Walter A. Johnson, president of the Missouri Life & Accident Insurance Company, with offices in the Metropolitan building, was born on a farm near Murfreesboro, Tennessee, November 23, 1869. His father, B. P. Johnson, is a native of Tennessee and is now a farmer near Waco, Texas. An uncle, Willis Johnson, was killed while serving with the Confederate forces in the Civil war. The mother of Walter A. Johnson bore the maiden name of Ella Norman and was born in Tennessee. The family has been represented in America through several generations. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Johnson was celebrated near Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and to them were born five children, three sons and two daughters: Walter A.; E. N., who married Fannie Williams; R. E., who wedded Mary Emma Magill and is living in Waco, Texas; Kate, the wife of Charles Childs, a resident of Mart, Texas; and Mary, the wife of Alfred Looney, residing in Axtill, Texas.
Walter A. Johnson was educated in the country schools near Murfreesboro, Tennessee, his training being equivalent to a high school education. In 1895 he turned his attention to the insurance business as a solicitor for the National Life & Accident Insurance Company of Nashville, Tennessee, and was there until 1902, during which time he rose to the position of superintendent. In the year indicated he went to Louisville, Kentucky, for the above company in the capacity of superintendent and remained in that city until 1907. He then came to St. Louis and organized the Missouri Life & Accident Insurance Company, of which he became the president, and throughout the intervening years to the present time he has wisely and successfully directed the affairs of the corporation, which has its offices in the Metropolitan building. The business under his able guidance has greatly developed and the corporation has become one of the strong insurance companies of the state.
On the 25th of December, 1904, in Louisville, Kentucky, Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Pearl Tinsley, daughter of J. A. and Mary E. Tinsley, of Louisville, Kentucky, and a sister of James A. Tinsley, who served in the World war as a member of the Tank Corps in France.
Mr. Johnson during the World war period spent much of his time in securing subscriptions for the Liberty loans and in promoting various other branches of war work. In politics he is an independent democrat, usually voting for the party yet not considering himself bound by party ties. His religious faith is that of the Baptist church. He belongs to the Glen Echo Country Club, also to the Sunset Hill Country Club and his social qualities have won for him many friends in club circles and among those with whom he has come in contact through other relations of life.