Martha Anne WALKER

     
     Martha Anne WALKER was born on 25 October 1845 in Autauga County, Alabama, daughter of William WALKER and Sarah Virginia SHELTON.¹
     Martha Anne WALKER appeared on a census, enumerated 1 June 1850, in the household of William WALKER in Huddleston Beat, Autauga County, Alabama.²
     Martha Anne WALKER appeared on a census, enumerated 1 June 1860, in the household of William WALKER in Bibb (now Chilton) County, Alabama.
     Martha married Samuel ABNEY IV, son of Thomas Hamilton ABNEY and Mary Ann Gosden, on 20 April 1870 in the front parlor of the Walker House, Isabella, Chilton County, Alabama. Sam's best man was Anderson Baker.^3,4 Sam wrote the following letter to Martha during their courtship:

Home Dec. 4th 1869

Miss Mattie, as George is going down today, I could not resist the temptation of writing you a few lines. Last Sabbath I had the inestimable happiness of being near you, which to me is happiness. I hope you are well, and in your usual, calm, and serene mood. How my thoughts pass and repass the space that separates us. You must come up before Jamie goes away. Come up next Saturday. I beg your pardon. I had forgotten you had prohibited me from writing, but you must excuse me this once. I know you are so matter of fact, you cannot tolerate nonsense. So please excuse Miss. I have to practice some little imposition to get this in Fannie's notes as George has resolved not to carry any note for me.

I must again ask you to pardon this.
My heart kisses you xxxxx
                         Sam Abney

[Two note pages, handwritten, from Sam Abney to his future wife, Martha Walker. Fannie may be Sam's cousin Fannie Woodruff who was born about 1838. George could be her brother. They were children of Sam's sister Frances Abney (Mrs. Newton) Woodruff (1820 - 1896). The bottom of the last sheet has in my mother's handwriting: "Grandfather Abney". AHB, 9/95 ].⁵

     Martha Anne WALKER and Samuel ABNEY IV appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 1 June 1870 in Chilton County, Alabama. The household was listed as Sam Abney, age 30; and Martha Abney, age 19. Sam's occupation was farming.⁶
     Martha Anne WALKER and Samuel ABNEY IV appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 1 June 1900 in Maplesville, Chilton County, Alabama. The household was listed as Sam Abney, age 64, born September 1835 in Alabama. His father was born in South Carolina and his mother in Delaware. His occupation was farming. Sam's wife was Martha Abney, age 45, born October 1854 in Alabama. Both of her parents were also born in Alabama. Their children were: Zack, 25, a store clerk, born January 1875; Saroah [Sarah], 23, born November 1877; Estel [Estelle], 21, born August 1878; Irma, 19, born March 1881; May, 17, born June 1882; Margaret, 16, born June 1884; Evelyn, 14, born December 1886; William, 12, born April 1888; and Nellie, 9, born January 1891. Also living in the household were Sam's sister, Vaginia [Virginia], 73, born June 1826 in Alabama, and boarders, Gussie Knupp, a music teacher, age 27, born October 1872 in Alabama and a black farm laborer, Will Hall, 25, born March 1875 in Alabama.⁷
     Martha Anne WALKER appeared on a census, enumerated 15 April 1910, in the household of Samuel ABNEY IV in Maplesville, Chilton County, Alabama.⁸
     Martha Anne WALKER died on 25 May 1922 in Selma, Dallas County, Alabama, at age 76. She was buried in the Abney Cemetery, Chilton County, Alabama.