Julius H. Johnson Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1196-1197 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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				JULIUS H. JOHNSON. 

	The student of history does not have to carry his investigations 
far before he learns that the northwest owes its development, progress 
and upbuilding to the Scandinavian race. The strong and sterling 
characteristics of those who claim their nativity in, or trace their 
ancestry to Norway, Sweden, or Denmark have been continuously manifest 
as factors in the material progress and the political and moral welfare 
of this section of the country. While a native of Iowa, Julius H. 
Johnson is descended from Scandinavian ancestry, his record being a 
proof of the facts stated above. He ranks today among the able lawyers 
of South Dakota, possessing comprehensive knowledge of the law with 
ability to accurately apply its principles. He is, moreover, au orator 
of considerable power and a deep and logical thinker, not only upon 
legal problems but also concerning the great vital principles affecting 
the welfare of state and nation. He practices law at Fort Pierre but 
has been heard many times upon the lecture and political platforms and 
thus has become widely known throughout the state. 

	A native of Humboldt, Iowa, Mr. Johnson was born July 13, 1872. 
His parents were pioneers in Wisconsin and moved to Iowa in 1871. The 
father, Ole Johnson, was a successful farmer, but died in 1874 leaving 
the mother, Mrs. Anna Johnson, whose first husband had died in the 
Civil war, with a family of small children to raise. She is now past 
eighty and is making her home with her son Julius at Fort Pierre. 

	Julius H. Johnson spent his early youth on the farm where he 
worked early and late in addition to attending school, later continuing 
his education at the Red Wing Seminary at Red Wing, Minnesota, where he 
was graduated with the class of 1894. In 1900 he was graduated from the 
University of Minnesota with the degree of Bachelor of Literature, and 
the following year he received the degree of Bachelor of Laws from the 
University of Iowa. 

	For three years Mr. Johnson was engaged in the practice of law in 
Clinton, Iowa. Then he removed to South Dakota, where he has since won 
distinction as an able and learned member of the bar. He was appointed 
city attorney of Fort Pierre and served for six years. In 1908 and 1910 
inclusive he served Stanley county as states attorney, In this time he 
secured fifty-nine convictions of criminals in the circuit court and 
also fifty-four convictions in justice court. The thoroughness and care 
with which he prepares his cases, combined with clear and cogent 
reasoning have been the salient features of his success. 

	On the 19th of June, 1901, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Julius H. 
Johnson and Lydia B. Carlsson were married. Their only child, Charlotte 
Amelia Johnson, was born at Clinton, Iowa, May 6, 1902. Extended 
mention is made of Mrs. Johnson elsewhere in this work in connection 
with her club work and her efforts in behalf of equal suffrage. 

	Mr. Johnson is a progressive republican and secured the 
endorsement of the conservation and irrigation plank in the republican 
platform of 1912. He has lectured extensively on political economy and 
few men have as comprehensive and accurate knowledge of the subject. 
Fraternally he is a Master Mason, and in 1913 he filled the office of 
noble grand in the Odd Fellows lodge at Fort Pierre. He has likewise 
been master workman in the Ancient Order of United Workmen and belongs 
to the Modern Woodmen of America. He is secretary of the Commercial 
Club of Fort Pierre and is deeply interested in every vital problem 
affecting the welfare, upbuilding and progress of the municipality and 
of the commonwealth. He has traveled extensively in Europe and while 
abroad studied governmental questions in England, Norway, Sweden and 
Germany. His views are comprehensive, his reasoning clear and his 
decisions are logical.