Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1909-10-28

mhkTlN N. JUHNSVN UEhD.
(Coutin.ed from Page One./
He settled on unsurveyed public
land and opened farm near what
| is now the village of Petersburg.
TWENTY-FIVE miles from l-arimore..
which was then the nearest railroad
station. The country was wild
prairie for miles around. and the
habitation that sheltered him from
the weather the first winter was a
sod shanty such as the first settlers
usually built and used in most
parts of this state at that time.
| Much of the farming and hauling
in those days was done with oxen.
and Mr.. johnson used oxen at first,
but afterward obtained horses.
For the first four years after his
arrival in Dakota Territory Mr..
johnson devoted all of his attention
to farming
In 1886 he was elected district (nOw
known as state's) attorney, and was
reelected in 1888. serving four
wears in that capacity. In 1889 he
was sent as delegate to the cOnsti-
tutional convention at Bismarck and
was a Woodworking and faithful
member of that important body. He
was chairman of the committee on
corporations. and had hand in the
shaping of legislation on prohibi-
ton and education. That year he
was candidate for the United
States senate before the first legisla-
ture, and in the republican caucus
had forty-two votes out of the eigh-
ty cast and was entitled to the unit
ed vote of the party in the joint
convention of the two houses. The
other thirty-eight republicans were
divided among seven competitors.
who finally combined with ten demo-
Gratis and thus secured his defeat.
This ungenerous treatment. how
ever, SO far from eliminating Mr..
johnson from the field as a leader
of the people. made him in some re-
spects the strongest man in the new
state. In 1890 he was sent to the
lower house of congress, and was
three times renominated by accla-
nation, and served eight years as a
representative alike to his credit
and to the satisfaction of his constit-
uents. He has held a prominent
place in the political arena. and has
served on some of the most import
ant house committees, among them
being those of ways and means, COIN
age, and weights and measures. He
stood consistently for sound money
and protective tariff.
Mr.. johnson was devoted men,
Der of the Methodist Episcopal
church, and has served as a member
of the general conference of that
church. which was held in Chicago
during the month of May, 1909.
Mr.. johnson and Miss Stella
| White were married in 1879. She is
a daughter of Amos White. and her
ancestors have lived in America for
two hundred and fifty years. She
lis lady of many charms and graces
and is a graduate of the University
of Iowa.
Last year Mr.. johnson announced
himself a candidate for the United
States senate at the opening of the
campaign for the senatorship under
the new primary law. At the pri-
mary election he received the second
highest vote for the senatorship, and
at the general election in 1908, when
the contest was between himself and
Thomas F. Marshall. he was chosen
by the republicans of the state as
their candidate for the senate by a
Substantial majority. At the last
Legislative session he was elected
senator by the unanimous republic
can vote of the two houses. and he
returned to congress as senator of
the state of North Dakota after an
absence of ten years from public
life; during all of which time, how
ever, he had been keenly interested
in the political affairs of the state.
Mr.. johnson leaves four children.
His daughter Edith is the wife of S.
G. Skulason, who was Mr.. Johnson's
private secretary. His daughter
Nellie is the wife of MIR. Hyde, of
| Williston, this state; and his daugh-
ter Florence is at the family home
lin Petersburg. His son Ralph is
married and lives at Bronson. Mime
sofa.