feb 1, 1835 - William Walker Jr.

Description:

William Walker Jr. (1800-1874) was the Chief for the Wyandot Nation during their resettlement in Kansas. Walker, whose father grew up among the Wyandot tribe, was educated in a Methodist school in Ohio, spoke English and French, several Native languages, and read Latin and Greek. He was described as an excellent speaker and writer. He married Hannah Barrett who was probably part Wyandot as she was from Upper Sandusky, Ohio.
Walker became a merchant, interpreter, postmaster in Upper Sandusky, and private secretary to the Governor of the Michigan Territory, Lewis Cass. He became Chief of the Wyandot in 1835. After being pressured by the American government, he headed the delegation to move the Wyandot to Kansas but did not find the area suitable for his people and resisted the move. After the murder of a former Wyandot Chief and his family, he negotiated purchase of lands from the Delaware in p.d. Kansas City, Kansas where the tribe settled in 1843. They brought with them their church, schools, Masonic lodge, and a code of laws for their government.