Edwin S. Johnson Biography


	This biography appears on pages 923-925 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. I (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	EDWIN S. JOHNSON, who, in connection with banking and real-estate 
operations has, with his brothers, attained distinctive precedence and 
a high degree of success, being a resident of the attractive town of 
Armour, was born on a farm near Spencer, Owen county, Indiana, on the 
26th of February, 1857, a son of Allison C. and Emily (Brenton) 
Johnson, of whose ten children six are living at the present time, 
namely: Eudora, who is the wife of Byron Allen, of Sioux City, Iowa; 
Edwin S., who is the immediate subject of this sketch; Homer W., who is 
intimately associated with the subject in business and who is 
individually mentioned on other pages of this work; Belle J., who is 
the wife of W. W. Sparks, of Sioux City, Iowa; Frank H., who resides in 
Geddes, South Dakota, being likewise associated in business with the 
subject; and Cornelia, who is the wife of Dr. P. E. Sawyer, of Sioux 
City, Iowa. The father of these children was a representative of an old 
Virginia family. whence his parents removed to the state of Indiana in 
the pioneer epoch, and there he was born in the year 1827, being reared 
on a farm and securing such educational advantages as were afforded in 
the pioneer community. His wife was born in Indiana, in the year 1832, 
and after their marriage he continued to be identified with 
agricultural pursuits in his native state until 1857, when he removed 
with his wife and two children to Iowa, which was then considered in 
the far west and on the frontier of civilization, the subject of this 
sketch being an infant of three months at the time, while the trip was 
made overland in a covered wagon. The family located in Osceola, where 
the father turned his attention to mercantile pursuits and also became 
concerned in real-estate operations, and continued his residence there 
until 1886, when he came to South Dakota and joined his sons in Armour, 
where he passed the residue of his long and useful life, his death 
occurring on the 5th of January. 1899. For ten years prior to his 
demise he was afflicted with blindness, but he bore this affliction 
with resignation and was always cheerful and kindly, his having been 
the faith that makes faithful. His cherished and devoted wife was 
summoned into eternal rest in December, 1895, at the age of sixty-three 
years, both having been active and zealous members of the Methodist 
Protestant church in whose work he took a prominent part during the 
years of his active life, having been for eighteen consecutive years 
superintendent of the Sunday school of the church at Osceola, Iowa, 
while he exemplified his Christian faith in his daily walk and 
conversation. In politics he was originally an adherent of the Whig 
party but upon the organization of the Republican party he identified 
himself therewith and ever afterward supported its cause. He served as 
register of deeds in Clarke county, Iowa, and also was incumbent of 
other offices of trust and responsibility. Fraternally he was 
identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.  

	In reviewing the career of Edwin S. Johnson whose name initiates 
this sketch, we can not perhaps do better than to quote from an 
appreciative article which appeared in a recent issue of the Armour 
Herald, making such metaphrase as may seem expedient in the connection: 
"He grew to manhood in Iowa and under the influences of pioneer 
hardships and vicissitudes incident to those early days he admitted and 
expanded the indomitable energy that has since made him the possessor 
of honor and wealth. His education was limited to the public schools of 
Osceola, and having acquired all the knowledge possible to attain in a 
graded school he formed a partnership with his father in the clothing 
business, with which he continued to be identified for several years. 
In 1880 he went to Wheeler county, Nebraska, becoming one of the 
pioneers of that section, establishing the county seat of Cedar City 
(now Harrington) on his claim. Shortly afterward he sold his interests 
on the Nebraska frontier and returned to Osceola, where he was employed 
for three years in the Osceola Bank. In 1884 he visited his brother 
Homer, who was then in Sioux Falls, Dakota, and together they came to 
Douglas county in that year and established the present Citizens' Bank 
at Grand View. The firm has always prospered, and though starting in 
life without a cent other than that acquired through their own hard 
labors, their parents being in moderate circumstances, they are today 
rated among the leading capitalists of the state.  

	"The subject of this sketch has always been a force in politics, 
and in 1892 he was elected state's attorney for Douglas county, having 
attained sufficient knowledge of the law to be admitted to the bar, in 
Armour, in 1888. To the practice of the law, however, Mr. Johnson never 
gave many years of his time. In 1894 he was honored by his party with 
the nomination and election to the state senate, but in the upheaval of 
party sentiment in 1896 and the radical change of front by the 
Republican party on many questions, he severed party ties and voiced 
his convictions by voting and working for the success of William J. 
Bryan for president. Since that time he has been a Democrat, and his 
many friends throughout the state have frequently mentioned his name in 
connection with candidacy for the United States senate."  

	In company with his brother Homer W., the subject of this review 
organized the Johnson Brothers Company, the same being incorporated 
under the laws of the state and capitalized for one hundred thousand 
dollars, and in 1886 the headquarters of the company were removed from 
Grand View to Armour, with whose advancement and substantial upbuilding 
the brothers have been most prominently identified. Of the company 
mentioned the subject of this sketch has been president from the time 
of its organization and its operations have been of wide scope and 
importance as land and loan brokers, their real estate interests being 
of most extensive order, while the operations of the company extend 
throughout the state of South Dakota and also into Minnesota and lowa. 
The company purchased the first lot in Armour after the town was 
platted, J. C. Lawler, of Mitchell having been the owner of the town 
site. In 1893 the company purchased Mr. Lawler's interests here for ten 
thousand dollars, shortly afterward selling an undivided half interest 
to C. E. Foote. Shortly after coming to Armour the brothers organized 
the Citizens' State Bank, which has become one of the leading financial 
institutions in this section, and of the same our subject continued as 
cashier until 1902, when he and his brother disposed of their interests 
in the same, as also in the banking houses which they had established 
at Geddes, this state, and at Horning, Iowa, and they are now devoting 
their entire attention to their real estate and loan business, which is 
one of the most important in the state.  

	Edwin S. Johnson is a man of strong individuality, as may be 
inferred from the epitomized record of his career here entered, and 
while he has attained marked success and prestige he is unassuming in 
all the relations of life, genial and kindly in his intercourse with 
his fellow men. He was chairman of the Democratic state central 
committee, from June, 1902, until the state convention at Sioux Falls 
in March, 1904, when he tendered his resignation and was elected a 
member of the national committee for South Dakota. He was married 
October 1, 1884, to Miss Anna Thoreau, at Osceola, Iowa, and they have 
five children living. The subject and his wife are members of the 
Methodist Protestant church.