On March 30, 1837, the New Orleans Picayune announced the election of Col. George Walton as mayor of Mobile. Walton was the father of nationally renowned author and socialite, Madame Octavia Walton Levert. Having arrived in Mobile in 1835, the Walton family was still new to the city. Walton was victorious in the election but defeated Captain John Pagles by only 39 votes.