FROM "The History of the Walker Family 1734-1990 & Their Kindred" - BY GLENNIS WALKER:

Chrispi Anos was only a baby when the Walker and Peters families made the migration across the Alleghany Mountains into the New River Valley.

Chrispi grew up in the section of Montgomery County, Virginia that became Giles County in 1806. His home was near the present day town of Narrows. As was common in his day, Chrispi was considered illiterate, and was awakened by his deficiencies after a cattleman engaged him to assist in driving a herd of cattle to Baltimore. He was determined to get an education, and following through in a dedicated manner, he became good with figures, an able speaker, and he loved to debate. He later became very prominent in the development of Mercer County, which was formed in 1837.

Chrispi was engaged to marry his first cousin, Frances Peters. The Peters family lived farther up the river from the Walker home. Frances' parents opposed to the marriage and kept a very watchful eye on Frances, forbidding Chrispi from coming to their home. Frances was determined to escape the watchful eyes of the family and slip away undetected, then Chrispi succeeded in informing Frances that at a given time he would be at his fathers' home, and that he would have a marriage license and a preacher at hand, and for Frances to do whatever to evade the watchful eyes and make all haste to join him at the time he inscribed in his secret message to her. Just after daybreak, the morning of April 11, 1810, Frances slipped away from the Peters home. Her absence was soon discovered and two of her brothers pursued her down New River. Upon reaching the Walker home, Frances rushed through the doorway and out of breath shouted, "It's now or never". The sudden arrival of Frances that morning took Chrispi by surprise and upon hearing the urgency in her voice he summoned the Preacher out of bed. Chrispi was wearing only one garment and the Preacher hurriedly performed the marriage ceremony, considered to be one of the most poignant ever on New River. By the conclusion of the ceremony, the brothers arrived on the scene and found out they were too late to intervene. Although it took the Peters family some time to reconcile to the marriage, they presented Chrispi and Frances with a young negro male slave shortly after their marriage.

On June 18, 1812 the United States declared war on England and brought about by impressment of American Seamen and Indian hostilities incited by British agents. This was about two years after the marriage of Chrispi and Frances.

September 11, 1813 Chrispi volunteered into the 4th Regiment of Lt. Ralph Lucus' Virginia Militia at Giles County Courthouse. The 4th Regiment was a unit of Captain George W. Camp's Company of Infantry of the line more specifically under the command of Colonel Koontz of the United States Army. Chrispi was Orderly Sergeant of his company and has been mistakenly referred to as a captain at times. As of December 18, 1813 he was with armed forces encamped on the east side of the Bay Inlet, Lynnhaven, Virginia. His Army pay was $11 a month. He participated in several military engagements and was discharged March 10, 1814 at Fort Norfolk, Virginia and being a distance of about 400 miles from his home, his allowance for getting home was for twenty days, so most likely walking was his mode of travel.

By 1837 Chrispi and Frances and much of their family have moved from the area of present day Narrows on New River and relocated at Camp Creek on a farm of five hundred acres in what came to be Rock District of Mercer County. This boundry later came to be known as Joe Peters Meadows.

In 1837 the First Circuit Court of Mercer County was held by Judge James E. Brown. The jury consisted of Chrispi, his brother-in-law Christian and several other relatives.

Chrispi had become a very competent surveyor and in 1837 was appointed as one of the Commissioners to lay-out a suitable plot of ground for the location of a courthouse, (which plot of ground or site is the same on which the new courthouse stands)in the city of Princeton, West Virginia. The survey of the courthouse complex is recorded in the office of the Clerk of the Mercer County Commission in Map Book No. 2, page 55. Chrispi had the distinction of having North Walker and South Walker Streets in Princeton named for him.

About 1830 Chrispi was employed by James Hector and performed surveying west of the Blue Ridge Mountains. During this time Chrispi secured title to an 1100 acre tract on Devils Fork Creek.

Chrispi is credited with surveying the road between Princeton and Beckley, West Virginia and had charge of its construction. Reputedly to keep his construction workers returning to work, Chrispi would have watermelon picnics

Chrispi was Mercer County Sheriff from 1847-1848.

March 22, 1849 Chrispi, already commissioned as a justice by the Governor of Virginia was sworn in in Oceana as Magistrate of the newly formed Wyoming County.

In 1852 the Wyoming County History mentions Chrispi and Frances living on the head of Devils Fork.

In 1985 three of Chrispi's great-great-great-grandsons placed a US Government Marker at his grave signifying his service for his country during the War of 1812. The three men were Glennis Walker, author of "The History of the Walker Family 1734-1990 & Their Kindred" and two of his brothers. Glennis was my (BeVera) second cousin.

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Chrispi and Frances were the parents of:

1. Council Walker
2. Emily Walker Meador
3. Marinda Walker Lilly
4. Mahulda Walker Lambert
5. Christian Walker Mangus
6. Narcissa Walker Cooper
7. Valoris Walker
8. Numa Walker
9. Underwood Walker
10.Frances Walker Lilly
11.Valeria Walker Lilly