Senate 
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Herschel Vespasian Johnson
C
harles Fletcher Johnson was born 14 Feb 1859 at Winslow, Kennebec County, Maine. He attended public schools and the Waterville Classical Institute. He graduated from Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Me. in 1879.He became principal of the high school in Machias, Washington Co., Me. from 1881-1886. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1886. He practiced law at Waterville.
In 1892 and 1894, he was an unsuccessful candidate for governor of Maine. He was elected Mayor of Waterville in 1893. In 1905 and 1907 he was elected as a Democrat to the Maine State House of Representatives.
Charles was elected as a Democrat to the US Senate in 1910 and served from 4 Mar 1911 to 3 Mar 1917. He lost his bid for reelection in 1916. While in Congress, he served as Chairman of the Committee on National Banks and on the Committee on Fisheries, Committee on Pensions.
He served as a Judge of the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the First Circuit from 1917 to 1929.
Charles died while visiting St. Petersburg, FL. on 15 Feb 1930. He was buried at Pine Grove Cemetery in Waterville.
E
dwin Carl Johnson was born 1 Jan 1884 in Scandia, Republic County, Ks. His family moved to a cattle ranch near Elsie, Nb. In 1884, where he attended public rural school. He later became a railroad laborer, a telegrapher and train dispatcher from 1901 to 1909. He homesteaded on federal land in Colorado in 1910. From 1920 to 1930, he operated the Farmer's Cooperative Milling Elevator and also engaged in the produce business.Edwin served in the Colorado State House of Representatives from 1923 to 1931. He was then elected as a Democrat to the office of Lieutenant Governor of Colorado and served from 1931 to 1933, when he was elected Governor of Colorado and served from 1933- 1937.
He was elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate in 1936 and reelected twice. He served from 1937 to 1955 when he did not seek reelection. He served as Chairman of the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce and the Select Committee on the Joseph McCarthy Censure.
He was reelected Governor of Colorado and served from 1955 to 1957. He was not a candidate for reelection. He retired but remained active as a volunteer on several state commission and committees. He died in Denver, Co. 30 May 1970. He was interred at Fairmont Mausoleum.
E
dwin Stocton Johnson was born 26 Feb 1857 in Spencer, Owen County, Indiana. He moved with his family to Osceola, Ia. in 1857 where he attended public schools. He later worked in a mercantile business. He moved to Wheeler Co., Nb. In 1880 and homesteaded. He was engaged in farming. He returned to Osceola in 1881 and worked as a bank cashier. He later moved to South Dakota and established the Bank of Grand View, SD in 1884. He was also engaged in agriculture there. He later established other banks in South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1888.He became prosecuting attorney of Douglas County, SD from 1892-1893. He was elected to the South Dakota Senate from 1894-1895. He retired from the banking business in 1902 and engaged in real estate and loan business at Platte, SD. He served as a member of the Democratic Party National committee from 1904 to 1916.
He failed in a bid for governor of South Dakota in 1912. In 1914, he was elected as a Democratic candidate to the United States Senate and served from 1915 to 1921. He did not seek reelection. During his term, he served as Chairman of the Committee on Revolutionary Claims. After he left office, he resumed his real estate and loan business. He died at Platte, SC 19 Jul 1933. He was buried at Pleasant Ridge Cemetery in Armour, SD.
Henry S. Johnson was born 14 Sep 1783 in Virginia. He studied law and was admitted to the bar. He moved to the Territory of Orleans in 1809 and became clerk of the Second Superior Court of the Territory. He was named District Judge of the Parish Court in 1811 served as a delegate to the State Constitutional Convention in 1812. His bid for Congress in 1812 failed after which he practiced law in Donaldsonville, La.
In 1818, he was elected to the United States Senate to fill a vacancy created by the death of William Claiborne. He was reelected and served from 1818 to 1824, when he resigned to become a candidate for governor. While in the Senate, he served as Chairman of the Committee on Indian Affairs. He was elected Governor of Louisiana in 1824 and served to 1828. During his administration as governor, he helped create the Louisiana State Bank and the Consolidated Association of Planters of Louisiana. He improved commerce in the state by forming the Internal Improvement Board to maintain and build roads and canals.
He lost a bid for election to the Senate in 1829. He was elected as a Whig representative to the 23 US Congress to fill a vacancy in 1834 and served from 1834 to 1839. He ran unsuccessfully as a Whig candidate for governor in 1834 and 1842. He was again elected to the US Senate to fill a vacancy and served from 1844 to 1849. During this term, he served as Chairman of the Committee on Pensions. He lost an election to the House in 1850. He moved to New River, La. and continued in law. He died in Pointe Coupee Parish, La. 4 Sep 1864. He was buried on his plantation there.
H
erschel Vespasian Johnson Sr. was born 18 Sep 1812 in Burke County, Georgia, a son of Moses Johnson and Nancy Palmer. He attended private schools and Monaghan Academy near Warrenton, Ga. He graduated from the University of Georgia in 1834. He then studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1814. Herschel moved to "Sandy Grove" plantation in Jefferson County in 1839 and set up law practice in Louisville, the county seat. He was defeated in 1843 as a Democratic candidate to fill a vacancy in Congress. He moved to Milledgeville (then capitol of Georgia) in 1844 and continued his law practice. He ran for nomination as governor of Georgia in 1847 but lost.In 1848, he was appointed to fill the vacant US Senate seat created by the death of W. T. Colquitt and served from 4 Feb 1848 to 3 mar 1849. He was not a candidate for reelection. While in the Senate, he served as Chairman of the Committee on the District of Columbia.
After he left the Senate, he was elected Judge of the Ocmulgee Circuit Superior Court and served from 1849-1853. He was a Presidential Elector on the Democratic Party ticket in 1852.
Herschel was elected Governor of Georgia in 1853 and served until 1857. In 1857, he returned to his plantation in Jefferson County. He was the Vice Presidential candidate with Senator Douglas of Illinois on the Democratic Party ticket in 1860, when Lincoln won the presidency. He served as a delegate to the State Convention at Milledgeville in 1861 at which the convention voted to secede from the union. The state then joined the Confederate States of America.
Herschel was elected a Senator to the Senate of the Confederate States of America and served from 1862 to 1865. After the conquest of the Confederacy, he served as President of a State Constitutional Convention in 1865. He was elected to the US Senate in 1866 but the yankee Republican controlled Congress refused to accept his credentials. He resumed his law practice in Louisville. In 1873, he was appointed Judge of the Middle Circuit Court of Georgia and served until his death on his plantation 16 Aug 1880. He was buried in the Old Louisville Cemetery.
H
iram Warren Johnson was born 2 Sep 1866 in Sacramento, Ca. He attended the University of California, Berkeley and studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1888 and set up practice in Sacramento. He moved to San Francisco in 1902 and became active in reform politics. He became Assistant District Attorney of San Francisco. Hiram was elected Governor of California and served from 1911-1917, when he resigned to enter the US Senate.He was elected as a Republican to the US Senate for a term beginning 4 Mar 1917 but he did not assume his post until 16 Mar, when he resigned as governor. Hiram was reelected in 1922, 1928, 1934 and 1940 and served in the Senate until his death in 1945. During his tenure, he seerved as Chairman of the Committee on Cuban Relations and on the Committee on Patents, the Committee on Immigration, Committee on Territories and Insular Possessions and Committee on Commerce.
Hiram was one of the founders of the Progressive Party in 1912 when many Republicans deserted their party to support former President Theodore Roosevelt. Hiram was chosen as Roosevelt's Vice Presidential running mate in 1912. He died at the Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Md., 6 Aug 1945. He was buried at Cyprus Lawn Cemetery in San Francisco.
J
ohn Warfield Johnston was born 9 Sep 1818 at Panicello near Abington, Virginia. He came from a very prominent Virginia political family and was a nephew of Congressmen Charles Clement Johnston and Joseph Eggleston Johnston. He was also the uncle of Congressman Henry Bowen.John attended Abingdon Academy and later attended South Carolina College at Columbia, SC. He also attended the law department at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. He was admitted to the bar in 1839 and began practice at Tazewell, Va. He became Commonwealth Attorney for Tazewell from 1844-1846, when he was elected as a State Senator and served from 1846-1848.
During the War for Southern Independence, John was named Confederate States Receiver in the Confederate national government. After the war, he served as Judge of the Circuit Court of Virginia from 1866-1870. When Virginia was readmitted to the union, John was elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate and served from 26 Jan 1870 to 3 Mar 1871. He was reelected in 1871 for a full six year term, serving from 1871 to 1883. He was defeated for reelection in 1882. During his term, he served as Chairman of the Committee on Revolutionary Claims and on the Committee on Agriculture. After his loss, he returned to his law practice. He died 27 Feb 1889 at Richmond, Va. and was buried at St. Mary's Cemetery, Wytheville, Va.
J
oseph Forney Johnston was born 23 Mar 1843 in Lincoln County, North Carolina. He was a son of Dr. William H. Johnston and Nancy Forney. He attended school in Lincoln County and when the War for Southern Independence broke out, he was attending a military school in Alabama. He enlisted in the 11th Alabama Regiment of Infantry, Confederate States Army as a private and rose to the rank of captain. He served in the army from 1861 to 1865. He later became captain of the 12th NC Infantry Regt. until the close of the war. He was wounded in battles at Chickamauga, Tn., Spottsylvania, New Market, and Petersburg, Va.After the war, Joseph settled in Jacksonville, AL. and studied law under General W. H. Forney and was admitted to the Alabama bar in 1866. He set up practice in Selma, AL. In 1884, he moved to Birmingham, AL. and became president of the Alabama State Bank. He became president of Sloss Iron & Steel Co. in 1887 and turned this company into a major manufacturer of iron and steel, helping make Birmingham the "Pittsburg of the South". The company became the first to use the open hearth process to produce steel.
Joseph's first campaign for public office came in 1890 when he lost the Democratic nomination for governor to William C. Oates but succeeded in gaining control of the Democratic Executive Committee. Johnston encouraged many disillusioned Populists to return to the party. He won the party nomination in 1896, was elected governor and was re-elected in 1898. Governor Johnston became as a bridge between conservative predecessors and the progressive Braxton Bragg Comer. Several Populist issues were addressed by his administration. A tax commission was created to equalize county tax assessments. The Department of Insurance was established to regulate insurance regulations. The office of State Mine Inspector was created to enforce safety regulations and a law was passed prohibiting children under 14 years of age and women from working on dangerous jobs. Minor reforms were made to the state's election laws. Johnston sponsored a bill to abolish the corrupt convict leasing system that was defeated. He tried, but failed, to get legislation passed creating a Railway Commission, comparable to Georgia's, to regulate rates.
When Senator E. W. Pettus died in 1907, Joseph was elected to fill his vacancy in the US Senate. He was reelected and served from 1907 to 8 Aug 1913, when he died of pneumonia in Washington, DC. While in office, he served as Chairman of the committee on the University of the United States and on the Committee on Military Affairs. He was buried in Elmwood Cemetery, Birmingham.
Joseph married Theresa Virginia Hooper and they had three sons: Forney, William Hooper and Edward Douglas Johnston.
M
agnus Johnson was born 19 Sep 1871 in Sweden. He was apprenticed as a glass blower 1888-1891 and then immigrated to the US and settled in LaCrosse, Wi. He worked there as a lumberjack and later moved to Meekere County, Mn. where he farmed. He became President of the Minnesota Union of the American Society of Equity 1911-1914, vice president of the Equity Cooperative Exchange 1912-1926 and served as school clerk and assessor of Kingston, Mn. He was elected to the Minnesota State House of Representatives 1915-1919 and to the State Senate 1919-1923. He lost a bid for governor of Minnesota on the Farmer-Labor Party ticket in 1922 and 1926.In 1923, he was elected as a Farmer-Labor to fill a vacancy in the United States Senate when Knute Nelson died. He served from 1923 to 1925 but was defeated for reelection in 1924. He resumed farming near Kimball, Mn. He was elected as a Farmer-Labor candidate to the House of Representatives of the 73rd Congress and served from 1933 to 1935 when he was defeated for reelection. He again returned to farming. He served as state supervisor of public stockyards 1934-1936 and was again defeated in a race for governor in 1936. He died at Litchfield, Mn. 13 Sep 1936 and was buried at Dassel Cemetery, Dassel, Mn. He was one of several aliens elected to the US Congress.
M
artin Nelson Johnson was born 3 Mar 1850 in Racine County, Wi. and moved with his parents to Decorah, Ia. that year. He graduated from the law department of the University of Iowa in 1873. He taught for two years at the California Military Academy, Oakland, Ca. He returned to Iowa in 1875 and was admitted to the bar in 1876. He set up practice in Decorah. He was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives in 1877 and to the Iowa State Senate from 1878-1882. He served as a Republican Presidential Elector in 1876. He moved to Dakota Territory in 1882 where he engaged in farming. He became prosecuting attorney of Nelson County 1886-1890. He was named a member of the constitutional convention of North Dakota in 1889. He was defeated as a Republican candidate for the US Senate that year.He was elected in 1890 as a Republican to the 52nd US Congress and to three additional terms, serving from 1891 to 1899, when he did not seek reelection. He was elected as a Republican to the United States Senate in 1908 and served from 4 Mar 1909 until his death 21 Oct 1909. During his brief stint in the Senate, he served as Chairman of the Committee to Investigate Trespassers Upon Indian Lands. Martin married Stella White. He was buried in City Cemetery, Petersburg, ND.
O
lin DeWitt Talmadge Johnston was born 18 Nov 1896 near Honea Path, Anderson County, South Carolina. He was a son of Edward Andrew Johnston and Leila Webb. Olin graduated fom the Textile Industrial Institute, Spartanburg, SC in 1915. He attended Wofford College until 1917 when he enlisted in the US Army during World War I and served 18 months overseas, becoming a sergeant. After the war, he returned to Wofford and graduated in 1921. He earned a Master's degree in Rural Economy from the University of South Carolina in 1923 and a LLB law degree in 1924--both while he was serving in the House of Representatives. He was admitted to the bar the same year and began practice at Spartanburg. He was elected as a Democrat to the South Carolina State House of Representatives 1923-1924 and 1927-1930. He lost a bid for governor in 1930. He was elected Governor of South Carolina and served from 1935-1939 and again from 1943 until he resigned in 1945. He lost bids for the United States Senate in 1938 and 1941.Olin was elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate in 1944 and reelected for three additional terms, serving from 1945 until his death at Columbia, SC 18 Apr 1965. During his tenure, he served as Chairman of the Committee on Post Office and Civil Service and as Co-Chairman of the Joint Committee on Postal Service. In his last Senate race, he won a majority of votes in 45 of South Carolina's 46 counties.
He became known as the "cotton mill boy" because of his support for the working folk of South Carolina. He fought for the cotton mill workers and improvement of their conditions. He also made the state highway system one of his foremost projects along with improved education. He believed in a 40-hour workweek for textile laborers and fought to expand the state's school year to at least seven months. He also sought tax exemption for small homes and farms.
Olin married Gladys Elizabeth Atkinson 28 Dec 1924. Their daughter, Elizabeth Johnson (wife of Dwight Patterson), was elected to the US House of Representatives in 1986. Olin was buried at Barkers Creek Baptist Church Cemetery in Honea Path, SC.
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