Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1909-09-23
GOV. JOHNSON DEAD
Chief EXECUTIVE OF MINNESOTA
SUCCUMBS TO OPERATION.
MiEHeSOf0'S Popular Governor Fails
TO Survive Operation, and Passes
Tuesday forming. was Not OnIv
Popular in His Own State but in
Nation as Well.

ROCHESTER,, Mimi, Sept. 21.-
Governor John A. Johnson died at
1886 this morning, following an op-
GRAFTON for intestinal abscess which
was performed last Wednesday. Mrs
Johnson was with him to the last and
was prostrated when she realized he
had breathed his last. He was con-
scious almost until the last and kept
a cheerful mien although he knew
the end was but matter of hours.
The career of John A. Johnson in
Minnesota has been that of man
of destiny Things have always
broken right for Johnson, even
when they seemed to be going
against him. Behind it all, compell-
ing recognition, has been the won
derful personality that has made the
son of a poorhouse inmate three
times governor of d great state OF
an opposite political faith and
brought him into the public eye as
a probable candidate for the presi-
dency OF the United States.
Johnson's is story of hard work,
of simple devotion to duty and right
living. he has fought his way to
greatness from a start that would
have discouraged any but the most
l. Il al, h l,; Ia
he earned the money that gave his
hard working mother relief from the
necessitated by the dercliction of
the head of the family. He was
always studying when he was not
working, and he smiled his way
through it all. His personal mag
netsm was remarked by all who have
met him. Not that he was effusive,
for he was reserved in demeanor, but
his way of meeting the glance his
sincere handclasp and unassuming
democracy created an impression
that was never lost.
John A. johnson was born at st.
Peter, Mimi, forty-eight years ago,
of Swedish parentage. What his
father may have lacked, his mother
supplied in character. in which r.
spect, as well as in certain elements
of his personality, Johnson has some
IN hrn h M I in
coin. The story of Johnson { humble
origin and the tragedy n the life
of his father told by his political
enemies when he first ran for gov
ernor, proved a b, nerang, for the
truth came out and the story of
young Johnson's toll at the age of
13 to support his mother and tn :
family gave him a hold on the voters
and placed him where he had the
opportunity to make of himself ma
tional figure.
His Spartan mother entreated him
not to leave school, but to continue
his education. while she worked u
get for him the training ana culture
on which she had set her heart
John went to WORK. His first job
in a grocery store, was not big enough
to support the family, AMI the
mother continued to wash. Two
years later he had gone to work in
drug store. The increased wages
gave him his opportunity and, as
serting his leadership, he put an enl
to the mothers drudgery, over her
protest.
The next ten years We're quiet
years of hard work for Johnson. He
made reading take the plac, of a
college course, laying the fOunda-
tions of a training and culture that
brought his selection few ago to
make the commencement address to
the graduating class at the Tfniver-
sity of Pennsylvania-an honor
which would have been accepted
with enthusiasm by thousands of
college-bred men.