Johnson, E. I.

JOHNSON, BENEDICT, TOMLINSON, ARMSTRONG, BUSHMAN

Posted By: Janelle Martin (email)
Date: 2/21/2010 at 16:45:51

History of Hamilton County, Iowa, vol II, 1912, p. 120.

E. I. JOHNSON.

E. I. Johnson, president and founder of the State Bank of Williams, has been identified with the business interests of Hamilton County for twenty-nine years. He was born in Kenosha County, Wisconsin, on the 18th of November, 1859, and is a son of Isaac L. and Delia (Benedict) Johnson. The parents were natives of the state of New York, the father's birth having occurred in 1812, and that of the mother in 1823. On leaving the Empire state they removed to Wisconsin, locating in Kenosha County, which remained their place of residence for many years. There the mother passed away in 1866. She was survived by the father, whose death occurred in 1879. They had another son, Herbert N., who was born on the 21st of December, 1856, and is now a resident of Siloam Springs, Arkansas.

E. I. Johnson was about seven years old when his mother died and he then went to live with a widowed aunt at Appleton, Wisconsin, where he remained for two years. At the end of that time he returned to Kenosha County, where he lived with a farmer for three years, or until his father was married again, after which he spent the winters at home attending the country schools, while during the summer months he worked for various farmers until he attained the age of twenty years. In 1881 he attended a commercial college at Madison, Wisconsin, and from the fall of 1882 until May, 1883, worked in a hardware store at Racine, that state. It was in the latter year that he came to Williams, Iowa, where he first engaged in the hardware business, but later became interested in merchandising and banking. The latter business developed in a very satisfactory manner, and in 1888 he established the Exchange Bank. In 1890 this institution was reorganized to conform to the state laws, with a capital stock of twenty-five thousand dollars, the name being changed to the State Bank of Williams. The capital has since been increased to thirty-five thousand dollars, while the surplus and undivided profits now amount to ten thousand dollars. A general banking and foreign exchange business is carried on and the bank enjoys the confidence of the entire community as is substantially evidenced by the amount of its deposits, which aggregate practically three hundred thousand dollars. This was the first bank in Hamilton County to be organized under the state laws and is recognized as one of the conservative and substantial financial institutions in this part of Iowa. This fact must largely be attributed to the honorable, straightforward manner in which Mr. Johnson conducts his transactions, his business methods being such as to commend him to the confidence of those with whom he has dealings. The company owns the building they occupy, which is a modern structure and centrally located. In addition to his other interests Mr. Johnson owns his residence and two hundred and thirty-three acres of highly improved land in Williams township.

On the 17th of September, 1884, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Tomlinson, who was born in Grant County, Wisconsin, August 27, 1858, and is the eldest of the seven children born to John and Leah (Armstrong) Tomlinson. Her parents were natives of England, but the early years of their domestic life were passed in Grant County, Wisconsin, whence they removed to Hardin County, Iowa. The father is now residing in Arkansas, but the mother passed away in Williams in 1903. The children of the Tomlinson family are as follows : Mrs. Johnson ; William A. ; John E. ; Elizabeth, now Mrs. Fred Bushman ; Frank W. ; Arthur ; and Robert. The three last named were born in Hardin County, Iowa, but the four eldest are natives of Grant County, Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are the parents of four children. Raymond T., who was born July 9, 1885, and after completing the course of the public schools of Williams, spent two years at Grinnell College, and then began his business career in the State Bank of Williams, of which he is now cashier. Earl E., born on the 5th of January, 1887, completed his education at the Iowa State Agricultural College at Ames, of which institution he was a student for three years. Leah M., born January 5, 1889, attended the Denver high school and Grinnell College for one year each and the Iowa State Teachers College at Cedar Falls for two years, and has taught the primary department of the Williams public schools for two years. Ethel A., born December 10, 1893, was graduated from the Williams high school in 1910 and is now a sophomore at Grinnell College.

Mrs. Johnson and three of the children belong to the Presbyterian church. Fraternally Mr. Johnson was formerly affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, was local representative to the Grand Lodge, and for a time he was also identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He supports the republican party and has been chairman of the county central committee. He has always taken an active and helpful interest in all municipal affairs and has served with efficiency as mayor and councilman and also as a member of the school board. Mr. Johnson is numbered among the progressive, public-spirited men of Williams, in the advancement and development of which town he cooperates by assisting in promoting every movement that he feels will prove beneficial to the welfare of the community.

Hamilton Biographies maintained by Lynn McCleary.
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