J. P. Walker

Joel P. Walker (October 3, 1840 – January 3, 1898) was an American politician and lawyer. He was a Democratic member of the Mississippi State Senate from 1884 to 1892, serving as its President Pro Tempore in 1888, and of the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1865 to 1867, representing Lauderdale County, Mississippi.

Early life Joel P. Walker was born October 3, 1840, in Lauderdale County, Mississippi. He was the son of John R. Walker and his wife, Martha A. (Felton) Walker. John R. Walker was a large-scale slaveowner who served in the North Carolina General Assembly and then moved to Mississippi alongside his brother (also named Joel P.) in 1836. Walker was the second-youngest member of the Mississippi Legislature during these terms. Governor James L. Alcorn appointed Walker to the office of District Attorney. In 1886, Walker was heavily considered as a frontrunner for the Democratic nomination for Governor of Mississippi, but Walker withdrew before the nominating convention. In 1887, Walker was re-elected to represent the same district for the 1888–1892 term. On the first day of the Senate term on January 3, 1888, Walker was nominated for and then elected to be the Senate's President pro tempore, defeating Senator F. M. Boone in a 25–10 vote. Walker's Senate term ended on January 5, 1892, and he was replaced in the 20th District by E. N. Scudder.

After Walker left the Senate, he continued his law career as the senior member of the Walker and Hall law firm. The firm were the official attorneys for the Meridian National Bank.

On January 3, 1898, Walker died at 8 PM at his home in Meridian, after "an illness of several weeks".

Personal life Walker was a member of the Knights of Honor and was a Freemason. He was a member of the Episcopalian Church. Walker married Mary Johnson in 1867, but she died after 11 months after the marriage. They had one daughter together, who married E. C. Williams. On April 4, 1871, Walker married Sallie Reynolds. They had five children together: Joseph P., Hallie C., Wallace R., Paton E., and Sallie R.