The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-09-24
JOHN a. JOHNSON
A Remarkable Mans Life-Son OF
Poor Swedish Emiqrants

Rochester, Mimi. Sept 22-Gover-
nor John A. Johnson, who died at his
nome here yesterday morning, was in
every essential a self made man. He
was born in the town of st. Peter,
Mimi, on July 2S, 1861, of humble
parentage, his father and mother hav-
ing been Swedish emigrants, but the
boy managed to go to the public
school of st. Peter until he was IL
years of age when his father died and
the care of the motner and younger
brothers fell on his young shoulders.
The boy went to work as an errand
boy in the drug store at st. Peter and
being anxious TO secure an education,
studied during his spare hours and at
night. He saved every penny he could
and few years later secured an in
terest in the st. Peter Herald becom-
| ing it's editor. Like the majority of
| the Swedish-Americans, who nave set
| tied in Minnesota young Johnson took
an interest in politics, soon becoming
recognized as one of the leaders of
the Democratic party of St Peter. His
editorials dealing with matters of
party policy were widely quoted not
| OHls III Mo 0NdlC QuL
through the country.
Joining the local company of the
| Minnesota National Guard. Johnson
was rapidly advanced until he was
commissioned its captain, command
which he held for seven years. He
secured the nomination for state SEN
ator and was elected by an overwhelm
ing majority, which attracted the at
tention of party leaders all through
the state. When the time came to
nominate a Democratic candidate for
governor in 1904 the rank and file of
the party was discouraged. The state
was seemingly overwhelmingly Re
publican and Theodore Roosevelt, the
| Republican presidential candidate.
was at the zenith of his popularity in
Minnesota.
The name of Johnson was suggest
ed to the Democratic convention as a
good candidate for governor and was
promptly accepted, the young editor
being named TO lead tne forlorn hope
So well did he lead it that, though the
Republican national ticket swept the
state, John A. Johnson was elected
governor by a substantial plurality
His administration also was peculiar
ly successful and he was reelected in
1906 and again last fall.
The personality of Johnson was an
important element in his success Tall
and angular. his hands still showing
the calOuses caused by his early la.
bors, he was a mixer" in the better
sense or the word, and his offices have
been always open to all classes of cit
liens who, no matter what tneir de-
sire, were always sure of a courteous
hearing Johnson's claims for the
Democratic presidential nomination
were advanced by Henry Watterson
two years ago but the time seemed
hardly ripe and the leaders of the
party in the nation failed to respond
as well as the southern editor desir-
ed.
| In fact there is little doubt now that
had the Watterson boom been follow
ed up by the Endorsement of Johnson
| by the eastern Democrats, as was hop
ed, William Jennings Bryan would
not have had the necessary two-thirds
to nominate bin at Denver in 1908.
But the Johnson movement was al
lowed to lag, with the result that he
had but few delegates when the con
yention nominated Tne governor
was married on June l, 1894 to Elinor
| Preston in st. Peter.