Edwin S. Johnson
Encyclopedia
Edwin Stockton Johnson was a United States Senator from South Dakota
.
Born near Spencer, Indiana
, he moved with his parents to Osceola, Iowa
, in 1857 and attended the public schools. He engaged in the mercantile business, and moved to Wheeler County, Nebraska
in 1880 where homesteaded and engaged in agricultural pursuits.
He returned to Osceola, in 1881 and was employed as a bank cashier; in 1884, he moved to South Dakota and established the Citizens' Bank of Grand View, South Dakota
, and also engaged in agricultural pursuits. He later established a number of banks in South Dakota, Minnesota
, and Iowa. He studied law, was admitted to the bar
in 1888 and practiced; he was prosecuting attorney of Douglas County
in 1892-1893 and was a member of the South Dakota State Senate in 1894-1895.
He retired from the banking business in 1902 and engaged in the real estate and loan business at Platte, South Dakota
; he was a member of the Democratic National Committee
from 1904 to 1916.
Johnson was an unsuccessful Democratic candidate for Governor
in 1912, but was elected as a Democrat
to the U.S. Senate in 1914 and served from March 4, 1915 to March 4, 1921. He was the first Senator popularly elected from South Dakota. He retired from the Senate in after his first term. While in the Senate, Johnson was chairman of the Committee on Revolutionary Claims (Sixty-fourth and Sixty-fifth Congresses).
He resumed his activities in the real estate and loan business and died in Platte in 1933. Interment was in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, Armour, South Dakota
.
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
.
Born near Spencer, Indiana
Spencer, Indiana
Spencer is a town in Washington Township, Owen County, Indiana, United States. The population was 2,217 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Owen County.Spencer is part of the Bloomington, Indiana Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, he moved with his parents to Osceola, Iowa
Osceola, Iowa
Osceola is a city in Clarke County, Iowa, United States. The population was 4,659 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Clarke County.-Geography:Osceola is located at , at the junction of Interstate 35 and U.S. Routes 34 and 69...
, in 1857 and attended the public schools. He engaged in the mercantile business, and moved to Wheeler County, Nebraska
Wheeler County, Nebraska
-History:Wheeler County was formed in 1877. It was named after Major Daniel H. Wheeler.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 886 people, 352 households, and 243 families residing in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile . There were 561 housing units at an...
in 1880 where homesteaded and engaged in agricultural pursuits.
He returned to Osceola, in 1881 and was employed as a bank cashier; in 1884, he moved to South Dakota and established the Citizens' Bank of Grand View, South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
, and also engaged in agricultural pursuits. He later established a number of banks in South Dakota, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, and Iowa. He studied law, was admitted to the bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
in 1888 and practiced; he was prosecuting attorney of Douglas County
Douglas County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,458 people, 1,321 households, and 947 families residing in the county. The population density was 8 people per square mile . There were 1,453 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile...
in 1892-1893 and was a member of the South Dakota State Senate in 1894-1895.
He retired from the banking business in 1902 and engaged in the real estate and loan business at Platte, South Dakota
Platte, South Dakota
Platte is a city in Charles Mix County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 1,230 at the 2010 census. The community is named after the Platte Creek.- History :Settlement began in the area in the early 1880s....
; he was a member of the Democratic National Committee
Democratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
from 1904 to 1916.
Johnson was an unsuccessful Democratic candidate for Governor
Governor of South Dakota
The Governor of South Dakota is the head of the executive branch of the government of South Dakota. They are elected to a four year term on even years when there is no Presidential election. The current governor is Dennis Daugaard, a Republican elected in 2010....
in 1912, but was elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the U.S. Senate in 1914 and served from March 4, 1915 to March 4, 1921. He was the first Senator popularly elected from South Dakota. He retired from the Senate in after his first term. While in the Senate, Johnson was chairman of the Committee on Revolutionary Claims (Sixty-fourth and Sixty-fifth Congresses).
He resumed his activities in the real estate and loan business and died in Platte in 1933. Interment was in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, Armour, South Dakota
Armour, South Dakota
Armour is a city in and the county seat of Douglas County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 699 at the 2010 census.- History :...
.