Charles E. Johnson Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1331-1332 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	CHARLES E. JOHNSON, postmaster of the city of Bridgewater, is the 
son of Joseph and Louise Johnson, and was born in Byron, Ogle county, 
Illinois, on the 27th day of August, 1856. His father was a native of 
Sweden, and when a young man married, in Europe, Miss Louise Daniels who 
was born and reared in Scotland. Shortly after his marriage he came to 
the United States and settled in Ogle county, Illinois, where he spent 
the remainder of his life as a prosperous and contented tiller of the 
soil. Seven children were born to Joseph and Louise Johnson, five of 
whom survive, namely: John, of Winnebago county, Illinois; August, a 
business man of Chicago; Charles E., of this review; Mrs. Minnie Osborn 
and Laura, the last two living in the city of Chicago. 

	Charles E. Johnson grew up under the healthful influence of farm 
life, and remained at home until twenty years old, obtaining the 
meanwhile a fair educational training in the public schools of his 
native place. Leaving home at the age noted, he went to Chicago and 
after working about two years on the street cars of that city, spent one 
year with a civil engineering corps surveying a line of the Milwaukee 
Railroad, between the towns of Savannah and Elgin. In 1879 he went to 
Nebraska, where he purchased land and for two years was engaged in 
agricultural pursuits, disposing of his real estate at the expiration of 
that time and in 1881 locating at Bridgewater, South Dakota. Mr. Johnson 
came to McCook county when the country was new, consequently enjoyed 
exceptional advantages in the way of making a judicious selection of 
land. Purchasing a half section about four miles north of the town, he 
at once addressed himself to the task of its improvement and in due time 
had a good farm under successful cultivation, from which he soon began 
to realize a comfortable income. He continued agriculture and stock 
raising with success and profit until the spring of 1903, when he 
retired from farm life to enjoy the fruits of his many years of well-
directed labor. 

	Mr. Johnson has been quite prominent in the affairs of McCook 
county ever since becoming a resident of the same and at different times 
he has been honored with important official positions, one of the first 
being that of township treasurer, in which he served for a period of 
eighteen consecutive years. A staunch Republican, he early became one of 
the party leaders in this county and in recognition of his valuable 
political services, as well as by reason of his peculiar fitness for the 
position, he was elected in 1893 to the upper house of the general 
assembly. His career as a legislator proving eminently satisfactory to 
his constituency, he was re-elected in 1897, being the only man in 
McCook county chosen the second time to the senate. Mr. Johnson was an 
indefatigable worker while in the legislature, served on several 
important committees, was influential in the general deliberations of 
the body, and as one of the Republican leaders succeeded in bringing 
about the enactment of a number of laws which have had important bearing 
upon the interests of the state. He is now a member of the Republican 
state central committee, in which capacity he has rendered valuable 
service to his party. He has also served on the central committee of 
McCook county, and as a further evidence of his faithful and efficient 
service he was appointed by President McKinley, in 1897, postmaster of 
Bridgewater, which position he still holds, having been re-appointed in 
February, 1902, by President Roosevelt. In addition to the offices 
referred to, Mr. Johnson was for nineteen years a member of the Emery 
township school board, during which time he labored earnestly to advance 
educational interests, making the schools among the best in the state; 
he was president of the board, during thc greater part of his incumbency 
and in that capacity succeeded in introducing a number of reforms, 
erected several fine modern buildings, and brought the educational 
system up to its present high standard of efficiency. 

	Mr. Johnson was married, in 1884, to Miss Jennie Campbell, of 
Byron, Illinois, and is the father of two children, Margaret, a graduate 
of the normal department of Huron College, and Mary, who is also an 
educated and cultured young lady, both daughters living at home with 
their parents. 

	Fraternally Mr. Johnson is a Mason of high degree, belonging to 
Eureka Lodge, No. 71, at Bridgewater; Salem Chapter, No. 34, Royal Arch 
Masons, and Salem Commandery, Knights Templar. He is also identified 
with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Ancient Order of United 
Workmen, in both of which organizations he has held important positions.