Restless But Successful Joel

Joel Walker and family selected land, sowed in wheat and made a living that first winter. 

In January 1841, the 5th Walker child was born - the first American baby to be born in Oregon.  Louisa Walker was just 7 months old when her father took her and her family to California. 

The Walkers traveled by ship, arriving in San Francisco in September of 1841, becoming the first American family to reach California. How many "firsts" does that makes for the family of Walkers originally from the Appalachian Valley now...


They continued to Sacramento where Joel became the manager of Sutter's farm.  After a year they returned to Oregon way before the famous Gold Rush and found English speaking schools for their children.

Joel claimed 640 acres of land in Yamhill County and lad good success and farming for the next four years, at which time he sold out in the fall of 1848 and moved back to California where he served on the California Constitutional Convention in 1849.  He finally settled for good in Napa Valled on a prosperous ranch for the rest of his days.

Next time...The Year of Indian Violence