Biography of Edwin S. Johnson

Edwin S. Johnson (b. 1857, Owen County, Indiana) was a prominent banker and real estate operator in Armour, South Dakota. He co-founded the Johnson Brothers Company with his brother Homer, managing extensive land and loan interests across the region. Johnson began his career in Iowa, later pioneering in Nebraska before relocating to South Dakota in 1884. In addition to his business pursuits, he served as state’s attorney and state senator, shifting from the Republican to Democratic Party in 1896. He married Anna Thoreau in 1884 and remained an influential figure in both local politics and the Methodist Protestant church.


Edwin S. Johnson, who, in connection with banking and real-estate operations, has, with his brothers, attained distinctive precedence and a high degree of success, being a resident of the attractive town of Armour, was born on a farm near Spencer, Owen County, Indiana, on the 26th of February, 1857. He is a son of Allison C. and Emily (Brenton) Johnson, of whose ten children six are living at the present time, namely: Eudora, who is the wife of Byron Allen, of Sioux City, Iowa; Edwin S., who is the immediate subject of this sketch; Homer W., who is intimately associated with the subject in business and who is individually mentioned on other pages of this work; Belle J., who is the wife of W. W. Sparks, of Sioux City, Iowa; Frank H., who resides in Geddes, South Dakota, being likewise associated in business with the subject; and Cornelia, who is the wife of Dr. P. E. Sawyer, of Sioux City, Iowa. The father of these children was a representative of an old Virginia family, whence his parents removed to the state of Indiana in the pioneer epoch, and there he was born in the year 1827, being reared on a farm and securing such educational advantages as were afforded in the pioneer community. His wife was born in Indiana in the year 1832, and after their marriage, he continued to be identified with agricultural pursuits in his native state until 1857, when he removed with his wife and two children to Iowa, which was then considered in the far west and on the frontier of civilization, the subject of this sketch being an infant of three months at the time, while the trip was made overland in a covered wagon. The family located in Osceola, where the father turned his attention to mercantile pursuits and also became concerned in real-estate operations, and continued his residence there until 1886, when he came to South Dakota and joined his sons in Armour, where he passed the residue of his long and useful life, his death occurring on the 5th of January, 1899. For ten years prior to his demise he was afflicted with blindness, but he bore this affliction with resignation and was always cheerful and kindly, his having been the faith that makes faithful. His cherished and devoted wife was summoned into eternal rest in December, 1895, at the age of sixty-three years, both having been active and zealous members of the Methodist Protestant church, in whose work he took a prominent part during the years of his active life, having been for eighteen consecutive years superintendent of the Sunday school of the church at Osceola, Iowa, while he exemplified his Christian faith in his daily walk and conversation. In politics, he was originally an adherent of the Whig party but upon the organization of the Republican party he identified himself therewith and ever afterward supported its cause. He served as register of deeds in Clarke County, Iowa, and also was incumbent of other offices of trust and responsibility. Fraternally he was identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

In reviewing the career of Edwin S. Johnson, whose name initiates this sketch, we cannot perhaps do better than to quote from an appreciative article which appeared in a recent issue of the Armour Herald, making such metaphrase as may seem expedient in the connection: “He grew to manhood in Iowa and under the influences of pioneer hardships and vicissitudes incident to those early days he cultivated and expanded the indomitable energy that has since made him the possessor of honor and wealth. His education was limited to the public schools of Osceola, and having acquired all the knowledge possible to attain in a graded school he formed a partnership with his father in the clothing business, with which he continued to be identified for several years. In 1880 he went to Wheeler County, Nebraska, becoming one of the pioneers of that section, establishing the county seat of Cedar City (now Harrington) on his claim. Shortly afterward he sold his interests on the Nebraska frontier and returned to Osceola, where he was employed for three years in the Osceola Bank. In 1884 he visited his brother Homer, who was then in Sioux Falls, Dakota, and together they came to Douglas County in that year and established the present Citizens’ Bank at Grand View. The firm has always prospered, and though starting in life without a cent other than that acquired through their own hard labors, their parents being in moderate circumstances, they are today rated among the leading capitalists of the state.

“The subject of this sketch has always been a force in politics, and in 1892 he was elected state’s attorney for Douglas County, having attained sufficient knowledge of the law to be admitted to the bar, in Armour, in 1888. To the practice of the law, however, Mr. Johnson never gave many years of his time. In 1894 he was honored by his party with the nomination and election to the state senate, but in the upheaval of party sentiment in 1896 and the radical change of front by the Republican party on many questions, he severed party ties and voiced his convictions by voting and working for the success of William J. Bryan for president. Since that time he has been a Democrat, and his many friends throughout the state have frequently mentioned his name in connection with candidacy for the United States senate.”

In company with his brother Homer W., the subject of this review organized the Johnson Brothers Company, the same being incorporated under the laws of the state and capitalized for one hundred thousand dollars, and in 1886 the headquarters of the company were removed from Grand View to Armour, with whose advancement and substantial upbuilding the brothers have been most prominently identified. Of the company mentioned the subject of this sketch has been president from the time of its organization, and its operations have been of wide scope and importance as land and loan brokers, their real-estate interests being of the most extensive order, while the operations of the company extend throughout the state of South Dakota and also into Minnesota and Iowa. The company purchased the first lot in Armour after the town was platted, J. C. Lawler, of Mitchell, having been the owner of the town site. In 1893 the company purchased Mr. Lawler’s interests here for ten thousand dollars, shortly afterward selling an undivided half interest to C. E. Foote. Shortly after coming to Armour the brothers organized the Citizens’ State Bank, which has become one of the leading financial institutions in this section, and of the same our subject continued as cashier until 1902, when he and his brother disposed of their interests in the same, as also in the banking houses which they had established at Geddes, this state, and at Horning, Iowa, and they are now devoting their entire attention to their real-estate and loan business, which is one of the most important in the state.

Edwin S. Johnson is a man of strong individuality, as may be inferred from the epitomized record of his career here entered, and while he has attained marked success and prestige he is unassuming in all the relations of life, genial and kindly in his intercourse with his fellow men. He was chairman of the Democratic state central committee from June, 1902, until the state convention at Sioux Falls in March, 1904, when he tendered his resignation and was elected a member of the national committee for South Dakota. He was married October 1, 1884, to Miss Anna Thoreau, at Osceola, Iowa, and they have five children living. The subject and his wife are members of the Methodist Protestant church.


Source: Robinson, Doane, History of South Dakota: together with mention of Citizens of South Dakota, [Logansport? IN] : B. F. Bowen, 1904.


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