Clatsop County OR Archives Biographies.....Johnson, Charles Nelson October 10, 1860 - September 28, 1923
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Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Pages 552 - 555
Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

     CHARLES NELSON JOHNSON.  Business, agricultural and public affairs 
occupied the attention of Charles Nelson Johnson, who was an influential 
citizen of Forest Grove and a worthy representative of one of Oregon's old and 
honored families. Born in Portland, October 10, 1860, he was a son of Arthur 
H. and Cordelia (St. Clair) Johnson. The father was born February 7, 1830, in 
London, England, and attended the public schools of that city until 1843, when 
he came with his parents to the United States. They settled near Milwaukee, 
Wisconsin, and there his father engaged in farming for sixteen years. In 1869 
he came to Oregon and remained in this state until his demise on April 16, 
1894.

     His son, Arthur H. Johnson, worked in the father's meat market in London 
and was a boy of thirteen when the family sailed for America. He aided in the 
cultivation and improvement of the homestead in Wisconsin until March, 1852, 
when he yielded to the lure of the west, and started for Oregon in company 
with four men, who had two teams. After crossing the Missouri river they 
joined a train of thirty wagons and Arthur H. Johnson drove a yoke of oxen 
across the plains, thus paying for his board. Finally he reached The Dalles 
and made his way with difficulty to Portland, walking as far as the Cascades. 
In Portland he had the good fortune to secure employment, starting at sixty 
dollars a month, and soon afterward his salary was increased. He saved his 
money and when he had accumulated sufficient capital opened a meat market in 
partnership with R. S. Perkins. They were associated for a decade and Mr. 
Johnson then purchased the business, which he conducted successfully for 
several years. It was his initiative spirit which led to the organization of 
the Union Meat Company, which afterward became one of the largest firms of the 
kind in Portland, and following this achievement he retired from active 
business. Knowing that Portland was destined to become one of the chief 
commercial centers of the Pacific northwest, he invested in city realty and as 
the years passed his income from these holdings steadily increased. On St. 
Clair street, in the western section of Portland, he platted a forty-acre 
addition and this has since become one of the attractive residential districts 
of the city. As an agriculturist he was equally successful and owned a large 
ranch, which was situated in Washington county and was devoted to general 
farming as well as the breeding of pedigreed Durham and Hereford cattle. He 
was a Royal Arch Mason and gave his political allegiance to the republican 
party. Starting out in life with nothing, he hewed his way through a forest of 
difficulties and the strength that he manifested in business affairs had its 
root in an upright, honorable manhood which won for him a secure place in 
public esteem.

     Charles N. Johnson was educated in the public schools of Portland and 
became an agriculturist, locating near Forest Grove, Oregon, where he engaged 
in farming for many years, utilizing scientific methods in the cultivation of 
his land, which he brought to a high state of development. The buildings on 
the place were large and substantial and his equipment was thoroughly modern. 
His standards of farming were high and he was also a capable business man, 
owning a large feed store in Forest Grove.

     On September 23, 1885, Mr. Johnson married Miss Annie Bowles, a daughter 
of Jesse T. and Minerva (Wilson) Bowles and a member of one of the old and 
prominent families of Oregon. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson became the parents of six 
children. Bertie, the first born, is Mrs. C. E. Johnson, of Tobias, Oregon, 
and has a son, Houston. Anne married W. D. McHardie, of Seattle, Washington, 
and their family numbers two daughters, Barbara and Betty. Nancy is the wife 
of E. A. Astlett, of Phoenix, Arizona, and the mother of one child, Victoria. 
Carrie was married to J. D. Rodolf and their home is in Yuba City, California. 
Alleyn became the wife of Robert Forbes and they reside near Forest Grove. 
Charles N., Jr., married Helen McEldowney, and they have two children, Joan 
and Charles N. (III).

     Mr. Johnson joined the Holbrook Lodge of Masons and was a noble of Al 
Kader Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Portland. He held the thirty-second 
degree in the order and was also connected with the Knights of Pythias. In 
politics he was a strong republican and became mayor of Forest Grove. His 
course received high commendation because of his economical oversight of the 
expenditures of the municipality and the progressive movements which he 
inaugurated. At one time he was a member of the school board and also held 
other local offices, serving the community to the extent of his ability. 
Liberal, broad-minded, honest and sincere, he won and retained the esteem and 
confidence of all with whom he was associated and his death, on September 28, 
1823, was deeply regretted.

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