The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-09-21

GOVERNOR JOHN A. JOHNSON.
had died drunkard in a poorhouse
and that his mother had taken in
washing. The report was investigated
and proved true. but 1t did not have
the effect that It's circulators had
hoped.
The American manhood OF Mime
sofa, the same kind of American man.
hood that had elected the rail-splitter,
Lincoln, president arose for Johnson
He was elected. although the remain
der of his ticket was showed under by
nearly 10000 majority. Not only
this. but he was elected twice after.
ward, the only Democrat chosen in his
etrongly Republican state
1t was later shown that the elder
uohnson was suffering from alcoholic
dementia and that on the request OF
village authorities he was admitted to
the poor farm where he could be kept
away from liquor. The father lived at
this place from the early seventies un-
I'll 1888, during which year he died.
In 1900 Johnson was one Of the most
prominent candidates for the Demo
cratic presidential nomination and
WAS second only to Bryan.
Dies After Fourth Operation.
Governor Johnson died as the result
OF fourth operation for appendicitis.
or more correctly, adhesions resulting
from former operations for appended
lis, the first of which occurred fifteen
years ago.
The last notable utterance Of Gov.
ernor johnson was an appeal for the
west to stand together and look out
Tor its own interests. President Taft
regarded this as of sufficient import
ance to refer to it in his Boston ad
dress. made at the very time that Gov
ernor Johnson was preparing to under
go the operation which resulted in bis
death.
Governor Johnson was born at ST
Peter. Mimi. where his parents had
settled in the early flfties.
The father, Gustav. was a man OF
good education and had inherited sons
property. which proved to be his un
doing, for he soon became a victim oil
his joviality and squandered his in
heritance.
4, Quits School TO Help Mother.
The second son, John A. johnson
early in life was surrounded by
misery, unhappiness, material wan,
and family troubles. At this time his
mother was supporting the family by
doing laundry work and the duty of dis
trtbutng the clothing to various fami
Hes in the village fell upon the boy
who afterward became the governor Of
Minnesota.
His father, who had settled down fol
q time, sold his blacksmith shop fol
$500 and leaving the family practically
destitute left st. Peter. A year late,
he returned
When he was twelve years old Gov
ernor Johnson came to the conclusion
that the family could not afford t
keep him in the public schools an,
longer and prevailed upon Mrs John
son to allow him to work in the villag,
store. For several years he was EN-
ploye6 as a clerk. When he was four
teen years old he informed his mothe
that it was no longer necessary for he,
to work as laundress and from tina,
time on he was the sole support q
Mrs. Johnson and his brothers and sis
tiers. Later he entered the employ OIL
q druggist and became a pharmacist
In his early twenties he was employed
by a railroad contractor In Minnesota
and Iowa.
Friends of the young man gained
control of the ST. Peter Herald ant
johnson was given the editorship ant
half interest in the paper Within {
few years he became one of the lead
ing Democratic editors in Minnesota
In 1894, the same year In which h.
married Miss Gilmore Preston, draw
ing teacher, Johnson was persuaded t.
take the Democratic nomination 70
the state senate. He did SO and wa!
defeated. Nominated to the same of
nee four years later, he made yigor
GUS campaign on state issues and thi
time was successful For two year!
he served in the legislature and hii
career was chiefly notable for the lead
ership OF his party in the successful
contest for an increased gross earning.
tax on railroads.
In 1902 he could have secured the
Democratic nomination for governor
but refused it, preferring to run agar
for the legislature. He was defeated