George H. Walker

George H. Walker (October 22, 1811 – September 20, 1866) was an American trader and politician who helped found the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[1]

Walker was born in Lynchburg, Virginia. He moved with his family to Illinois in 1825.

Walker first arrived in Milwaukee on March 20, 1834. In June 1835, he founded the settlement of Walker's Point on the south side of the Milwaukee River and established a fur trading post. In 1846, Walker's settlement combined with two rival villages - Solomon Juneau's Juneautown (present day East Town) and Byron Kilbourn's Kilbourntown (present day Westown) - to incorporate the City of Milwaukee.

George H. Walker served in the Wiaconsin Territorial House of Representatives 1842-1845 and in the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1851. Walker also served as the city's supervisor, register of the land office, alderman, and as mayor in 1851 and 1853. He was one of the builders of the city's first street car line in 1859. He is buried at Forest Home Cemetery in Milwaukee.

George Walker's younger brother, Isaac P. Walker, was a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin from 1848 to 1855.

Preceded by
Don A. J. Upham
Mayor of Milwaukee
1851
Succeeded by
Hans Crocker
Preceded by
Hans Crocker
Mayor of Milwaukee
1853
Succeeded by
Byron Kilbourn

References