John Peter Johnson 1853-1926

JOHNSON, RISTRIM

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 11/28/2011 at 21:34:29

Death came very suddenly to another of Estherville’s pioneer citizens when John P. Johnson passed away on last Sunday [April 4, 1926] night. Mr. Johnson has been in extremely poor health for some time past. He has been up and about the home and has been down town. On Saturday and Sunday he seemed to be feeling very well. Friends visited him on these days and he said he was feeling better. During the night Mrs. Johnson said he had a spell with his heart and it was difficult for him to breath. She got him up and over the hot air register as the heat always seemed to revive him. He apparently was better and laid down on a couch close to the register to rest. It was but a short time until he seemed to have a severe spell with his heart and Mrs. Johnson called the son. Medical attention was though necessary and a doctor was called but Mr. Johnson had passed away before he arrived.

Mr. Johnson came to this city some forty years ago and was employed in the store of F.H. Rhodes. He resided as a neighbor to the editors of this paper for several years and was a most excellent neighbor. After a few years he decided to farm and purchased a fine farm in southern Minnesota. He was very successful and in years he had added greatly to his land holdings. A few years ago he moved back to this city. Three years ago he moved to Fairmont for a time and then returned to the lakes for the summers and came here during the winter months.

John Peter Johnson was born in Stratford, Iowa, on December 15, 1853. He leaves to mourn his death a wife and three sons, Robert Frank and Henry. The funeral services were held today from the Presbyterian church, the Rev. Davies officiating. The remains were laid to rest in the East Side cemetery at his request. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, April 7, 1926)

John P. Johnson Early Resident Died Sunday
Over Fifty Years a Resident of Estherville and Emmet County
Was Well Known Here
Taken Ill with Diabetes Early Last Fall – Has Been Prominent Citizen for Years
John P. Johnson, one of the oldest residents of Emmet county, died at his home on north Ninth street Sunday evening. He had been ill with diabetes since early last fall but was only confined to his bed a short time. Deceased was known to many Estherville people and was a man of high intellect and a good citizen. When the family came to Estherville nearly forty years ago, Mr. Johnson clerked in a store. He was employed by F.H. Rhodes who conducted a general store on the east side of the park in the building now occupied by the East Side Café. Later he purchased four hundred acres of land just across the line in Minnesota and improved it and the family made their home there until a few days ago and then moved to Estherville. Later, they bought a home at Fairmont, Minn., and remained there four years, then moving back to Estherville and during the summer, occupied their cottage on the south side of Spirit Lake. Last fall they moved back to this city. Mr. Johnson was taken ill soon after they came home from the lakes and gradually grew worse until death Sunday night. To know Mr. Johnson was to like him. Everybody was his friend. He had been a hardworking man all during his life and accumulated a fortune. He was born at Stratford, Hamilton county, Iowa, on December 15, 1853, making him seventy-two years, three months and twenty days of age at the time of his death. On January 18, 1880, he was married to Miss Lilian Ristrim in Estherville, and to this union three children were born, Robert Johnson, at Knoxville, Iowa; Frank Johnson, at Omaha, and John H. Johnson, civil engineer for the Rock Island on this division. Deceased was a member of the Lutheran church. The sympathy of the entire community is extended the bereaved wife and sons in their hours of profound sorrow.

Funeral services will be held this (Wednesday) afternoon at 2:00 o’clock at the Presbyterian church. The Masonic Lodge will be in charge of the services. Interment will be in Oak Hill cemetery. (Estherville Democrat, Estherville, IA, April 7, 1926)