Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1909-09-24
GOV. JOHNSON
DEAD
OPERATION OF NO AVAIL
===MINNESOTA'S BELOW
ED governor PASSED
AWAY TUESDAY.

AWAY TUESDAY.
st. Paul, Minn., Sept. zi.-1iov. John A.
johnson died at 3:z5 a. NJ. today in St. Mary's
hospital, Rochester, Minn., and in this city
flags on all public and many private buildings
are flying at half mast. On tho streets and
wherever men meet are heard expressions OF
sorrow.
Man of the People
st. Paul, Minn., Sept. 2l.-John
4. Johnson was the first native Min
nesotan to be chosed governor of the
state and of that distinction he was
prouder than Of any other feature Of
his career. He felt more pride in
that than lie bid in the fact that he
educated and prepared himself for
that career while trying to support
widowed mother.
Governor johnson was born near
st. Peter, Minn., 4S years ago. His
parents were natives Of Sweden, His
father, Gustave johnson, and his
mother, Caroline Hanson, were both
Of peasant stock.
Gustave Johnson was a blacksmith
and for number Of years lie conduct
ed his business on farm near st.
Peter. 1t was ON this farm that the
future governor was born.
About the time Of the Indian trou-
bles in that neighborhood during the
Civil war, the Johnsons moved to the
village OF st. Peter. where the father
established his shop, but lie failed to
prosper in town and finally died, leav-
ing his family III poverty. johnson,
! then Ii years OF age, worked in gror-
cry and drug stores and in the mean
time formed the reading habit, man
aging to obtain good education.
1t was as timekeeper for Il firm of
railroad contractors, however, he has
said, that his best business training
was gained. But he was always more
of student than Il business man. He
studied not only books but men and
for the latter he showed special ap-
titude. He loved to'mix with all sorts
of people, to study them and to learn
from their experiences.
Finally an opportunity was opened
to become editor and part owner Of
the st. Peter Herald.
Genial, broadminded and fluent
talker and ready of wit, his paper was
| popular and he was always in demand
as a speaker at public meetings. His
first venture in politics resulted in
defeat for state senator in 1904, Just
after lie had married Miss Gilmore NJ.
Preston, a teacher.
In 1903, he was again nominated by
the Democrats for the senate and WAS
elected. Here lie reached his reputa-
tion as public speaker and Il student
of political questions, but antagonized
members of his own party when he
warmly defended the American sol
diers in the Philippines and the con-
duct of the national administration.
But if he lost Democratic support
he gained more from the Republicans,
when, in 1904, he was nominated for
governor by the Democratic state
convention and was elected.
Every day of his administration
added to his popularity and two years
later he was reelected overwhelming
ly.
When it was proposed to nominate
him for third term, the governor de-
clared he would not be be Il candidate
and did not even attend the Demo-
! cratic state convention, but he was
again elected by big majority, al
though his opponent. J.F. jacobson,
was one of the most popular Repub-
lican politicians in the state.
III the meantime Governor John
sons popular record had been known
far and wide and he was IN demand at
political gatherings and Chautauqua
assemblies. He responded to some of
these demands and with everyappears
ance his popularity increased until
many of the Democratic leader
strongly advocated his snomination for
president of the United States.