George H. Walker
George H. Walker was an American trader, Democratic politician, and Wisconsin pioneer. He was one of three key founders of the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, establishing the first settlement in what is now Milwaukee's south side. The site of his settlement is still known as Walker's Point. He went on to serve as the 5th and 7th mayor of Milwaukee, and represented Milwaukee in the Wisconsin State Assembly during the 1851 term.
Prior to Wisconsin statehood, he also served in the House of Representatives of the Wisconsin Territory, and was speaker for two sessions of the 4th Wisconsin Territorial Assembly.
His younger brother, Isaac P. Walker, was one of the first two from Wisconsin.
Background
Walker was born in Lynchburg, Virginia, and moved with his family to Illinois in 1825. The fur trade brought him to the vicinity of the Milwaukee River in 1833, and, on March 20, 1834, he established himself on the south bank of the river. In June 1835, he founded the settlement of Walker's Point and established a fur trading post. In 1846, Walker's settlement combined with two rival villages - Solomon Juneau's Juneautown and Byron Kilbourn's Kilbourntown - to incorporate the City of Milwaukee.Land that belonged to Walker is now part of the Walker's Point Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Public office
In 1835, those parts of Michigan Territory who were not set to become part of the new State of Michigan were invited to elect members to a seventh and last Michigan Territorial Council. Walker was elected from Milwaukee County, but was one of the four who did not attend the "Rump Council" when it met in January 1836.Walker served in the first three sessions of the 4th Legislative Assembly of the Wisconsin Territory, serving from 1842 to 1845, and was speaker for the 2nd and 3rd sessions. He was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1850, serving in the 3rd Wisconsin Legislature. Walker also served as the city's supervisor, register of the land office, alderman, and as mayor in 1851 and 1853. He was one of the builders of the city's first street car line in 1859, and was invested in the Milwaukee and Mississippi Railroad, the Milwaukee and Watertown Railroad, and the La Crosse and Milwaukee Railroad.
Family life
Walker's younger brother, Isaac P. Walker, was a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, serving from 1848 to 1855.He died on September 20, 1866, and is buried at Forest Home Cemetery in Milwaukee.