Wright Walker (1845-1921)

Wright Walker, c.1900. (Gift of Sarita Van Vleck, 84.20.1, Collection of the Massillon Museum)

Wright Walker (1845–1921) was born into slavery in Georgia. During the Civil War, he joined Union General Sherman as he marched through the South, and Walker became a freedman. After moving to New York for a short time, Walker relocated to Massillon with the local Jarvis family. Walker was always generous in his contributions to local churches and charities. He was well-known about town for his large top hat, which he even wore while mowing the grass. Upon his death, he left a few bequests to local organizations and made a $30,000 donation to the Tuskegee Institute, a college for African American students founded by Booker T. Washington.

Wright Walker with young Burt McLain, c.1915 (Gift of Sarita Van Vleck, 84.20.4A, Collection of the Massillon Museum)

The Tuskegeean, March 1931 Vol. 2 No. 1 (Collection of the Massillon Museum)