The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-09-24
is IN MOURNING

state and plunged people into
deepest grief and sorrow. He was
beloved for his delightful person
atty, manly qualities and his in
tellectual attainments. He was held
in the highest respect for his ster-
ling traits of character, his fidelity
to principle, his strict integrity
and his honesty of purpose. He
was lovable man, prince among
men, a charming companion. He
was filled with magnetism, and no
one could enter his presence with
out becoming at once attached to
him. He won people to him by his
affability of manner, his friendly
grasp of the hand, his hearty and
wholesome style of greeting, which
was unaffected, the natural gift of
a good God. His rise from the
ranks of the citizenry to the high
position of governor of great
commonwealth did not turn his
head nor fill him with disgusting
egotism. He was always the same
John A. johnson.
Governor Johnson's career was in
many respects unique, but is one
for the youths of our state and
country to emulate. Born in pow
erty and obscurity and of foreign
parentage, he was given no ma
terial advantages, but in spite of
all these handicaps he surmounted
obstacles that many others in like
circumstances never would have
attempted. But the boy, like the
man, and the states executive,
was blessed with strong will
power, a courage that never fall
tered, a heart that beat true, a
brain that was clear and a mind
that was ready to drink in the
best that there is in this life.
With these admirable qualities,
and they are God-given, success
must crown every stride that he
made. He could not retrace his
steps. His motto was Forward"
He rose step by step from errand
boy for a widowed mother, as
clerk in store, as a student, as
newspaper man and editor, as
representative of the people in the
senate and finally as the governor
of the state. Had he lived, John
A. Johnson might have gone higher
up the ladder and his name placed
side by side with the great men
who have received the very high
est honor that the American peo-
pie can accord a fellow man.
Party lines have been obscured
by the tears that are shed for the
dead governor and man. These
tears are mingled with the SYM
pathetic expressions for widow,
who is deserving of the kindest
hour of bereavement. She has ex-
hibited the greatest devotion for her
stricken husband, and like the good
wife that she is, was ever at his
bedside, offering that consolation
and encouragement which is of
such great assistance in the hour
of peril. Governor Johnson was
equally as devoted and as tender to-
ward his wife. Recently when
Mrs. Johnson underwent an opera
ton he exhibited the greatest So
1icitude for her welfare. This was
another admirable trait of Gov
ernor Johnson. He was a man of
tender heart, of kind disposition
and generous in his nature. He
could treat a foe with the great
est courtesy and refer in a kindly
way to an enemy-but few of
those he had
The world is better because John
A. Johnson has lived in it. He was
a man of the highest ideals and he
gave to the people his best and
purest thoughts which were uplift-
ing and did much for the better
ment of mankind. AS an orator
he had few equals in the north
west. His appearance on the plat
form was always the signal for an
outburst of enthusiasm and he pos
sessed a gift of speech that is
rare. His eloquence would hold
an audience spellbound. His mag
netic and engaging personality
were of valuable assistance to
him, and as campaigner his equal
has never been known in Mime
sofa and the northwest; in fact,
his peers were few in this coun-
try. When all these remarkable
qualities are considered, is it to
be wondered at that John A.
Johnson was elected governor
three times, and that, too, in
a state that has been rock-ribbed
republican from the day of its
birth?
John A. Johnson is dead. Had
he not been governor those words
would have brought sorrow with
them to great many people who
had a sincere and lasting affection
for the man-an affection deep
and abiding. His noble qualities
of mind and heart could not help
but cause people to love and re-
spect him. His friends were legion
and they were true as steel. They
would have had the same love and
admiration for him had he never
reached the high official station
which he held for more than four
years. The glamour which must