Carroll County IN Archives Biographies.....Johnson, James L. 1849 - 
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Author: John C. Odell (1916)

HON. JAMES L. JOHNSON.

   There are in every community men who, by reason of their superior ability and
force of character, rise above the heads of the masses and win, not only the
popular esteem but the repeated endorsement of their fellow citizens. Guided by
a persevering and ambitious spirit, a virtue which never fails, such men make
their presence felt. The vigor of their strong personality serves as a stimulus
and incentive to the rising generations about them. To this energetic and
enterprising class the Hon. James L. Johnson, former member of the Indiana
Legislature and former superintendent of the Carroll county schools, undoubtedly
belongs. He is a man who has never been seized with the roaming spirit, which
has led many of Carroll county's young men into other fields of endeavor and
into other states, where they have sought their fortunes. Mr. Johnson has
devoted his life to the larger welfare of Carroll county and, in this respect,
has enjoyed a remarkable success.

   A native of Burlington township, Carroll county, Indiana, James L. Johnson
was born on July 4, 1849, and is the son of Robert and Emily (Gwinn) Johnson.
The former was the son of William and Emily (Taylor) Johnson. William Johnson
was born in Virginia and lived in that state until his death. Robert Johnson was
reared to manhood in the Old Dominion state and, after emigrating to Indiana, in
1839, settled on Wild Cat creek in Burlington township, three miles west of
Burlington, where he spent the remainder of his life. Among the best citizens of
the community, he stood six feet, two and one-half inches tall and was
proportionately strong for his height He was a man whose integrity and honor
were never questioned, a devout member of the Methodist church and strictly
temperate in all of his habits. Robert Johnson, by his first marriage, had
eleven children, and by his second marriage, four, and by his third, one.

   Born and reared on the banks of Wild Cat creek, James L. Johnson received his
education in the public schools of Burlington township. Afterward he taught for
many years in the common schools of Carroll county. In 1869, when he was twenty
years old, he entered Asbury (now DePauw) University, at Greencastle, Indiana,
where he pursued a classical course, but was compelled to leave college, having
been elected as a member of the lower house of the Indiana General Assembly. Mr.
Johnson served in the Indiana General Assembly during the sessions of 1875, 1877
and 1891. Prior to the last session of the Legislature in which he served, he
had served as superintendent of the Carroll county schools. He was first elected
in 1884, and in 1888 was re-elected, serving altogether two terms, a total of
six years.

   For more than a quarter of a century James L. Johnson has been well known in
the ninth congressional district as one of the foremost orators and campaigners
of the Democratic party. Active in politics all of his life, he has been
decidedly liberal in local affairs and he has borne his share of the burdens of
party organizations and party management, and to him has been due a large share
of the credit for the successes of the Democratic party in this county and
district. For a great many years he has served as president of the tri-county
old settlers' association.

   When still a young man, Mr. Johnson was married to Kate Keller, a native of
Union county, Indiana, and to them have been born two children, B. C. and Nettie
B., both of whom are graduates of the common schools. The former is now a
resident of Frankfort, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. James L. Johnson are members of the
Methodist church and both are active in the work of the church and the Sunday
school.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY INDIANA

ITS PEOPLE, INDUSTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS
BY
JOHN C ODELL
With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and
Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families

ILLUSTRATED
1916
B. F. BOWEN & COMPANY, Inc.
Indianapolis, Indiana


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