John Walker

Who was John Walker?

John Walker was a U.S. politician from Missouri.

John Walker was born in Brunswick County, Virginia. He later moved to Kentucky, and eventually settled in Howard County, Missouri in 1818. A decade later, he was elected to the Missouri State Senate. He was elected as State Treasurer of Missouri in 1833. According to legend, he never kept the Treasurer's Office locked or bolted, but secured government funds in an iron-bound oaken chest, and reportedly slept on top of the chest at night. Following his death in office, $400 in government funds were reported missing. Nonetheless, he was exonerated on charges of misappropriation of funds. Several years later, the money was discovered in between the metal lining and walls of the chest.