WALKER, WILLIAM E. (?-?). William E. Walker, soldier and politician, briefly represented Refugio County in the Second Congress of the Republic of Texas.^qv Because records before and after the Texas Revolution^qv fail to link Walker with Refugio County, it is likely that he was a volunteer newly arrived from the United States and elected by his fellow soldiers. In an election held in the fall of 1837 Walker defeated Elkanah Brush^qv by two votes. Although it was a Refugio County office, the election had been held in Victoria, since the Refugio area had been largely depopulated by the advance of the Mexican army the year before. On October 2, 1837, Walker assumed his seat as Refugio County representative. However, Brush contested the results, and election officials discovered that, while Walker had a majority of legal votes, he lacked the "requisite qualifications of citizenship and residence in the county, and consequently was ineligible to a seat in this House." Walker was disqualified on October 7. James Power,^qv the victor in a special election, took the Refugio County seat. Thus, Walker vacated his office after serving a mere six days and thereafter disappears from public records.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Texas House of Representatives, Biographical Directory of the Texan Conventions and Congresses, 1832-1845 (Austin: Book Exchange, 1941).

Stephen L. Hardin