362 JAMES O'MEARA
and his services were once more invaluable to that distin- guished adventurer.
The gold discovery in California had no charm for Captain Jo Walker. Although he valued money in his own provident and unselfish, unavaricious way, he was neither its slave nor its worshiper.
To accumulate and hoard it, when about him or known to him were any whose circumstances or necessities caused them trouble or privation, was averse to his great and generous nature.
He was not wantonly prodigal with gold, but he was never so fond of it as to make its acquisition the aim or end of his lifetime pursuit.
It was to him mainly the medium through which to com- fortably provide for his own simple wants, and to supply the necessities or relieve the sufferings of his friends, and the unfortunate whom he encountered mostly to cheer or assist.
His temperament and his mode of life prompted and con- firmed in him moderation in requirements and habits.
He was a democratic republican of the ancient, pure, and simple stamp, in principle and action, without the dross of the politician or the guile of the partisan in his nature or behavior.
General Jackson was his grandest of mortal heroes blessed with immortal name, and he remained always affectionately disposed to his native Tennessee, and to the "Old Missouri" of his early manhood.
He was alike temperate and frugal in his mode of life.
His was a notable figure in any group of men, even in his ripe age, as the writer of this tribute saw him in 1853, when he was prevailed upon to recount some of the eventful deeds and scenes of his active life for publication in the San Fran- cisco "Herald," which were graphically and gracefully pre- pared for the press by Mr. A. J. Moulder, at that time the assistant editor ; and in later years, so late as 1876, when again he was persuaded to communicate to Mr. R. A. Thompson
