Major, Paymaster
United States Army
John Stevens Walker, son of Samuel and Nancy Stevens Walker, was born on 10 February 1836, in Fryeburg, Maine.
He married the former Clarissa Warren circa September 1860 in Fryeburg. From this marriage, John and Clarissa had two sons; Sherman Warren and John Percival. Clarissa died on 22 April 1865 and is buried in Fryeburg’s Pine Grove Cemetery.
Very little is known about John’s military service. We do know that he was appointed Paymaster (with the rank of Major) by the State of Maine on 17 January 1867. He received word on 20 June 1870, that his next assignment would be Portland, Oregon. During his trip to Portland, John stopped in Chicago to see Colonel David Taggart, who was also on his way to Portland. They arrived in Portland on 5 July.
One of John’s duties was to pay troops at numerous outposts. On 2 January 1873, John and his wife (his second wife) boarded the steamship George S. Wright and sailed for Sitka, Alaska to pay the troops there and at other numerous outposts. Having completed his mission; John, his wife, and 18 other passengers boarded the George S. Wright on 27 January for the return trip to Portland. Unfortunately, the steamer wouldn’t make it to Portland. Despite the warnings, the captain of the George S. Wright put out to sea in a heavy snowstorm. It is believed that the steamer struck a rock 40 miles northeast of the extreme northern point of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada and nearly 250 miles from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada (the steamer was reported to have been seen near Cordova Bay, on the south end of Prince of Wales Island, Alaska).
In July 1875, human remains (with a coat and other clothing) were discovered on Bazan Bay, Prince of Wales Island, Alaska and recovered by the U.S. Revenue Cutter Oliver. After reviewing the clothing and steamship losses in the area, it was determined that they recovered John’s remains. The remains were transferred to the steamship California and left for Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada. After arriving in Nanaimo on 18 July, Adjutant General H. Clay Wood ordered that John’s remains be placed in a casket, be placed back aboard to the steamship California, and return to Portland for burial. The California arrived in Portland on 26 July, at which time the U.S. Flag was ordered to half-mast.
John’s two sons survived him.
According to the 2 August 1875 issue of the Morning Oregonian, John was buried with military honors in Vancouver. An earlier newspaper article indicated that John would eventually be buried in Fryeburg, Maine. John’s current burial location still needs to be determined.
Source of information:
1. Daily Kennebec Journal (Augusta, Maine), 17 February 1873, page 3.
2. Morning Oregonian (Portland, Oregon), 3 March 1873, page 3.
3. Morning Oregonian (Portland, Oregon), 19 March 1873, page 2.
4. Morning Oregonian (Portland, Oregon), 20 July 1875, page 1.
5. Morning Oregonian (Portland, Oregon), 21 July 1875, page 3.
6. Morning Oregonian (Portland, Oregon), 22 July 1875, page 3.
7. Morning Oregonian (Portland, Oregon), 27 July 1875, page 3.
8. Morning Oregonian (Portland, Oregon), 2 August 1875, page 3.
9. Morning Oregonian (Portland, Oregon), 17 November 1875, page 3.