Johnny Walker, accompanied by his wife, Nel, captivated over 50 antique and collectible enthusiasts last Sunday at the Chase County Museum.
    He opened by recounting a little about his background. Walker has been an auctioneer for several decades. He only just retired about a month ago, but said that he is still available to work auctions for fundraisers.
    Walker is also an ordained minister who is currently pastoring at the West First Chapel in McCook.
    As for his beginning interest in antiques and collectibles, he said that began in 1967. CB Simmons took Walker under his wing and taught him all he knew about treasures from history. Simmons was the grandson of General William LeDuc, a Civil War veteran, Commissioner of Agriculture under President Hayes, an attorney and previous owner and builder of the LeDuc Historic Estate in Hastings, Minn. He passed down his knowledge to Simmons who in turn taught it to Walker.
    Walker handed out a list of period furniture and their descriptions beginning in 1600. He said he felt it was important to understand this information to be well-informed.
    He informed his audience that America did not manufacture its own furniture until the late 1700s. Federal style furniture was the first to be manufactured in the U.S. Before that, all furniture was imported, and then floated up the waterways to various locations.

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