The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-09-22
Biographical Sketch.

Biographical Sketch.
ST. Paul, Sept. 21.--John A. Johnson
was the first native Minnesotan to be
chosen governor of the state, and of
that distinction was prouder than OF
any other feature of his career. He
felt more pride in that than he did
in the fact that he educated and pre-
pared himself for that career while
trying to support widowed mother.
Governor johnson was born near St
Peter. Mimi. As years ago. His parents
We're natives of Sweden. His father.
Gustave Johnson. and his mother. Car
oline Hanson Haden. were both OF
peasant stock.
Gustave Johnson was blacksmith
and for number Of years he con-
Quoted his business on farm near st.
Peter Ii was on his farm that the
future governor was born.
About the time of the Indian trou-
bles in that neighborhood, during the
civil war. the Johnsons moved to the
village of St. Peter, where the father
re-established his shop. but he failed
to prosper In town and finally died,
leaving his family in poverty. John.
grocery and drug stores and In the
meantime formed the reading habit.
managing to obtain u good education.
Business Training.
Ii was as tiInekeeper for a firm
of railroad contractors. however. as he
said, that his business training was
gained. But he was more OF a stu
dent than business man. He studied
not only books but men. and for the
latter he showed special aptitude. He
loved to mix with all sorts OF people.
10 study them and to learn from their
experiences.
Finally an opportunity was opened
for him to become editor and part
owner of the St. Peter Herald.
Genial. broad minded and a fluent
talker and ready of wit, his paper was
popular and he was always in demand
as a speaker at public meetings.
His first venture in politics resulted
in defeat for state senator in 1894.
just after he had married Miss Gilmore
NJ. Preston. Il teacher.
In 1898 he was again nominated by
the democrats for the senate and was
elected. Here he gained his reputation
as public speaker and a student of
political questions. but antagonized
certain members nj his own party
when he warmly defended the Ameri-
can soldiers in the Philippines and
the conduct of the national adminis-
tration.
But if he lost democratic support,
Ia. inn 81.
when. in 1904. he was nominated for
governor by the democratic state con-
yention and Was elected. Every day
of his administration added To his pop
ularity and two years later he was re-
elected overwhelmingly.
Unanimously Chosen.
When il was proposed to nominate /
hin. for Il third time the governor
declared he would not be a canLI,.ate /
and did not attend the democratic state /
convention. but he was unanimously !
nominated and elected by a big ma
jnrity. although his opponent. j, r. ]
Jacobsen. vas one of the most popular 4
republican politicians In the state.
In the meantime Johnson's political ]
record had become known far and !
wide and he Was in demand as a /
speaker at political gatherings and |
Ghautauqua assemblies He responded |
10 some of these demands and with I
every appearance his popularity in
creased. until many of the democratic !
leaders strongly advocated his nomi- |
nation for the presidency OF the Unit !
Cd States
New Governor.
adolph =. Eberhart. who. by the /
death OF Governor John a, johnson. /
becomes the chief executive ot the /
state. was born in Sweden IS years .
ago. bur came to Minnesota in 1881. |
Continued on Page Ffve)