In 1809 Temple Walker built Mount Elba on a portion of the original Walker land grant and placed it on a hill overlooking the Mattaponi valley. He was married in 1811 and probably built the first section of the house at that period for his bride and himself. Later when an increasing family and finances dictated, a dormer section was added. This house followed the common practice of having its dining room in the basement, living room and entry hall on the first floor, and two bedrooms and a small hall upstairs. With the passing of time additions to Mount Elba have been made. He married four times, justifying it by saying “If it pleases the Lord for me to take one wife, it pleases me to take another. Marriage is the biggest lottery in the world; no man ever knows a woman until after he marries her.” The early mistresses of Mount Elba had little time to enjoy their home since Temple Walker was widowed three times in a comparatively brief span of years. Was never a widower more than eleven months. Mary Hill of King William, his first wife lived nine years after she was married and left six surviving children. Her successor, Lucy Taliaferro, died within a year. The third wife, Elizabeth Todd, loved only three years and left two children. One was Dr. Bernard H. Walker. Since Temple Walker was one of the founders of the Disciples’ (Christian) Church in this area and abided by its teachings, it was said that his fourth marriage was on Sunday to avoid celebrating and dancing. Jane Cluverius of Gloucester, the fourth wife, presented him with a son, Atwood and three daughters. For many years Temple Walker was a member of the county court, and for a period of time served as High Sheriff of King and Queen County - 1844-45. He died in 1868 at the age of seventy-eight and his son, Atwood, inherited Mount Elba. 4 5

Written in the old Walker Bible: July 14th 1837 I weighted 161 pounds. Temple Walker K&Q Co.

Obituary: Died December 30th, 1868, at his residence, Mt. Elba, King & Queen, Virginia, Temple Walker, aged 78 years. He lived and died in sight of the place of his birth and through a long and useful life was beloved and honored by all who knew him. He was a man of sterling integrity, modest and unobtrusive, generous and social in his feelings, and of unstinted hospitality. He in early life made a profession of religion, and united himself with the Baptist church at Bruington, then under pastoral care of the eminent R. B. Semple. In the year 1833, being fully convinced that the cause, as plead by the feeble hand of Disciples, was in accordance with the work of God, he identified himself with them, knowing the odium and suffering which such a step would bring upon him. This step he never regretted. Dr. Jno. Duvall, himself and others, organized the church of Smyrna in the year 1733 (nearly all of them have passed away). At its organization he was chosen one of its elders and remained in that position until his death. Through a long period of thirty-five years. ______official duty he retained the love of his brethren, faithfully discharging this duty and on every lord’s day at his post, if health and weather would permit, deeply sympathizing with the church and the cause, in all its sufferings and triumphs. For the last year or two from debility he was unable to meet with the church, still his zeal did not abate. He kept his lamp burning and daily awaited his Master’s summons. He retired in his usual health on the night of the 29th. A little after midnight he awoke, laboring under distressing symptoms, and in a few minutes, before all his family could reach his bedside, he passed quietly away. He was conscious of his situation, and calmly met his last_____.

In 1858, Dr. B. H. Walker, describes a visit from him as follows:
Papa came down. The old gentleman is now about seventy, very hale and hearty and quite robust. He has been the most remarkable temperate man and the most uniform in his habits. He uses no tobacco, never drinks a drop of spirits of any kind, drinks no coffee or tea. I suppose he never drank a half0pound of either during his whole life. Rises almost always before day, walks actively before breakfast, goes to bed before or about nine o’clock.
He adds that his father’s brother, John Walker of Chatham Hill, is about eighty and still able to attend to his farm (Locust Grove) six or eight miles distant (from his home Chatham Hill), to which he rides on horseback.

Temple Walker died at Mr. Elba at the age of seventy-eight. A newspaper clipping pasted in the family Bible states that he lived and died in sight of the place of his birth (Locust Grove) and through a long and useful life was beloved and honored by all who knew him.

He never willingly sold a slave, except one who was sold off by law as punishment for stealing. He paid taxes on 18 slaves. The ones under 18 and the ones that were too old to work were not assessed.5