John W. Johnson (1774 – June 1, 1854) was an American pioneer, politician, and fur trader. He was the 3rd mayor of St. Louis, Missouri, serving from 1833 to 1835.
Born in Maryland, Johnson came west in 1808, venturing into the vast Louisiana Territory recently acquired from Spain. He was commissioned by the federal government as an indian agent to trade with the Sauk and Fox (Meskwaki) people. He situated at a spot near the junction of the Des Moines and Mississippi rivers, at the site of what is now known as Keokuk, Iowa.
During this time he traveled extensively along the Mississippi as an indian agent and spent a great deal of time at Prairie du Chien, where he became involved with Tapissee, the daughter of the Sauk Chief Keokuk. At the end of the War of 1812, he supervised distribution of $30,000 in gifts from the United States to 19 Native American tribes, who signed the peace agreements at Portage Des Sioux, Missouri. At the organization of Crawford County within the Michigan Territory, in 1819, Johnston was designated chief justice of Crawford County—at Prairie du Chien.[1]
In 1823, he moved south to St. Louis, in the new state of Missouri. Following a mayoral election in April 1833, the apparent winner, Dr. Samuel Merry, was ruled ineligible due to his concurrent holding of a U.S. federal office. A special election was held in November 1833, in which John Johnson was elected Mayor.[2][3][4]
As mayor, he worked with the city's Board of Aldermen to update the election rules and procedures as a response to the controversy with Dr. Merry's election. He also won approval from the state legislature to amend the city charter to allow for redistricting the city wards to account for population growth. One of his final acts, in March 1835, was an ordinance on regulation of revenues and taxation in the city, establishing duties for the city assessor, collector, and register.[3]
Personal lifeedit
While working as indian agent at Prairie du Chien, Johnson married Tapissee, the daughter of the Sauk Chief Keokuk. They had at least three daughters together—Rosella, Mary, and Eliza. When Johnson left Prairie du Chien for St. Louis, he left Tapissee behind but brought their daughters with him.[5]
In 1831, Johnson married Lucia (Lucy) J. Hunnewell, the widow of Captain George Gooding.[3] Hunnewell assisted in raising Johnston's daughters and securing them status in St. Louis society.[3][5]
Inheritance issueedit
Johnson had no children with Hunnewell and stipulated that much of his property should go to his half-Sauk daughters, including—after Hunnewell's death—their home.[5] After his death in 1854, Hunnewell sued for a greater share of the inheritance, asserting that Johnson's half-Sauk daughters were not legitimate due to the undocumented nature of Johnson's relationship with Tapissee. A court initially ruled in the widow's favor, but the Supreme Court of Missouri, in the case of Johnson v. Johnson's Administrator, eventually ruled in favor of the daughters, stating that Johnson's lifelong care and devotion to the daughters was the most telling evidence of their legitimacy.[5] Hunnewell, however, died before the case was settled.[5]
^"Johnson, John W." Mound City on the Mississippi. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
^ abcdeWinn, Kenneth H., ed. (2016). Missouri Law and the American Conscience. Columbia, Missouri: University of Missouri Press. p. 25. ISBN978-0-8262-2069-1. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
External linksedit
Johnson v. Johnson's Administrator, 30 Mo. 72 (1860) at Caselaw Access Project
john, johnston, mayor, john, johnson, 1774, june, 1854, american, pioneer, politician, trader, mayor, louis, missouri, serving, from, 1833, 1835, john, johnson3rd, mayor, louis, missouriin, office, november, 1833, april, 1835preceded, bydaniel, pagesucceeded, . John W Johnson 1774 June 1 1854 was an American pioneer politician and fur trader He was the 3rd mayor of St Louis Missouri serving from 1833 to 1835 John W Johnson3rd Mayor of St Louis MissouriIn office November 11 1833 April 14 1835Preceded byDaniel PageSucceeded byJohn Fletcher DarbyPersonal detailsBorn1774MarylandDiedJune 1 1854St Louis MissouriResting placeCalvary Cemetery St Louis MissouriPolitical partyWhigSpousesTapissee Keokuk ended 1823 Lucia J Hunnewell m 1831 1854 wbr Children3 daughters with Tapissee Contents 1 Biography 2 Personal life 2 1 Inheritance issue 3 References 4 External linksBiography editBorn in Maryland Johnson came west in 1808 venturing into the vast Louisiana Territory recently acquired from Spain He was commissioned by the federal government as an indian agent to trade with the Sauk and Fox Meskwaki people He situated at a spot near the junction of the Des Moines and Mississippi rivers at the site of what is now known as Keokuk Iowa During this time he traveled extensively along the Mississippi as an indian agent and spent a great deal of time at Prairie du Chien where he became involved with Tapissee the daughter of the Sauk Chief Keokuk At the end of the War of 1812 he supervised distribution of 30 000 in gifts from the United States to 19 Native American tribes who signed the peace agreements at Portage Des Sioux Missouri At the organization of Crawford County within the Michigan Territory in 1819 Johnston was designated chief justice of Crawford County at Prairie du Chien 1 In 1823 he moved south to St Louis in the new state of Missouri Following a mayoral election in April 1833 the apparent winner Dr Samuel Merry was ruled ineligible due to his concurrent holding of a U S federal office A special election was held in November 1833 in which John Johnson was elected Mayor 2 3 4 As mayor he worked with the city s Board of Aldermen to update the election rules and procedures as a response to the controversy with Dr Merry s election He also won approval from the state legislature to amend the city charter to allow for redistricting the city wards to account for population growth One of his final acts in March 1835 was an ordinance on regulation of revenues and taxation in the city establishing duties for the city assessor collector and register 3 Personal life editWhile working as indian agent at Prairie du Chien Johnson married Tapissee the daughter of the Sauk Chief Keokuk They had at least three daughters together Rosella Mary and Eliza When Johnson left Prairie du Chien for St Louis he left Tapissee behind but brought their daughters with him 5 In 1831 Johnson married Lucia Lucy J Hunnewell the widow of Captain George Gooding 3 Hunnewell assisted in raising Johnston s daughters and securing them status in St Louis society 3 5 Inheritance issue edit Johnson had no children with Hunnewell and stipulated that much of his property should go to his half Sauk daughters including after Hunnewell s death their home 5 After his death in 1854 Hunnewell sued for a greater share of the inheritance asserting that Johnson s half Sauk daughters were not legitimate due to the undocumented nature of Johnson s relationship with Tapissee A court initially ruled in the widow s favor but the Supreme Court of Missouri in the case of Johnson v Johnson s Administrator eventually ruled in favor of the daughters stating that Johnson s lifelong care and devotion to the daughters was the most telling evidence of their legitimacy 5 Hunnewell however died before the case was settled 5 References edit Lockwood James Henry 1903 Draper Lyman Copeland ed Early Times and Events in Wisconsin Collections of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin Vol II Madison Wisconsin Wisconsin Historical Society Daily National Intelligencer December 2 1833 a href Template Cite news html title Template Cite news cite news a Missing or empty title help a b c d St Louis Mayors John W Johnson St Louis Public Library Archived from the original on November 21 2008 Retrieved December 30 2020 via Wayback Machine Johnson John W Mound City on the Mississippi Retrieved December 30 2020 a b c d e Winn Kenneth H ed 2016 Missouri Law and the American Conscience Columbia Missouri University of Missouri Press p 25 ISBN 978 0 8262 2069 1 Retrieved December 30 2020 External links editJohnson v Johnson s Administrator 30 Mo 72 1860 at Caselaw Access Project https mohistory org collections item 1913 045 0003 page 2 Political offices Preceded byDaniel Page Mayor of St Louis MissouriNovember 11 1833 April 14 1835 Succeeded byJohn Fletcher Darby nbsp This article about a mayor in Missouri is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte This article related to St Louis is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John W Johnston mayor amp oldid 1118449644, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
