The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-11-05

VII ANSI NVuudN lue AAuucupoi1S
Journal printed two aftidavits which
relate to Gustav johnson, the deceased
father 9f the present Democratic can
didate FOR governor. These aftidavits
are being circulated throughout the
state for the purpose Of injuring the
reputaf lion of John a. johnson. The
aftidaYits show that Mr.. Johnson's fa-
ther died in the poorhouse Of NicollG
county. Unexplained they have ten
dencyl to show that John A. johnson
was lacking in tilial affection, but in
connection with the true story they
show( a nobility of character on ting
part (of Mr.. Johnson when mere boy
thaf is truly surprising. In connection
with the affidavits the Journal gives
tho true story of Mr.. Johnson's rela-
ito |hs with his father, of which the fol-
lowing is part:
1.-THE foregoing aff1davits, copies Of
(which were received from Montevideo,
in the western part of the state, form
the text for human interest story Of
no mean sort.
Gustav Johnson, to whom they re-
late, was born in Sweden, of good pa
rentage. He received common school
education, or better, and shortly after
becoming of age, he found himself, on
the death Of his parents, in possession
Of his share of comfortable estate.
The enlarged opportunities and the
freedom from responsibility or re-
straint which accompanied his new sit
uatiOn in life, instead Of calling out
the best that there was in the young
man, called out the worst Surround
ing himself with companions of vicious
tastes and habits, and wilfully closing
his eyes to the future, he entered upon
n career of dissipation which in few
years. time reduced him to want. He
had learned the trade of blacksmith
in his boyhood, and his trade now af-
forded him the only opportunity he had
to keep body and soul together. In
time he found out that even as a
craftsman he could not make a living,
for his habits were such that the pub
lie could place no dependence in him.
The blacksmith shop was finally
closed and Johnson became common
drunlkard in the little town where he
had been born and where he had grown
to mans estate. All that relatives and
friends could do to accomplish his re-
form was done, but to little purpose;
he seemed doomed to fill drunkard's IS
grave ut an early age, when, in 1858,
an opportunity was given him to come
to the United States.
Mr. and Mrs. NJ. G.. Evenson, who
had been brought up in the little Swed-
ish village with Johnson, and had
known him from infancy, We're about
to try their fortunes in the new world.
Johnson had said that If he could only
get away from the temptations of his
old home he believed it would be posi-
BILE for him to build himself up. This
remark was repeated to the Evensons
by some third party, and, for old
friendships sake, they concluded that
they would give him the opportunity
which he had asked for of beginning
life over again in America. He was
without money or the means Of secur-
ing it, and so the Evensons provided
for his passage. This was in 1853,
when Johnson was 33 years Of age.
Arriving in the United States, the
Evensons settled in st. Peter, N1inn.,
and here they were followed In a short
time by Johnson, who still manifested
a desire to reform. He went to work
at his trade, and so far as could be
seen, he had turned his back on the
past. A fine workman, he quickly
found himself busy and earning good
living. The Evensons were encouraged
and so were his relatives and former
friends at home. There seemed to be
no reason to doubt that he was now to
develop into an honorable and useful
citizen.
1t was in this period Of comparative
sOberness that the woman who after.
wards became his wife arrived from