Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1910-06-17
FAREWELL RECEPTION AND BAN
QUIET TO A. C.. JOHNSON

IA, occurred the farewell banquet given
in honor of A. G. johnson by the rail-
road officials Of the Dakota division
of the G. q n. w. There were one
hundred eighty covers laid. The
guests included a large number of the
officials and employees of the rail-
road, both in this state and Minnesota,
Mr.. Hanson, the passenger traffic
manager of the Illinois Central system,
and a number of the business men
from different parts of the state who
were old acquaintance of the gentle
man in whose honor the reception was
given.
The banquet was prepared and
served at the Royal Hotel and every
detail was carefully looked after that
there might be nothing to mar the
pleasure of the occasion.
Col. Dick Woods, of Sioux Falls,
presided as POSTMASTER. The speakers
of the evening were Attorney Fair
banks, of Huron, who responded to
the toast, Our Honored Guest" FIR.
Desmond, of Huron, who responded
to South Dakota" Dan Glennon, the
genial conductor, who responded to
"The Boys" MIR. Bolt, of Winona,
who respOndrd to Echoes from
Minnesota" and Mr.. Hanson of the
|. c., who responded to the "The
! Passenger Traffic Department" The
speeches were all in happy vein, and
particularly hat of FIR. Desmond, who
is known the state over as one of the
best postprandular speakers of the
northwest.
At the conclusion of the speaking
Mr.. Johnson was presented with a
handsome diamond ring as a memento
of the occasion. For once, A. G. was
"down and out" 1t took him 50 by
surprise that for a time he was hardly
able to say , word, and be is quite a
ready and entertaining taIker on
ordinary occasions. His manner spoke
more than words could express, and
il we mistake not that token of friend
ship will always remain among his
most highly priced possessions
A. G. Johnson has for several years
acted in the capacity of. traffio
manager for the Minnesota and Da
kota divisions of the G.. & n. w, and
recently was promoted to the position
of general passenger traffic manager
for the entire system with head
quarters at Chicago. As m may
easily imagine, the position to which
Mr.. Johnson now goes is one of great
importance, u of the most particular
branches of the railroad business, and
a position tha, is never filled by any
railroad system without carefully con
sidering the qualifications of every
man available. The friends of MIR.
johnson, and they are legion, are
proud of this promotion, although
they sincerely regret the fact that it
takes him from this section They
admire him for his kindly ways and
respect him for his business ability
and integrity.
Although born in Pennsylvania, it
was here in South Dakota that be
natured into manhood, and it was
under South Dakota conditions and
among South Dakota people that he
developed into what he is today, one
of the ablest railroad men of the
country. His advancement has come
as merited recognition of ability, and
not through personal influence of
friends or fortunate connections, as is
often the case. South Dakota is
proud of A. c. Johnson, as we are
proud of all~our citizens who force
their way TO the front by their own
efforts and worth and take their place
among men of large affairs. The
INDEPENDENT would like to see him
advance further and one day hold the
presidency of the Northwestern
system, and such an advancement is
not out of the range of possibilities.
Charles Larson, of Hartland