Will C. Johnson

JOHNSON, EARLYWINE, CLARK, CARLSON

Posted By: Mary Welty Hart (email)
Date: 2/19/2006 at 13:29:18

WILL C. JOHNSON

Winterset Madisonian
November 1, 1978

Will C. Johnson, a prominent Winterset business leader and manufacturer over a long period of years, died Monday morning, Oct. 30, 1978, at Madison County Memorial Hospital. He was 96 years of age.

A son of J. C. Fremont and Nancy Earlywine Johnson, he was born Sept. 6, 1882 in Polk County, Iowa. He moved to Winterset from Rising Sun, Iowa in 1901, first operating a grocery store here.

From this beginning in the Cline and Johnson grocery at the southeast corner of the square, Mr. Johnson went on to a varied and extensive career in business, public service and agriculture.

Following the grocery operation, he served for a time as deputy Madison County treasurer, and then farmed for a period of seven years northeast of Winterset.

In 1921, Mr. Johnson purchased the interest of his father-in-law, Joel Clark, in the Winterset Monument Co., operating in partnership with Joel's son, Delbert Clark. The firm later expanded to include a factory monument outlet in Des Moines.

In 1939, Mr. Johnson purchased the interests of E. K. Cole, Dr. Willard Bunker and Lawence Blomgren in the Grip-Tite Manufacturing Co. of Winterset. He became sole owner of the company at the death of a partner Charles Handel.

The local manufacturing firm today is headed by a son, Clarence Johnson of Winterset.

Mr. Johnson was also active in community affairs. He served three terms on the Winterset school board, and three terms on the Winterset city council.

He was a member of the First Christian Church of Winterset for 77 years, serving as elder emeritus at the time of his death.

On June 26, 1907, he was married to Goldie M. Clark. She died in September 1960.

On August 4, 1962, he married Louise Carlson, who survives. Also surviving are the son, Clarence; six grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Ellis; and four sons, Don and Edwin (in infancy), Mont Co. and Dwight G.

Funeral services for Mr. Johnson were held this Wednesday morning, Nov. 1st from the First Christian Church in Winterset. the church minister, Rev. David Livingston, officiated.

Burial was in the Winterset Cemetery.