From NKAA, Notable Kentucky African Americans Database (PIONEERS & PATRIOTS: Anderson County Military Servicemen, Revolutionary War - WWI)

Walker Lillard was born a slave in Anderson County about 1838. His early life was spent on the Thomas Gaines farm near Lawrenceburg, but when Gaines passed away in 1853, ownership of Walker and his brother David was passed to his daughter, Mrs. Rachael Tinsley of Audrain County, Missouri.

For the next decade Walker remained enslaved. During that time he was engaged in a relationship with Rhoda Tinsley. It is not known if they were actually married, but together they were the parents of at least one child, a daughter named Ellen.

Although the Emancipation Proclamation freed all slaves in states that were in open rebellion against the Union, Missouri remained loyal, and slaves in that state remained in bondage. Late in the war, however, Missouri was authorized to enlist regiments of black men, and all who enlisted were granted immediate freedom.

The Lillard brothers (Walker, along with his brother David) therefore volunteered in  Mexico, Missouri on March 21, 1864 and 16 days later were mustered into Federal service at Benton Barracks as privates in Company H of the 68th Regiment of the U.S. Colored Infantry. At the time of his enlistment, Walker was described as 26-year old farm laborer with black hair and eyes, standing 6'1" in height.

According to regimental history, the 68th was on duty at St. Louis until the end of April when it was ordered to Memphis, Tennessee. From July 5-21, 1864, the 68th took part in Smith's Expedition into Mississippi and fought in a major battle in Tupelo on July 14-15.

After this expedition the regiment returned to Memphis, where it remained on duty occupying the defenses there until February 1865. During that time, Walker received a promotion to corporal on January 7, 1865. He was later ordered to New Orleans and then to duty in Florida.

On March 20, 1865 Walker was detached for duty in the Pioneer Corps for two months duty. This Corps moved in advance of the main army, blazing a trail by widening roads and building and repairing bridges to help expedite the advance to Fort Blakely, Alabama. The regiment then took part in the siege, assaults, and capture of that place April 1-9, 1865, and moved to occupy the cities of Mobile and Montgomery.

Later the regiment was moved to Texas, where it served along the Rio Grande River and other points across the state, remaining on duty until February 5, 1866 when it was mustered from Federal service at Camp Parapet, Louisiana.

After the war, Walker returned to Mexico, Missouri where he was married on February 11, 1869 to Miss Harriet Baskett. Together Walker and Harriet were parents of seven children; Jackson, Charles Henry, Jordan Franklin, Mattie Belle, Fred Ulysses, Andrew Johnson, and Effie May.

Walker was a plasterer by trade, and remained a resident of Mexico, Missouri for the rest of his life, which ended April 26, 1908. He was buried in an unmarked grave in block E, lot #25, grave #6 of the Elmwood Cemetery. However, in April of 2010 a government marker was placed on his final resting place denoting his service.