JOHNSON, Charles F., b 1856; 1905 Bio, Chaffee County, Colorado http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/chaffee/bios/johnsoncf.txt --------------------------------------- Donated September 4, 2001 Transcribed by Judy Crook from the book: Progressive Men of Western Colorado Published 1905, A.W. Bowen & Co., Chicago, Ill. --------------------------------------- Charles F. Johnson The present efficient and obliging county treasurer of Chaffee county, who was elected on the Republican ticket in 1899 and re-elected in 1901, and whose record in the office has been a source of great satisfaction to the people, Charles F. Johnson, is a native of Ripley county, Indiana, born on August 1, 1856. He received his early education in the public schools of his native county, and finished his course at an academy in Butlerville, Jennings county. His father was a tanner and farmer, and while assisting in the work of the farm the son also learned the trade of tanning, spending four years at it after leaving school. In 1878 he came to Colorado, arriving at Canon City in March. Soon after his arrival he found employment at the state penitentiary in the outside work of the institution, gardening and similar pursuits, remaining there so occupied six years. In January, 1884, he returned to his Indiana home, and during the next five years he was engaged in merchandising in his native county. Selling all his interests there in the spring of 1889, he came back to this state and took up his residence at Salida, where he conducted a grocery until the spring of 1894. At that time he was elected city clerk and water commissioner, holding the office four years. From 1898 to 1900 he was again engaged in the grocery trade at Salida. In the fall of 1899 he was elected county treasurer, and at the close of his term in 1901 was re-elected, being in each case the candidate of the Republican party, which he has supported from the dawn of his manhood. After his first election to this important office he sold his grocery and moved to Buena Vista, the county seat, where he has since resided and been in the active discharge of his official duties. Under his efficient management many improvements have been made in the management of the office and its operations have been made more and more subservient to the convenience of the people. Mr. Johnson has always been an active party worker, and his interest in the success of the cause has been inspired by real and firm conviction of its righteousness, without primary reference to his own political advancement. Fraternally he is an Odd Fellow and a Woodman of the World. On September 30, 1880, he united in marriage with Miss Ella G. McCabe, a native of the same county as himself, where the marriage occurred, and living on the farm adjoining his father's. They were schoolmates in early life. Five children have blessed their union and brightened their domestic shrine, their sons Lester, Lovell and Delbert, and their daughters Flora and Leola. =================================================== Contributed for use by the USGenWeb Archive Project (http://www.usgenweb.org) and by the COGenWeb Archive Project USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access.