Bert E. Johnson Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1133-1134 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				BERT E. JOHNSON. 

	One of the well known officials of Day county is Bert E. Johnson, 
of Webster, who is serving as clerk of the court. He was born in Dodge 
county, Minnesota, July 28, 1878, and is a representative of one of the 
old families of that state, his grandfather, Johannes Johnson, having 
settled there in pioneer times, after which he was closely associated 
with agricultural pursuits. He had three sons who served as soldiers in 
the Civil war, Louis, Andrew and Halvor. Another son, Gunder H. 
Johnson, who became the father of Bert E. Johnson, was born in Norway 
in 1844 and in his childhood was brought to the United States. He 
shared with the family in the hardships and privations of frontier 
life, following the establishment of the family home in Dodge county, 
Minnesota. He afterward engaged in clerking in a store in Kansas for a 
number of years and is now living in Webster, having retired from 
active business life. He married Ida Haugen, who was born in Norway in 
1853 and crossed the Atlantic in her girlhood. They have become the 
parents of five children: Minnie, at home; Bert E.; Martin C., who is 
traveling for a commission firm of Minneapolis; Anna, the wife of 
George McLaughlin, of Eau Claire, Wisconsin; and Irene C., at home. The 
parents are members of the Lutheran church and Mr. Johnson votes with 
the republican party. 

	Bert E. Johnson is indebted to the public schools of Webster for 
his early educational privileges and he also pursued his studies for a 
time in Olympia, Washington. He was reared to farm life, early becoming 
familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the 
agriculturist and when he started out on his own account he followed 
farming. Later he worked at different occupations. He filled the 
position of clerk in a store, was connected with the machinery business 
and also bought grain. In 1908 his fellow citizens endorsed him for 
public office by electing him to the position of clerk of the court and 
he has three times been reelected, making a most creditable record in 
office by the prompt and faithful manner in which he discharges his 
duties. He was the candidate of the republican party and he has always 
been a loyal supporter of its principles. Fraternally he is connected 
with the Knights of Pythias and he belongs to the Lutheran church. His 
life has been guided by high and honorable principles and is the 
exemplification of a noble, upright purpose. He turns to hunting and 
fishing for recreation but allows no outside interests to interfere 
with the faithful performance of his duties and that he has been a most 
efficient officer is manifest in the fact that he has been four times 
chosen to the position which he now fills.