Frances was 22 years younger than William Walker, her first husband - only 16 when she married. She had her first child within her first year of marriage.

Her grandson Charles noted that “she must have been a talented woman....I have an old memorandum book in which she kept her account with her pupils - she taught music. The first of the book lists Feb. 1858, giving the names of the pupils. On the next page she states, ‘moved to Quitman the 18th of June.’ Another item, ‘Mr. Gunter indebted to F. A. Walker $600.00, July 27th 1863.’ Another item says closed April 8th 1867. One says, “M.E. and Charles Walker entered school the 10th of Sept.’ No year given. One item of interest is, ‘commenced teaching No. 20 and boarding at Fowler’s on the 20th.’ Fowler was A. Fowler Cowling, who married her daughter, Mary Ellen. Later Frances married Ben M. Cowling, Fowler Cowling’s father. In the 1870’s Ben M. Cowling and his family moved to Sebastian county, Arkansas near the Indian Territory line. Frances probably could not settle down as a farmer’s wife so we find her at Ft. Gibson, Indian Territory in 1870. This was an army Fort and many officers were stationed there.”