The wife of Thomas, Mary Fasnacht, was a sister to his brother Samuel's wife.

In 1860 Thomas and Mary were living close to to her parents as their families are listed in the Censes records next to each other in Mercer County, Jefferson, Ohio.

Thomas is believed to have lived for a short time in Iowa before he moved on into Nebraska. It is known that his child Wilshire was born in Iowa in 1864.

In 1868, Thomas was Living in Lancaster County, Nebraska, as that is where John was born according to his death certificate.

30 September 1870 - Lancaster, Nebraska, United States

Household ...........Sex .....Age Birthplace

Thomas Walker ..Male ....36 ..Ohio

Mary Walker .......Female 34 ..Pennsylvania

Frederick Walker Male ....13 ..Ohio

Louis Walker .......Male ....11 ..Ohio

Lucinda Walker ..Female 9 ....Ohio

Wilshire Walker ...Male ....6 ....Iowa

John Walker ........Male ....2 ....Nebraska

Melissa Walker ....Female 0 ....Nebraska

It is not known at this time (July 1997) when (or if) Thomas was living in Ulysses but it is believed that in August 1874 he was there because that was where his last son, Joseph may have been born. Ulysses has been a major part of family tradition stories but most actual records found to date are from other counties.

23 June, 1879; Deed Book 8; Franklin Co., Nebr.: Thomas Walker of Lancaster County from Lafayette Meeker, for $650, NE 1/4 Sect 9, Twp 2, Range 13.

24 June 1880 - US Census - Grant Township, Franklin, Nebraska

Household ............Role ........Sex .....Age Birthplace

Thomas Walker ....Self .........Male ....46 ..Ohio

Mary Walker .........Wife ........Female 44 ..Pennsylvania

Wilsheer Walker ...Son .........Male ....16 ..Iowa

John F. Walker .....Son .........Male ....13 ..Nebraska

Joseph Walker .....Son .........Male ....5 ....Nebraska

Melesta E. Walker Daughter Female 9 ....Nebraska

Lewis Walker ........Son .........Male ....21 ..Ohio

Thomas' children attended School District No. 8, north of Riverton, Nebraska, between 1880 through 1883.

26 June 1885 - Nebraska State Census - Hackberry Township, Polk, Nebraska

Household ........Role ...................Sex .....Age Birthplace

Thomas Walker ...........................Male ....50 ..Ohio

Mary Walker ......Wife ..................Female 48 ..Pennsylvania

Willshier Walker Son ...................Male ....20 ..Iowa

John Walker ......Son ...................Male ....16 ..Nebraska

Malissa Walker ..Daughter ..........Female 14 ..Nebraska

Joseph Walker ..Son ...................Male ....10 ..Nebraska

Mary Foster .......Granddaughter Female 4 ....Iowa

Note: Census worked mess up the granddaughter relationship for Mary Foster. Started to write daughter and then added G (or an S) over the a.

Some time after 1885 moved away (to Plainview, Texas). It isn't known just when Thomas went to Oklahoma, but by 1896 after a short stay in Texas, he was living four miles west of where Butler (then called Hatter's Store, see Butler below), Oklahoma is now.

1890 - US Census - Destroyed in 1921 census fire

1900 - US Census - Not found yet

The area in Oklahoma where Thomas and most of his children moved was the Cheyenne and Arapaho Reservation, County G (now Custer County), in Oklahoma Territory (see notes after Butler) which was opened for settlement by run on April 19, 1892. At this time (11-1997) it is now know if Thomas or any of his sons were in the run or if they came a short time later (maybe less than a year) and bought their land. Probably someone in Thomas' family did make the run and the others followed when the land claims were cleared. Thomas died before Oklahoma became a state.

The first proof of a Walker connection with Ulysses, Nebraska was through the death certificate of Thomas' grandson, William T Walker. His grandson's birth place is shown to be in Ulysses in 1885 but it is not known if Thomas' family was in Ulysses too. Also, the first connection with Plainview, Texas was verified by the death certificate of another grandson, Charles F Walker, who was born in Plainview in 1891.

The Custer County Clarion, Oklahoma Territory, Friday, November 21, 1902 pg 6

Notice of Publication

Land office at El Reno, O. T., Nov. 12, 1902

Notice is hereby given that the following named settler has bled notice of his intention to make finial proof in support of his claim, and that said proof will be made before the Probate Judge, at Arapahoe, O. T., on Jan. 5, 1905, viz:

Thomas Walker,

O' Samaville, O. T., H. E. I0I63, for the Lots 3, 4 and s 1/2 nw 1/4 of sec 5, twp I3 n, of range I9 w I. M.

He names the following witnesses to prove her(sic) continuous residence upon, and cultivation of said land, viz:

S. H. Knox, J. M. Craven, J. F. Craven, G. W. Stevens, all o7(sic) Samsville, O. T.

II-14 I2-I9 Frank C. Sickles, Register.

The Custer County Clarion, Oklahoma Territory, Friday, July 15, 1904 pg 2

Quartermaster Items

(Too late of last week)

. . .

A strange circumstance happened a few days ago on the Thomas Walker place in the Samville settlement. There was a drilled well 58 feet deep on the place but when the man living on the place went to get a bucket of water he let the bucket to the end of the rope, usually having 10 to 12 feet of surplus rope, but could not reach water. Upon investigation the well was found to be bottomless. It has caused considerable excitement.

. . .

The Butler News, Oklahoma Territory, Friday, December 23, 1904 pg 1

Local Mention

. . .

Mrs. Fred Bond is in Butler assisting in the car of her father, Grandpa Walker, who is very sick.

. . .

Four Corners pg 8

. . .

Mrs. Fred Bond is staying with her parents the last week days as her father is quite sick. There is a good deal of sickness this winter.

. . .

The Butler Herald, Butler, Oklahoma Territory · Friday, September 08, 1905 pg 1

NOTICE.

All persons indebted to me for horse services for 1904, or any time back of that, will please call at the Butler corners, on or before Oct. 1st 1905 and settle by cash or note and oblige.

Thos. Walker

The Butler Herald, Butler, Oklahoma Territory · Friday, October 06, 1905 pg 1

A SURPRISE

Quite a surprise was planned on Thomas Walker Monday by his children the occasion being his seventy-first birthday. A good time was had talking over daps(sic) of yore and eating of the bountiful repast that was spread to which all did ample justice. Those present were Joe Walker and family, of Samsville, Will Walker and family of Osceola, Fred and Lew Walker of Hammon, W. H. Dennis and wife, of Gip, and Fred Bond and wife. Mr. Walker still enjoys tolerable good health.

The Butler Herald, Butler, Oklahoma Territory · Friday, December 21, 1906 pg 1

NOTICE

The partnership heretofore existing between M. Foster and Thos. Walker is hereby disolved.(sic) Thos. Walker will continue the business at the old stand. M. Foster retiring.

M. Foster.

Thos. Walker

The Butler Herald, Butler, Oklahoma Territory · Friday, December 28, 1906 pg 4

LOCAL AND PERSONAL

. . .

Bert Frazier, Mrs. Susan Walker, Lew Clarke and wife, of Randolph, Iowa are guest at the Thos. Walker home. They came here from Colorado where they have been on a visit.

. . .

Note:The Oklahoma Walkers were known to have kept up their family ties to their Nebraska cousins until at least July 1937. This is based on a Butler Herald story that can be found under the notes for F. T. Walker.

The Butler Herald, Friday, May 24, 1907, pg 1

LOCAL AND PERSONAL

Thomas Walker, father of Will and Joe Walker, died Thursday afternoon of dropsy at his home south of Butler. No arrangements as yet have been made for the funeral.

The Butler Herald, Friday, May 31, 1907, pg 1

Obituary

Thomas Walker was born Oct 2, 1834 in the state of Ohio and died May 23, 1907, age 72 years. In 1857 he was married to Mary Fasnacht. To this union eight(sic) children were born, six of whom are living, Fred Walker, Lue(sic) Walker, Will Walker, Frank Walker, Mrs. Lesta Bond and Joe Walker. The funeral occurred Saturday at the Butler cemetery. Mr. Walker was an old and highly respected citizen. The relatives have the sympathy of the entire community.

On November 16, 1907, the Oklahoma Territory with the Indian Territory became the State of Oklahoma.

Poem provided by Willis Newby 09-19-1998.

Probably "The Butler Herald" Newspaper but has not been found

Date probably some time after obituary.

To The Memory of

Thomas Walker

Back to childhood memories

Of days far spent in years,

Comes thoughts of our dear father's

love, That bring us sorrowing tears.

Always self sacrifice for others

His motto seemed to be,

Never tiring of the duties each day

For those he loved so tenderly.

Oh what a vacant place

Around our hearthstone dear,

To gather round without his form

Brings to each eye a tear.

Gone for aye, O solemn thought

That we no more can see

Or share our earthly joys with him

As long as life shall be.

But let this to our minds be as proof

That we must all,

Pay the sad penalty of death

When our Lord sees best to call.

Our hearts so rent with grief

Our eyes bedimed(sic) with tears,

At the loss of him, so dear,

Who earned for us in tender love

Through all our childhood years.

By Mary (Foster) Dean

1880-1975

Butler

Butler bloomed early, then faded quickly. Known first as Hatter's Store, just southwest of its present site, Butler was given its official name -- honoring Matthew C Butler, a Civil War general and U.S. Senator from South Carolina -- by the Post Office Department in 1898. Thomas Walker and a number of other new settlers to Butler came from, or had lived in or near, Butler County, Nebraska. It is unknown what connection the two names may have.

Indian Territory to Cheyenne and Arapaho Reservation to leased land to Oklahoma Territory to State of Oklahoma

From 1830 to 1890 what is now the State of Oklahoma was called Indian Territory and was divided into a number of tribal areas. The Cheyenne and Arapaho Reservation covered most of west-central Oklahoma. In December, 1882, a Cheyenne and Arapaho council requested to be permitted to lease their grazing lands. Lease No. 2 by William Malaley covered much of what became Roger Mills, SW Dewey, and western Custer Counties. Lease No. 3 by Hampton Denman covered what would become northern Beckham, southern Roger Mills, SW Custer, and western Washita counties. Lease No. 6 by Albert Evans covered most of what would become Custer and northern Washita Counties. In 1885 President Cleveland ordered all the cattle removed but the land was still used and leased to about the time of statehood. There were other leases but the 3 above cover most of the area that would contain the home sites for Thomas Walker and the first Walker generations in Oklahoma. The offical day the reservation came to an end is not known at this time (Nov 1997) but may be the day of the run, April 19, 1892.

Oklahoma Territory emerged on May 2, 1890 for western Oklahoma while eastern Oklahoma remained Indian Territory. However, after the name change at that time and down to the present day it was and has often been referred to as Indian Territory. The Cheyenne Arapaho Reservation was in the Oklahoma Territory section. Before the reservation was opened to white settlement each member of the tribe received an allotment of 160 acres. The Cheyenne-Arapaho surplus lands (land not taken by the Cheyenne-Arapaho tribe after they picked their allotment) were opened to settlement on April 19, 1892. The eastern half of the vast tract filled promptly, (many of the Indians had already taken their allotments in the eastern valleys) but much of the western part continued for several years to be used as grazing land for cattleman. Most of it was occupied before statehood by persons seeking farm homes. As counties were added after the runs they were designated by letters until names could be adopted: C through H was assigned to those in the Cheyenne-Arapaho area. Counties E and F would become southern Ellis, Roger Mills, and northern Beckham county. Counties D, G, and H would become the counties, Dewey, Custer, and Washita. By 1900 all the counties of the Oklahoma Territory were known by names rather than letters.

(Roger Mills was called County F for 8 months and got it's name in November 1892 by a vote of the people. Custer County had it's name by 1900 (exact date not known at this time) but Beckham has cut out of Greer and Roger Mills at statehood in November 1907.)