Photograph of William Walner.
Butler-Paisley Photograph Album (MC 632)
Special Collection Division
University of Arkansas Libraries, Fayetteville
parents. One of his descendants was told he went to medical school at Yale but that has not been confirmed. Hugh Walner, a grandson of
William, said that when he left for Indian Territory, his father gave him two mules and a slave. Hugh also said that he had two red headed
sisters.
The 1860 census of the Chickasaw District list William Walner as 41 years old, a physician, born in Virginia, with a personal estate worth
$10,000. In the 1860 Indian Territory Slave Schedules he is listed as having 10 slaves (9 black, 1 mulatto), and two slave houses. The 1878
Chickasaw Annuity Rolls list William Walner, Sr. with 1 male, 1 female and 2 children. Also listed in the 1878 rolls is William Walner, Jr.,
one of his five children. At the time of the 1878 rolls he was living in Blue County, Choctaw Nation. At the time of his death he was living at
Cherokee Town, Chickasaw Nation. Cherokee Town was one of the major towns in the Garvin County area and was located between
Pauls Valley and Wynnewood on the east side of the Washita River.
Dr. Walner was married to Susan Carter. She was born in 1829 in Colbert County, Alabama. Susan was the daughter of Kilpatrick Carter
and Phalishta ‘Pat’ Colbert. Kilpatrick Carter was born in Ireland and settled among the Chickasaws about 1817. He was hired by his
future father-in-law, Levi Colbert, to build a new home at Buzzard Roost, (Colbert County, Alabama). Levi Colbert eventually gave his
home at Buzzard Roost to Carter. Phalishta Colbert was the daughter of Levi Colbert and Mintahoyo, House of Imatapo. Levi Colbert was
1/2 Chickasaw and an important chief of the tribe. Much has been written about him and the part he played in the history of the Chickasaws.
Dr. Walner and Susan Carter’s five children were: 1. William, Jr. (Will), 2. John H., 3. Pocahontas, 4. Alice and 5. Susie E.
John H. Walner was a U.S. Deputy Marshall and a Chickasaw Indian Policeman. In 1886 he move from Cherokee Town and opened a
store at Wynnewood. Wynnewood was originally named Walner for him. The named was changed to Wynnewood in 1887.
Pocahontas was married to James Dulin in 1871. They first lived on the Blue River west of Caddo. Two children were born there, Susie and
Simpson (Simp). In 1878 they moved to Pontotoc County of the Chickasaw Nation. The town of Paoli was established there on his
property after the railroad was built in 1886. Pocahontas died in childbirth in April 1879. James Dulin died November 6, 1895. His
biography can be found on the Internet at “http://www.gen.1starnet.com/civilwar/dulinj.htm”.
William Walner died March 23, 1884. He is buried along with his daughter, Pocahontas, her stillborn child, and his son-in-law, James Dulin,
in the Dulin family private cemetery. The cemetery is located on Crabtree Street in Paoli, Oklahoma.
The first documented account that I have
found about him
is a newspaper ad from the “Choctaw Telegraph”
newspaper published in May 1849:
By
William
Walner Dulin, great-great grandson of Dr. William Walner, Dec.2000
The photo of Dr. Walner is from the photo collection of the University of Arkansas and may
not be reproduced without permission.