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


three Of his sisters, and educating the
remaining brother and sister. who are
still living.
He was in Mankato when the oppor-
tunity came for him to buy half in
terest in the st. Peter Herald. He said
to the friends who told him about the
opportunity that he was supporting his
mother and brothers and sisters, and
didn't have a dollar for investment.
His friends in st. Peter took up the
case, advanced the necessary sum, and
started him out rs a newspaper man,
and it need not be said that this sum
was repaid in due time.
The father had permitted taxes to
accumulate on the home, until the
amount was finally 1926 and the prop
erty was sold by the sheriff. John
bought it in with money saved out of
his $75 month, so that the mother
and children might not be disturbed.
Finally. he married. He brought his
wife to the home, which in the mean
time he had enlarged by the building
Of comfortable addition, and the new
daughter fitted into the little family
circle in truly beautiful way. The
sister secured a position as teacher in
country school and left home, return
ing for the vacation seasons.
The mother, with the sturdy indie
pendence and strength Of character
which she had alwas exhibited, and
without which the family, during it's
years of sore trial could not have been
kept together, made up her mind that
she wanted to have Il home which was
her very own, as many other mothers
have done and will continue to do. She
conceived the scheme of keeping house
for her daughter, who was now self
supporting, and accordingly she rented
two or three rooms. which her son fur
nished, and into these she moved. Her
daughter, according to the arrangement
which had been made, lived with her,
and it was not long before that daugll-
ter secured place in the st. Peter
schools, which she still holds. She and
her mother are now living on one of
the quiet residence streets of the town,
i'll pleasant cottage, which is well
furnished, and where they are sur
rounded by all the ordinary comforts
of life.
The story was circulated thnt the
mother had had some trouble with her
son and his wife and that that trouble
explained her setting up Il separate es-
tablishment. hut this is not true. She
was very indignant when Journal
man talked to her about this story, and
authorized the following statement:
"No mother ever had IL more loving
and more dutiful son than John has
been to me. During the proverty and
suffering which came to us, he was
our comfort and our support. l do not
know what we could have done with
out his aid. He was always kind and
tender with all of us. and in Il very
true sense the main stay of our little
home. He cheerfully turned over his
money to me on every pay day, and
before lie was IA years old lie was
making enough so that l no longer was
compelled to take in washing. never
have been prOuder of him than ! was
the evening lie came home and told be
that his salary had been increased, and
that he would no longer permit, me to
do this kind of work. think too,
that this was one of the proudest mo-
ments of his life. He took care of lis
in times of sickness and death. paying
all the expenses. and doing it with a
spirit which has made him douhly dear
to all of us. After his marriage l vol
ter. There was no reason why | should
do this, except that ] preferred to live
in that way. His home has always
| been open to me, and it is open
to me today. His wife, as well as
| he, has been goodness itself. Very few
mothers have been blessed with such
a son, and to all who have been So
blessed ! offer my sincercst congrAtllla.
| tiOns. He has been one son in ten
thousand"
The family is one of the most highly
| respected in ST. Peter. and the men
and women of that town, before whom
| the several acts of this domestic drama
have been played, honor John A. John
| son as men honor only those who have
suffered adversely and trial Of the sad,
1cst and scvrrcst kind and have tri-
| umphcd over them by the exercise of
the simple manly virtues. lie has been
tried in their presence by every test
and he has responded in a manner to
win their approval and esteem.
1t perhaps is hardly necessary now
for the Journal to say that the John
A. johnson here referred to is the pres.
ent Democratic candidate for the high
office of governor OF Minnesota. His
| life history, bare outline Of which
has been given here, ought to be al
! inspiration to every poor and unfOrtu
nate boy in the northwest; for what
lie has done they can do if they only
! will cultivate the will power, the ambi
| finn ouI %1n virtI,a ,x.hirh ho W., ,ruitlnf