Wirt Dexter Walker

Wirt Dexter Walker
Wirt Dexter Walker
Born	September 1, 1860; Chicago, Illinois
Died	April 24, 1899 (aged 38); New York, New York
Burial place	Graceland Cemetery
Education	Yale University
Occupation	Lawyer
Spouse	Marie Winston (m. 1894)

Wirt Dexter Walker (September 1, 1860 – April 24, 1899) was a Chicago lawyer. He was the son of successful Chicago attorney James M. Walker and Eliza M. Walker,^[1] and was named after Wirt Dexter, the junior partner at his father's firm, Walter VanArman & Dexter.^[2]

Biography

Wirt Dexter Walker was born in Chicago on September 1, 1860.^[1]

After his graduation from Yale University he inherited a large sum of money upon his father's death. He began his own practice in 1883,^[1] and was secretary of the University Club of Chicago in 1887.^[3] He had health problems and became blind, at which point he retired from office work to travel.^[1]

He married Marie Winston^[4]^[5] in 1894.^[1]

He died at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City on April 24, 1899.^[6] He was buried at Graceland Cemetery in Chicago.

Blythewood Farms summer cottage

He purchased land in the

Berkshire County in 1888 and hired local architect H. Neill Wilson to design a large summer cottage retreat in 1890, hoping a residence in the area would help his health improve. Blythewood was constructed, but Walker died a year later^[7] leaving no children.^[7] Wilson went on to design several other mansions for wealthy persons establishing summer retreats in the area, including Shadowbrook.^[7]

His wife was left with a $15,000 annual

Union Stockyards and Transit Company in Chicago, and sold Blythewood to a group of local investors two years before his death in 1926.^[7]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Yale University Obituary
^ Proceedings of the Illinois State Bar Association By Illinois State Bar Association Meeting Publisher The Association, 1899 Original from the University of California Digitized October 28, 2008 page 133
^ The American University Magazine Published 1897 original from the University of Michigan, digitized September 8, 2009 page 122
^ John William Leonard, Albert Nelson Marquis The book of Chicagoans: a biographical dictionary of leading living men of the city of Chicago, Volume 2 Publisher A.N. Marquis, 1911 Original from the New York Public Library Digitized June 12, 2007
^ Governor Garrard, of Kentucky: his descendants and relatives page 84
^ "Obituary: Wirt Dexter Walker". New-York Tribune. April 24, 1899. p. 7. Retrieved May 22, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Carole Owens Pittsfield: Gem City in the Gilded Age page 32-33
^ "The $15,000 Misunderstanding", Headline from the Chicago American (hosted by the Belver-Helting Family Association)

[inheritance-1] Yale University Obituary

[2] Proceedings of the Illinois State Bar Association By Illinois State Bar Association Meeting Publisher The Association, 1899 Original from the University of California Digitized October 28, 2008 page 133

[3] The American University Magazine Published 1897 original from the University of Michigan, digitized September 8, 2009 page 122

[4] John William Leonard, Albert Nelson Marquis The book of Chicagoans: a biographical dictionary of leading living men of the city of Chicago, Volume 2 Publisher A.N. Marquis, 1911 Original from the New York Public Library Digitized June 12, 2007

[5] Governor Garrard, of Kentucky: his descendants and relatives page 84

[6] "Obituary: Wirt Dexter Walker". New-York Tribune. April 24, 1899. p. 7. Retrieved May 22, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.

[gem-7] Carole Owens Pittsfield: Gem City in the Gilded Age page 32-33

[8] "The $15,000 Misunderstanding", Headline from the Chicago American (hosted by the Belver-Helting Family Association)

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