Johnson was the first Minnesota governor born in Minnesota. He was only the second non-Republican governor in 45 years and the third since statehood. He was also first to serve a full term in the present state capitol, and the first to die in office. Johnson sought the 1908 Democratic presidential nomination but lost to William Jennings Bryan.
John Albert Johnson was born on a farm near St. Peter, Minnesota, on July 28, 1861,[1] the eldest child of Gustaf and Caroline Johnson. After Gustaf abandoned his family, John left school at 13 to support his mother and siblings. During this time, he worked at a local drugstore. After that, he had a seven-year-long stint in the Minnesota National guard, where he reached the rank of captain. Local Democrats, impressed with the enterprising young store clerk, asked him to join their party and edit the strongly Democratic St. Peter Herald. Before he could take the position, he became seriously ill with typhoid fever, but he recovered.[2] His journalistic success attracted statewide attention and fostered political aspirations.
Johnson failed in early campaigns for state office from his heavily Republican home county but was elected to the state senate in 1898, indicating his growing bipartisan appeal.
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In his 1904 inauguration speech, Johnson called for the two-year term to be extended to four years, more funding for roads, more funding to rural schools, and several other important ideas. Johnson's ability to reason and work with legislators of both parties resulted in such reform legislation as a reorganization of the state's insurance department to the benefit of policyholders, reduction of railroad passenger and freight rates, and removal of constitutional restraints on the legislature's power to tax.
Johnson was reelected in 1906 and 1908. He began his third term with reservations. At that point, he had had over four surgeries for his intestinal problems, and he wanted to pursue a promising sideline as a public orator. This chronic illness forced him to head to the Mayo Clinic once again on September 13, 1909. When he died suddenly at age 48 from post-operative complications, which included an infection, the state's citizens were grief-stricken.
Johnson was the first of three governors to die in office. Governor Winfield Scott Hammond was the second, after suffering a stroke in 1915. Floyd B. Olson was the third and most recent, dying of cancer in 1936.
^ abThe National Cyclopaedia of American Biography. Vol. XIV. James T. White & Company. 1910. pp. 164–165. Retrieved December 15, 2020 – via Google Books.
^Schmahl, Julius. Legislative Manual Minnesota 1909. Harrison & Smith Company. p. 662.
john, albert, johnson, july, 1861, september, 1909, american, politician, served, minnesota, state, senate, from, january, 1897, january, 1901, 16th, governor, minnesota, from, january, 1905, until, death, september, 1909, democrat, 16th, governor, minnesotain. John Albert Johnson July 28 1861 September 21 1909 was an American politician He served in the Minnesota State Senate from January 1897 to January 1901 He was the 16th governor of Minnesota from January 4 1905 until his death on September 21 1909 He was a Democrat John Albert Johnson16th Governor of MinnesotaIn office January 4 1905 September 21 1909LieutenantRay W JonesAdolph Olson EberhartPreceded bySamuel Rinnah Van SantSucceeded byAdolph Olson EberhartPersonal detailsBorn 1861 07 28 July 28 1861St Peter MinnesotaDiedSeptember 21 1909 1909 09 21 aged 48 Rochester MinnesotaPolitical partyDemocraticSpouseElinore Nora Preston m 1894 wbr ProfessionPoliticianSignatureJohnson was the first Minnesota governor born in Minnesota He was only the second non Republican governor in 45 years and the third since statehood He was also first to serve a full term in the present state capitol and the first to die in office Johnson sought the 1908 Democratic presidential nomination but lost to William Jennings Bryan Contents 1 Biography 2 Governor 3 Legacy 4 References 5 External linksBiography edit nbsp Governor Johnson re election mailing cardJohn Albert Johnson was born on a farm near St Peter Minnesota on July 28 1861 1 the eldest child of Gustaf and Caroline Johnson After Gustaf abandoned his family John left school at 13 to support his mother and siblings During this time he worked at a local drugstore After that he had a seven year long stint in the Minnesota National guard where he reached the rank of captain Local Democrats impressed with the enterprising young store clerk asked him to join their party and edit the strongly Democratic St Peter Herald Before he could take the position he became seriously ill with typhoid fever but he recovered 2 His journalistic success attracted statewide attention and fostered political aspirations Johnson married Elinor M Preston on June 1 1894 at the Union Presbyterian Church in St Peter 1 Johnson failed in early campaigns for state office from his heavily Republican home county but was elected to the state senate in 1898 indicating his growing bipartisan appeal Governor editIn his 1904 inauguration speech Johnson called for the two year term to be extended to four years more funding for roads more funding to rural schools and several other important ideas Johnson s ability to reason and work with legislators of both parties resulted in such reform legislation as a reorganization of the state s insurance department to the benefit of policyholders reduction of railroad passenger and freight rates and removal of constitutional restraints on the legislature s power to tax Johnson was reelected in 1906 and 1908 He began his third term with reservations At that point he had had over four surgeries for his intestinal problems and he wanted to pursue a promising sideline as a public orator This chronic illness forced him to head to the Mayo Clinic once again on September 13 1909 When he died suddenly at age 48 from post operative complications which included an infection the state s citizens were grief stricken Legacy edit nbsp Governor Johnson s funeral train leaving Rochester MinnesotaJohnson was the first of three governors to die in office Governor Winfield Scott Hammond was the second after suffering a stroke in 1915 Floyd B Olson was the third and most recent dying of cancer in 1936 Statues of Johnson are on the steps of the Minnesota State Capitol and the grounds of the Nicollet County Courthouse Johnson Senior High School in St Paul is named for him as is the portion of U S Route 169 from Saint Peter to the Twin Cities The John A Johnson School in Virginia Minnesota was built in 1907 References edit a b The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography Vol XIV James T White amp Company 1910 pp 164 165 Retrieved December 15 2020 via Google Books Schmahl Julius Legislative Manual Minnesota 1909 Harrison amp Smith Company p 662 External links editJohn Albert Johnson at Find a Grave Minnesota Legislators Past and Present John Albert Johnson photos at the Minnesota Historical Society Biographical information and his gubernatorial records are available for research use at the Minnesota Historical Society Party political officesPreceded byLeonard A Rosing Democratic nominee for Governor of Minnesota1904 1906 1908 Succeeded byJames GrayPolitical officesPreceded bySamuel Rinnah Van Sant Governor of Minnesota1905 1909 Succeeded byAdolph Olson Eberhart Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Albert Johnson amp oldid 1176736573, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
