In 1896, Jess Allen Walker, son of Seth B. and Sarah Walker, decided to quit working on the Schreiner Ranch and purchase his own land. Born Jan. 31, 1869, Jess had made numerous trail drives to Dodge City, St. Joseph and Chicago. Interviewed in 1941 by J. Evetts Haley, author of Charles Schreiner General Merchandise, Jess stated: "The hardest day's work I ever did in my life was quit working for the Schreiners." With their backing, he bought a section of land in the White Bluff Community in Kimble County. On Sep. 1, 1897, he married Fannie Josephine Coffey, a descendant of the first permanent white settler in Concho Co. The Coffey ancestry has been traced for ten generations and has been published in several historical papers. The late Dr. D. D. Tidwell of Waco was particularly instrumental in collecting the Coffey family history.
Fannie was the daughter of John Wright Coffey and Mary Brown Coffey and the granddaughter of Richard Coffey and Sarah Greathouse Coffey who came to Parker County from Georgia in 1855 and settled in Concho Co. in 1862. John Wright Coffey and his family also owned land and lived in the White Bluff Community.
Two children Hattie Adline (b. April 7, 1905) and John William (b. June 17, 1909) were born to Jess and Fannie while they lived at White Bluff.
Fannie's Bible contains the following information: "Fannie Walker and Jess Walker were baptized June 7, 1908 by Bro. P. D. Swift and were both sanctified and joined the Congregational Methodist Church under Br. J. W. Taylor's preaching, Sept. 20, 1909."
The Walkers sold their land at White Bluff and purchased land near London. Two more children, Radie May (b. Mar 27, 1913) and Charlie George (b. Nov. 8, 1916) were born. Fannie died Nov. 12, 1920 and is buried in the Little Saline Cemetery. Jess later married Ethel Ford Parker, a widow with four children. Jess died June 17, 1953 and Ethel was killed in a train accident near San Angelo in 1958. Both are buried at Little Saline.
Hattie married Robert Lee Dodd Sept. 9, 1923 and they lived in Kimble Co. until she died in Sept. 1947. Robert died in 1975 and they are both buried in Saline Cemetery. They had no children.
John married Minnie Elizabeth Jacoby in Junction on Nov. 25, 1932. They lived near Junction for several years before moving to Hext and later near London, where Minnie still lives. [as of Sept. 1996] John died Dec. 4, 1970 and is also buried at Saline. They had one son, Charles William (Cracker) who with his wife, Elleen, live in Bossier City, LA. Cracker has four children living in or near Austin.
Charley, the youngest son of Jess and Fannie, married Augusta Leigh Hull at the First Presbyterian Church, Kerrville, on Oct. 9, 1938. Augusta is the daughter of Melvin Custer Hull and Mary Matilda Apelt Hull, who were Kimble Co. residents. Charley and Augusta purchased the Jess Walker homeplace near London and lived there until they moved to Fredericksburg in Sept., 1962. They have 3 children: Mary Ellen (b. Mar. 9, 1942), George Allen (b. Oct. 21, 1947), and John Lee (b. Sept. 6, 1953). Mary Ellen married Dr. Joe Frank Thornton & they had 1 son, Robert, & live in Houston. George married Pamela Pratt Walker & they have 1 daughter, Elizabeth & live in Colorado City. Dr. John Walker D.D.S. married Regina Brown and lives in Houston. Charley & Augusta still live in Fredericksburg. Radie the youngest daughter of Jesse & Fannie Walker, married Jack Ryan. Jack is dead & is buried in California. They have 1 son, Jack Dalton, who with his wife, Linda & 2 children live in Santa Ana, CA. Radie is in a hursing home in Santa Ana.
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