WALKER, JOSEPH (ca. 1815-1886). Joseph Walker, early newspaperman, was born in Ohio about 1815, the son of John Walker. He established the San Antonio Ledger in 1850. In November 1852 he and John Salmon (Rip) Fordqv purchased the Southwestern American, an Austin weekly, which they renamed the Texas State Times in 1853. In 1857 Walker bought an interest in the Texas State Gazette (see AUSTIN STATE GAZETTE), which he retained until 1867. He bought a half-interest in the Austin Statesman in 1871, selling it to John Cardwellqv in 1875. Walker died at his home in Austin on August 2, 1886, and was survived by his wife, Ann; he was buried at Oakwood Cemetery.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: Austin Statesman, August 3, 1886. Marilyn M. Sibley, Lone Stars and State Gazettes: Texas Newspapers before the Civil War (College Station: Texas A&M University Press, 1983).
Vivian Elizabeth Smyrl
