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Note: N159 Our George’s very first known appearance was recorded by his friend, Thomas J. Mitchell. When testifying about his friendship with George, Thomas stated under oath that he had known the Frenchman since 1836. George would have been eighteen years old then. Meanwhile, the John A. Roberts family of Georgia was also on the move. In the late 1830s, they left Georgia and moved to Russell County, Alabama. George Walther arrived in Russell County just a short while later. William H. Roberts testified in homestead papers that he had known George since 1843. George and John Roberts’ daughter, Nancy, married November 21, 1844 . They were to become the ancestors of all the Walthers in northwest Florida.
His grave is less than a quarter of a mile north on McDaniel Road just west of the Coldwater Creek bridge, as it crosses Highway 4. The cemetery has only one marker, his, and it is located behind a tall privacy fence, just in front of a mobile home. Contact for visiting grave - Fred Kase, call before going, 850-675-6156
1850 census: Pike Co., Alabama, HH#??? George Walder, 31, farmer b. in France Nancy, 21, b. in Georgia Elizabeth, 6, b. in Alabama Martha, 4, Alabama John, 2, Alabama (Lived next household to John Roberts, Nancy’s parents)
1860 census: Florida, Santa Rosa Co., Div 2, p. 26, HH#177. Georg Walther, 40, laborer, b. in France Nancy, 30, b. in Georgia Elizabeth, 14, b. in Alabama Martha, 13 “ John H. 12 “ George M. 10 “ Sarah 8 “ Mary 6 b. in Florida Frances 4 “ Daniel 1 “
1880 census: Santa Rosa Co., Pcnt. 2-6, Florida, HH#269 Walter, George, 60, farmer, b. in France as were both parents Nancy, 54, house wife, b. in Georgia Francis M., 21, son, b. Alabama Mary, 20, b. Alabama Powelia (???), 18, daughter, b. Alabama
1900 census: Florida, Santa Rosa Co., McClellan, HH#236 James K. Nelson, Apr 1845, 55, m. 32 yrs., Alabama, Al, Al, farmer Martha, wife, Dec. 1845, 54, 10 births, 5 living, Al., France, Georgia Lou Ida, daughter, Feb 1883, 17, Florida Lula, daughter, May 1885, 15 Wurlthers, George, f-i-l, Sept 1812, 57, wd. France, France, France
My mother, Carrie Lee, tells that her grandfather, John, told her many times that his father, George Walther, came to the United States as a stowaway on board a ship. According to his homestead papers, George Walther's birthday would be Sept, 1818. He stated in his land records that he and his parents were born in France. He was in America by 1836, and settled on his land by 1853. He signed his own name to the papers, and spelled it WALTHER.
George came from France, according to censuses 1860 and 1880. Family tradition has been that he was German, creating a mystery. It has been decided now that he was probably from the Alsace-Lorraine area in France, which is on the border between France and Germany, and has exchanged hands down through the ages. So far, there is no documentation of the fact, and this theory has been added to family tradition.
Here's the time frame: William H. Roberts swore in the homestead affidavit that he had known George Walther since 1843. The Roberts arrived in Alabama before 1840, based on the census for Russell Co., Alabama. This was true for old John as well as the three sons. John Roberts and George Walther were next door neighbors in 1850 in Pike County, AL. The three sons came on down and settled in Coffee Co.
By 1857, George Walther and John Roberts. had bought the patents to land in Munson, Florida. George Walther's dates were April of 1860 and John's were July of 1860. Those were the dates that the patents were actually signed in Washington.
By July of 1859, George and Nancy sold 120 acres of that piece of land to Thomas Ates for $160.
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