Matthew Walker, third son of John Walker and Mary Sharp, was born on 3 April 1814 in Perdsy, Yorkshire, England. In 1834 he married Mercy Long in Yeardon, Yorkshire, England. They had four sons and two daughters: Samuel Sharp (b. 1834), Joseph Robinson (b. 1836), David Frederick (b. 1838), Matthew Henry (b. 1845), Mercy (b. 1839), and Emma (b. 1841). Walker and his family converted to Mormonism and emigrated to Missouri in 1851. He died a year later, along with both of his daughters. His wife and four sons moved on to Utah where they left the Mormon Church and made their fortunes in mining, commerce, and banking.
The Walker family papers (1838-1883) consist of biographical accounts of various Walker family members during the 1880s. Included are a background of Mercy and Matthew Walker, as well as accounts of the Utah War, fighting Indians in Southern Utah, and Mormon relations with other settlers, all written by Joseph Robinson (Rob) Walker. A day-to-day account of the Walker family summers spent at the Silver Lake Villa, written by Charlotte E. Gilchrist, is also included. The last item in the collection is a biographical sketch of William Huff Carson, father of Mrs. J. R. Walker Sr., and several of his forebearers.
Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.
The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library’s
Collection Name, Collection Number, Box Number, Folder Number. Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library, The University of Utah.
Gift of Marian Reese in 1983.
Processed by Nehmat Saab and Nancy V. Young in 1986.
Typed copy of reminiscences of Rob Walker that describes the trip of Matthew from England to Utah. There is brief information about the background of the Walker family.
Included is an account of the efforts of the Gentiles of Salt Lake City to unite and establish their own political party independent of the Mormons. He also tells of joining Utah soldiers in a war against the Indians in 1853.
Included in these two bound volumes are the day-to-day accounts of the Walker brother's summers. Rob selected the site, Silver Lake, for a comfortable summer residence in Big Cottonwood Canyon. The four brothers and their families spent every summer at the retreat until it was destroyed by an avalanche in 1884. Activities, beliefs, and attitudes are discussed in this account.
Includes information on his early life and experiences migrating to Utah. Also includes biographical sketches of several of his forebearers.