Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2013, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Biographical History of Cherokee County, Iowa W. S. Dunbar & Co., Chigago - 1889 [page 502] GEORGE A. JOHNSON, dealer in general merchandise, Cherokee, Iowa, has been a resident of the county since 1871. He succeeded H. A. FIFE, and continued the business at the original stand on West Main street. He was born in Canada, at the town of Colborne, May 2, 1842, and is the third of a family of eight children, three sons and five daughters. His father, JOHN A. JOHNSON, was born in St. Lawrence County, New York. He was a manufacturer for many years, and finally sold his business interests and removed to Cherokee County. The mother of GEORGE A. JOHNSON, ELIZA (EDDY) JOHNSON, was a native of Canada, and died in that country in 1871. GEORGE A. passed his youthful days in the county in which he was born; he attended school at Norwood, Peterboro County, and began his mercantile career in the county of Gray, where he served as a clerk three years. He again accepted a clerkship in Vassar, Michigan, remaining there three years, and upon leaving that place he went back to Canada and lived there three years. In the spring of 1871 he came to Cherokee, Iowa, and commenced busi- ness, as before stated. He remained in the old building until his business had so greatly increased that he was compelled to provide larger and more spacious quarters; so in the year 1884 he began the erection of his present place of business, to which he moved in the autumn of the same year. The building is of brick, 28x96 feet, two stories high. The first floor, a portion of the second and the base- ment are used for the stock of goods, which consists of dry-goods, groceries, boots, shoe, hats and caps, crockery, shelf hardware, etc. Three competent clerks are employed to attend to this stock and serve customers. Mr. JOHNSON was married January 2, 1871, to Miss ELIZA HEAD, of Colborne, Ontario. She is the daughter of HENRY HEAD, Esq. Both the JOHNSON and the HEAD families are of English descent. Mr. and Mrs. JAMES JOHNSON are the parents of eight children: WILLIAM R., ELLEN M., MAUDE E., HATTIE E., BEULAH, LOTTIE C., HAZEL and HENRY H. In his political belief Mr. JOHNSON is a Republican, and has frequently been honored with public offices. He served six years as a member of the Cherokee School Board, and was township trustee for an equal number of years. At present he holds the responsible position of county super- visor, having been elected in the fall of 1888 for a term of three years. He belongs to the Masonic order, being a member of Speculative Lodge, No. 307, A.F. & A.M., and Burning Bush Chapter, No. 90, R.A.M., and also of Crusade Commandery, No. 39, K. T. ===========================================================================