Abraham, John and Joseph Walker
Abraham Lincoln Walker
CHAUFFEUR, 1919-1920
Son of Frances Twiggs Walker, brother of Frances, Hannah and Mary Walker
According to his great-niece Frances Jones, Abraham Walker (born after 1890 and died 1964) was employed as a chauffeur by the Dooleys. He is the youngest son of Frances Twiggs Walker, head cook at Maymont during the same years.
City directory records indicate that Mr. Walker had a long career as a chauffeur in Richmond during the early decades of the twentieth century. Like his older brother, John Thomas Walker, he served in the United States Army during World War I. Following other Walker siblings, he eventually relocated to Philadelphia in the late 1920s.
According to his niece, Ethel Pulido, Abraham Walker married a woman named Emma from Richmond, who died before his relocation to Philadelphia. They had a son, Alvin. Mrs. Pulido also has some recollection of her "Uncle Abe" residing for a period of time in New York City. Both she and her cousin, Doris Woodson, recall that he had some artistic talent. Mrs. Woodson remembered one of his paintings, made on a window shade, hanging in her Uncle Thomas's home. His descendants described Abraham Walker as fun-loving and a superb storyteller.
John Thomas (Tom) Walker
SECOND BUTLER, 1919-1920
Son of Frances Twiggs Walker, brother of Frances, Hannah and Mary Walker
According to his children Sylvester "Dickie" Walker and Ethel Pulido, John Thomas (Tom) Walker (July 7, 1892-November 1966) was employed for a short while by the Dooleys during the late 1910s and early 1920s. It is unclear what staff position he held. His listing in the Richmond city directory in 1910 indicates his work as a waiter; in 1913 he was employed as a chauffeur. As the Dooleys had other chauffeurs on staff at this time (including his brother Joseph), Mr. Walker may have been serving as a butler or second butler.
Tom Walker is the son of Frances Twiggs Walker, head cook at Maymont. He was born in Richmond and became a member of Moore Street Baptist Church. During World War I, he enlisted in the United States Army and served as a truck driver in the expeditionary forces in France. Sometime in 1920-21, he married Ethel Tyler Johnson of Amelia County and relocated to Philadelphia. There he found employment as a cook at a country club, as a production worker in a condiments factory, and later in construction.
After establishing himself in Philadelphia, Mr. Walker facilitated the relocation of his extended Virginia family, including siblings Mary, Frances, and Abraham, to that city. Each resided with him until they found work; his sisters Mary and Frances—who worked as live-in cooks—resided at his home during their days off. Frances's daughter, Doris, resided in Tom Walker's household during her early childhood. Mr. Walker was a member of Greater White Rock Baptist Church in Philadelphia.
With his first wife, Ethel, Mr. Walker fathered five children: John Thomas, Jr., Martha Helen, Mary Frances, Ethel, and Sylvester. He also raised one stepson, Frank Johnson, from this marriage and one step-daughter, Doris Jones Hudson, from his second marriage to Hattie Scott Jones. His great-niece, Frances Jones, recalled that "Uncle Tom" loved opera and was a gourmet cook. He was also a volunteer fireman in Philadelphia.
His son, Sylvester, remembered, "My father had a very, very strong work ethic. He always impressed upon us the fact that we had to depend upon ourselves, and that it didn't matter what type of work you were doing. If you did a good job, there was satisfaction."
In 1966, Mr. Walker died at the age of 74. He is interred in Rolling Green Memorial Park.
Joseph J. Walker
CHAUFFEUR, 1919-1920
Son of Frances Twiggs Walker, brother of Frances, Hannah and Mary Walker
According to his nephews, John W. Walker and Sylvester ("Dickie") Walker, Joseph Walker (born after 1880 and died 1955) was employed as a chauffeur by the Dooleys sometime in the 1920s. He is the son of Frances Walker Twiggs, head cook at Maymont during the same years.
City directory records indicate that Mr. Walker had a long career as a chauffeur in Richmond during the early decades of the twentieth century. His wife was named Estelle. Mr. Walker's great-niece, Frances Jones, remembered him as a reserved man who was "always dressed in a suit and tie."
