Louisiana AHGP

Part of the American History and Genealogy Project

Walker P. Fomby

Walker P. Fomby is actively engaged in conducting his extensive plantation and in managing his sawmill and cotton gin in Ward 6 of Claiborne Parish. His birth occurred in Troup County, Georgia, in 1845, to Richard and Anis (Lee) Fomby, who were born in Wilkes County, Georgia, in 1802, and Virginia, respectively, becoming the parents of the following children: Frances (wife of P. A. Awbrey, of this parish), Henry (who died since the war. from a wound received while in the service), Mary (wife of Joe Boyd, of Hope, Arkansas), Clement (wife of Bart Jeans, of Arkansas), Amanda C. (widow of Sam Clark, a resident of Atlanta, Georgia), Carrie (wife of C. Baker, of Randolph County, Louisiana), Rowena (widow of Samuel Kite, of Indian Territory), Charles M. (a merchant of Magnolia, Arkansas), Walker P., and Lou (who was the wife of Winston Wood, of Atlanta, Georgia, and is now deceased, leaving at the time of her death two children: Carrie and Lou). The paternal grandfather, Thomas Fomby, was born in Virginia and traced his ancestry back to England. The maternal grandfather, Noah Lee, was also born in Virginia, was active in the Revolutionary War, and traced his ancestry back to the same source as Gen. Robert E. Lee.

Walker P. Fomby reached man's estate and received a common school education in Georgia. In 1803 he enlisted in Company A, Ninth Louisiana Infantry, and while participating in the battle of Gettysburg he was captured, and after being held a prisoner four months was exchanged, after which he joined the army at the battle of the Wilderness, in 1801. He removed to Arkansas in 1865, and two years later was married to Miss Georgia Knox, of Claiborne Parish. Mr. Fomby began life for himself as a planter, and is now the owner of about 1,000 acres of land, 700 of which is under cultivation. He and his wife are the parents of eight children, as follows: Walter, Eddie, Effie, Henry, John L., Richard, Madge and Valentine.

The family attend the Methodist Episcopal Church, and politically Mr. Fomby is a Democrat.

Biographical Sketches| Claiborne Parish

Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana, Southern Publishing Company, 1890