# Walter J. Smith *American banker and Minnesota state treasurer (1870–1950)* Walter J. Smith (October 5, 1870 – October 19, 1950) was a banker in Eveleth, [[Minnesota]]. He was mayor of that city and later the thirteenth [[Minnesota State Treasurer]], holding the office for three consecutive terms.[^1] He was elected treasurer as the nominee of the [[Republican Party of Minnesota]].[^2] His tenure ended on February 12, 1916. The Minnesota Historical Election Archive, as cited in his Wikipedia biography, records that he was forced out of office after a grand jury indicted him over $28,000 in permanent state trust funds.[^3] Governor [[Joseph A. A. Burnquist]] named [[Arthur C. Gooding]] to fill the office.[^3] The account available to this record is secondary, and no primary document for his service is cited here.[^1] ## Early life and career Smith was born in Eureka, Kansas, on October 5, 1870, and moved with his family to Bellevue, Ohio, during his childhood.[^4] He attended a business college in Cleveland and then took a position with Bellevue's First National Bank.[^4] *The Appeal*, a Republican newspaper in Minnesota, dated the start of his banking work in the state to 1893.[^4] By 1900 he sat on the board of the First National Bank of Eveleth and was also its cashier.[^4] He afterward served as president and a director of the Miners National Bank of Eveleth, which had been incorporated in 1903.[^4] Eveleth mayor M. B. Maxwell died in 1908, and Smith was appointed to the office, which he held until 1910.[^4] ## Politics Smith first ran for state treasurer in 1910, as the Republican nominee. His opponent was Charles F. Ladner, the nominee of the Minnesota Democratic Party.[^2] Smith received 177,436 votes, recorded as 66.47 percent, with a margin of victory recorded as +32.75%.[^2] Counting primaries, he won five elections for the office. These were the 1910 election and both the primary and the general elections of 1912 and 1914.[^2] Over those terms he served in the cabinets of three governors: [[Adolph Olson Eberhart]], [[Winfield Scott Hammond]] and Burnquist.[^2] ### 1916 resignation The Minnesota Historical Election Archive, as cited in the Wikipedia biography, records the sequence. A grand jury indicted Smith over the mishandling of $28,000 in permanent state trust funds, and he was then forced to resign on February 12, 1916.[^3] Burnquist appointed Gooding as his successor. Gooding held the office until January 2, 1917, when the newly elected [[Henry Rines]] replaced him.[^3] The cited account does not report how the indictment was resolved.[^3] ## In the Minnesota record ### Who - Walter J. Smith, Republican; mayor of Eveleth and thirteenth Minnesota State Treasurer.[^1][^2] ### What - He was indicted by a grand jury and forced to resign the treasurership.[^3] ### When - He was born on October 5, 1870, and died on October 19, 1950.[^1] - He was appointed mayor of Eveleth in 1908 and served until 1910.[^4] - He won elections for treasurer in 1910, 1912 and 1914.[^2] - He resigned as treasurer on February 12, 1916.[^3] ### Where - He was born in Eureka, Kansas, and grew up in Bellevue, Ohio.[^4] - He later worked as a banker and served as mayor in Eveleth, Minnesota.[^4] ### How much - The indictment concerned $28,000 in permanent state trust funds.[^3] - He received 177,436 votes in the 1910 treasurer's race.[^2] ### How many - He won five elections for State Treasurer, counting primaries.[^2] - He served in the cabinets of three Minnesota governors.[^2] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Walter J. Smith* (revision 1379838218, retrieved October 25, 2026), lead section — life dates, Eveleth mayoralty, three consecutive terms as thirteenth Minnesota State Treasurer. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_J._Smith [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *Walter J. Smith* (revision 1379838218, retrieved October 25, 2026), section *Politics* — 1910 Republican nomination against Charles F. Ladner; 177,436 votes, 66.47%, +32.75% margin; five elections in 1910, 1912 and 1914; cabinets of Eberhart, Hammond and Burnquist. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_J._Smith [^3]: Wikipedia contributors, *Walter J. Smith* (revision 1379838218, retrieved October 25, 2026), subsection *1916 resignation*, citing the Minnesota Historical Election Archive — forced resignation on February 12, 1916, after a grand jury indictment concerning $28,000 in permanent state trust funds; Gooding's appointment by Burnquist and his service until January 2, 1917; succession by Henry Rines. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_J._Smith [^4]: Wikipedia contributors, *Walter J. Smith* (revision 1379838218, retrieved October 25, 2026), section *Early life and career* — birth in Eureka, Kansas; Bellevue, Ohio; Cleveland business college; *The Appeal* on 1893; First National Bank of Eveleth by 1900; Miners National Bank (incorporated 1903); appointment as Eveleth mayor in 1908 after M. B. Maxwell's death, serving to 1910. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_J._Smith