL 1833, Botetourt County, Virginia, they had ten children: Margaret Elizabeth "Maggie" Walker, Arianna "Sophy" Catherine Walker, Sarah Taylor "Sally" Walker, Mary Malvina Walker, Julia Hamilton Walker, Mariah Henry Walker, Emma Tinsley Walker, Wade Hampton Walker, Andrew Floyd Walker and John Thomas Walker.
Henry was a stagecoach driver, farmer and toll gate keeper. Henry's brother, John Walker, was proprietor of one of the old taverns, "Mountain House Tavern", along the old stage road at the Fincastle-Sweet Springs Turnpike. There was also a post office and a stable, where stagecoach drivers exchanged a team of horses for fresh ones. Later on, Henry came to own the property. They had a perpetual charter for the road and there was a toll gate.
Henry and Maria at one time owned a farm on Potts Creek, Alleghany County, Virginia. Their 2.5 story frame and log house was built about 1830. Henry's father, Andrew Walker, later moved in with Henry's family and died at the Walker home. Henry lost his farm due to signing notes for others, which eventually came back on him to pay. That is when Henry and Maria moved to Mountain House. Maria continued to live there for many years after Henry's death in 1891. Maria was interred beside of Henry at the Walker Cemetery (Shawver Cemetery).
NOTE: Thank you, Captain Maynard for contributing the old Crow's Tavern newspaper advertisements.
By the way, "Bruin", was the name of Colonel John Crow's pet bear. Colonel Crow died in 1861, and was quite a colorful character. Excerpts from an old newspaper clipping (in old family scrapbook): John Crow, described as the last of the old innkeepers, was known far and wide for the food he served and his powers of entertainment with wild yarns. Colonel Crow was genial, portly and talkative, and when his mint juleps for which he was famous, got in their power, he was one to let his imagination add color to his stories, and he sometimes had a hard time getting himself out of a hole. "The host, Colonel Crow, was a distinct type of his class, a prince withal, whose eccentricities and power of drinking placed him at the very top of the calling. He was very red and portly, good humored and jovial, and owing to a brilliant and cultivated imagination, had attained all over the state of Old Virginia, far and wide, the proud title of "the biggest liar that ever walked on two legs."
Henry married Maria Rankin Shawver, the daughter of John and Margaret Wiley Shawver (Shawver family were the proprietors of the old Shawver Tavern), 15 JUL 1833, Botetourt County, Virginia, they had ten children: Margaret Elizabeth "Maggie" Walker, Arianna "Sophy" Catherine Walker, Sarah Taylor "Sally" Walker, Mary Malvina Walker, Julia Hamilton Walker, Mariah Henry Walker, Emma Tinsley Walker, Wade Hampton Walker, Andrew Floyd Walker and John Thomas Walker.
Henry was a stagecoach driver, farmer and toll gate keeper. Henry's brother, John Walker, was proprietor of one of the old taverns, "Mountain House Tavern", along the old stage road at the Fincastle-Sweet Springs Turnpike. There was also a post office and a stable, where stagecoach drivers exchanged a team of horses for fresh ones. Later on, Henry came to own the property. They had a perpetual charter for the road and there was a toll gate.
Henry and Maria at one time owned a farm on Potts Creek, Alleghany County, Virginia. Their 2.5 story frame and log house was built about 1830. Henry's father, Andrew Walker, later moved in with Henry's family and died at the Walker home. Henry lost his farm due to signing notes for others, which eventually came back on him to pay. That is when Henry and Maria moved to Mountain House. Maria continued to live there for many years after Henry's death in 1891. Maria was interred beside of Henry at the Walker Cemetery (Shawver Cemetery).
NOTE: Thank you, Captain Maynard for contributing the old Crow's Tavern newspaper advertisements.
By the way, "Bruin", was the name of Colonel John Crow's pet bear. Colonel Crow died in 1861, and was quite a colorful character. Excerpts from an old newspaper clipping (in old family scrapbook): John Crow, described as the last of the old innkeepers, was known far and wide for the food he served and his powers of entertainment with wild yarns. Colonel Crow was genial, portly and talkative, and when his mint juleps for which he was famous, got in their power, he was one to let his imagination add color to his stories, and he sometimes had a hard time getting himself out of a hole. "The host, Colonel Crow, was a distinct type of his class, a prince withal, whose eccentricities and power of drinking placed him at the very top of the calling. He was very red and portly, good humored and jovial, and owing to a brilliant and cultivated imagination, had attained all over the state of Old Virginia, far and wide, the proud title of "the biggest liar that ever walked on two legs."
Henry Walker was born 02 FEB 1807, Botetourt County, Virginia, the son of Andrew Woods Walker and Elizabeth "Betsy" Handley. Henry had at least twelve siblings: Margaret H. Walker, John H. Walker, Arcibald W. Walker, Martha Woods Walker, Emily Houston Walker, Mary Handley Walker, Elizabeth Murray Walker, Jane Susan Walker, Andrew Jackson Walker, Floyd Walker, Newton K. Walker and Melvina Catherine Walker. Henry's sister, Elizabeth, married Andrew Jackson "Andy" Elmore, 12 DEC 1837. They lived in New Castle, Virginia, where Andrew worked as a wagon maker.
Henry married Maria Rankin Shawver, the daughter of John and Margaret Wiley Shawver (Shawver family were the proprietors of the old Shawver Tavern), 15 JUL 1833, Botetourt County, Virginia, they had ten children: Margaret Elizabeth "Maggie" Walker, Arianna "Sophy" Catherine Walker, Sarah Taylor "Sally" Walker, Mary Malvina Walker, Julia Hamilton Walker, Mariah Henry Walker, Emma Tinsley Walker, Wade Hampton Walker, Andrew Floyd Walker and John Thomas Walker.
Henry was a stagecoach driver, farmer and toll gate keeper. Henry's brother, John Walker, was proprietor of one of the old taverns, "Mountain House Tavern", along the old stage road at the Fincastle-Sweet Springs Turnpike. There was also a post office and a stable, where stagecoach drivers exchanged a team of horses for fresh ones. Later on, Henry came to own the property. They had a perpetual charter for the road and there was a toll gate.
Henry and Maria at one time owned a farm on Potts Creek, Alleghany County, Virginia. Their 2.5 story frame and log house was built about 1830. Henry's father, Andrew Walker, later moved in with Henry's family and died at the Walker home. Henry lost his farm due to signing notes for others, which eventually came back on him to pay. That is when Henry and Maria moved to Mountain House. Maria continued to live there for many years after Henry's death in 1891. Maria was interred beside of Henry at the Walker Cemetery (Shawver Cemetery).
NOTE: Thank you, Captain Maynard for contributing the old Crow's Tavern newspaper advertisements.
By the way, "Bruin", was the name of Colonel John Crow's pet bear. Colonel Crow died in 1861, and was quite a colorful character. Excerpts from an old newspaper clipping (in old family scrapbook): John Crow, described as the last of the old innkeepers, was known far and wide for the food he served and his powers of entertainment with wild yarns. Colonel Crow was genial, portly and talkative, and when his mint juleps for which he was famous, got in their power, he was one to let his imagination add color to his stories, and he sometimes had a hard time getting himself out of a hole. "The host, Colonel Crow, was a distinct type of his class, a prince withal, whose eccentricities and power of drinking placed him at the very top of the calling. He was very red and portly, good humored and jovial, and owing to a brilliant and cultivated imagination, had attained all over the state of Old Virginia, far and wide, the proud title of "the biggest liar that ever walked on two legs."
Henry married Maria Rankin Shawver, the daughter of John and Margaret Wiley Shawver (Shawver family were the proprietors of the old Shawver Tavern), 15 JUL 1833, Botetourt County, Virginia, they had ten children: Margaret Elizabeth "Maggie" Walker, Arianna "Sophy" Catherine Walker, Sarah Taylor "Sally" Walker, Mary Malvina Walker, Julia Hamilton Walker, Mariah Henry Walker, Emma Tinsley Walker, Wade Hampton Walker, Andrew Floyd Walker and John Thomas Walker.
Henry was a stagecoach driver, farmer and toll gate keeper. Henry's brother, John Walker, was proprietor of one of the old taverns, "Mountain House Tavern", along the old stage road at the Fincastle-Sweet Springs Turnpike. There was also a post office and a stable, where stagecoach drivers exchanged a team of horses for fresh ones. Later on, Henry came to own the property. They had a perpetual charter for the road and there was a toll gate.
Henry and Maria at one time owned a farm on Potts Creek, Alleghany County, Virginia. Their 2.5 story frame and log house was built about 1830. Henry's father, Andrew Walker, later moved in with Henry's family and died at the Walker home. Henry lost his farm due to signing notes for others, which eventually came back on him to pay. That is when Henry and Maria moved to Mountain House. Maria continued to live there for many years after Henry's death in 1891. Maria was interred beside of Henry at the Walker Cemetery (Shawver Cemetery).
NOTE: Thank you, Captain Maynard for contributing the old Crow's Tavern newspaper advertisements.
By the way, "Bruin", was the name of Colonel John Crow's pet bear. Colonel Crow died in 1861, and was quite a colorful character. Excerpts from an old newspaper clipping (in old family scrapbook): John Crow, described as the last of the old innkeepers, was known far and wide for the food he served and his powers of entertainment with wild yarns. Colonel Crow was genial, portly and talkative, and when his mint juleps for which he was famous, got in their power, he was one to let his imagination add color to his stories, and he sometimes had a hard time getting himself out of a hole. "The host, Colonel Crow, was a distinct type of his class, a prince withal, whose eccentricities and power of drinking placed him at the very top of the calling. He was very red and portly, good humored and jovial, and owing to a brilliant and cultivated imagination, had attained all over the state of Old Virginia, far and wide, the proud title of "the biggest liar that ever walked on two legs."
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