Adam Walker was born into slavery around 1829 in Albemarle County, Virginia, and worked as a farmer. His owner, Tom Lewis, migrated to Prairieville, Missouri, several years before the Civil War, bringing Walker with him. He lived with an unnamed woman, and after her death, he married Louisa Daniel. Tom Lewis gave Walker to his son Robert as a gift. When Robert Lewis died, Walker became the property of William Lewis, who lived in Lincoln County, Missouri. Adam Walker and Louisa Daniel had three children: Charles W., born March 17, 1862; and two children whose names are unknown.  

Walker ran away from the Lewis family farm during the Civil War and enlisted in the Union army on May 31, 1864, in Quincy, Illinois. He mustered in as a private in Company F of the 29th USCT Infantry Regiment on July 8. His enlistment records describe him as 5 feet, 5 inches tall, with black hair, black eyes, and a black complexion. He took part in the Siege of Petersburg, and he fell ill there in December 1864. The army moved him to the general hospital at Fort Monroe, Virginia, on December 16, 1864. He never rejoined his regiment, and he received a discharge for disability on November 23, 1865.

Instead of returning to Missouri, Walker settled in Springfield, Illinois, and Louisa believed he had died during the war. Walker married Sarah Sappington in Springfield on May 21, 1870. She had previously been married to another man, who was serving time in a penitentiary. After his release, Sarah left Walker and returned to her first husband. Walker died in Springfield on August 23, 1879, and was buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery. Louisa eventually applied for a widow's pension. The pension office, however, denied her application, since Walker had survived the war and failed to resume marital life with her after his service. 

Documents:

Testimony of Louisa Walker