From: The Story of Oliver Springs, TN, and Its People, Vol. III, by Snyder E. Roberts, published 1984, page 133
Photo May 2000
Joseph Parks Walker was born in Knox County, TN, 28 September 1857. His parents were WESLEY WALKER (1823--) and MARY ANN C. GRIFFITH (1831) who were married in Knox County, 22 November, 1849. According to the 1870 census, Wesley and Mary Ann were well-to-do, and lived in the Concord-Campbell Station area. Mary Ann was the daughter of WILLIAM C. GRIFFITH (1802-1884) of Oliver Springs who had extensive holdings on Poplar Creek and Black Oak Ridge. William C. Griffith was also the first Clerk of the Oliver Springs First Baptist Church in 1846. In 1870, Wesley and Mary Ann Walker had the following children:
- WILLIAM C. WALKER (1850-1909) m LIDA J. MITCHELL (1855-1929). William C. built a home on Walker Street in Oliver Springs, owned and operated a store, and was Oliver Springs Postmaster in 1885. He and Lida are buried in the Oliver Springs Cemetery.
- ELIJAH WALKER (1854)
- JOSEPH P. WALKER (1857-1931) our subject
- ANNA BELLE WALKER (1863)
- CHARLES WALKER (1865)
- MARY WALKER (1870)
JOSEPH P. WALKER was reared on a farm, and received a common school education in the county schools. In 1874, at the age of 17, he began the study of medicine under the instructions of Dr. PIERSON W. WALKER (1822) and Dr. A. B. TADLOCK, and continued his study until he graduated in 1881. In the year of his graduation, he located in Oliver Springs and began his practice in the last day of April 1881. His practice prospered through his efforts and excellent training. No doubt he was helped by the influence of his brother, WILLIAM C. WALKER, the MITCHELL, GRIFFITH, GEERS and WILEY families, and other powerful relatives in the community.
On 21 September 1881, Dr. JOE WALKER married SARAH "LUCY" GEERS (8-31-1865 --1-2-1953) in Anderson County. She was the daughter of WILLIAM S. and MARTHA WILEY GEERS. William S. was associated with his wealthy father-in-law, HENRY H. WILEY, in the coal and Land Company business. He lived in the two-story brick house on Main Street (Roseterrace). Mrs. Lucy Walker's sisters, ELLA GEERS married MAYOR JACK QUEENER, and MARY ALICE GEERS married JOHN H. DENTON, an educator.
Dr. Joe and Lucy built a home first on north Main Street where he learned to know the likeable, but mischievous ELIJAH VANN who could and would imitate Dr. Walker's unusual voice to perfection. Later, Dr. Joe and Lucy built a home on the corner of Kingston Avenue and Walker Street which is the present home of Mrs. GRACE DEADERICK. This home adjoined the home of his brother, WILLIAM C. WALKER.
Dr. Joe Walker was a fine businessman, and knew how to take care of his money. In appearance he was tall, and wore well-cut business suits. He invested in Florida orange groves in the 1920's and made occasional trips to Florida. Dr. Joe had a fine sense of humor and was forever bantering with Elijah Vann. In religion he was a Baptist, and in politics he exercised his right to vote, but was not interested in party politics.
Dr. Joe retired and moved to Knoxville in the late 1920's. He died June 6, 1931, and Mrs. Lucy who survived him sold their Oliver Springs to Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Deaderick in September 1941. Dr. Joe and his wife, Lucy, had no children. Mrs. Walker died January 2, 1953. They are buried in the Highland Memorial Cemetery in Knoxville.