Johnson, Capt. Elza C.

JOHNSON, MERSHON

Posted By: Anne Hermann (email)
Date: 1/18/2008 at 11:52:09

BENCH AND BAR OF IOWA.
American Biographical Publishing Co., 1901

CAPTAIN ELZA C. JOHNSON,
MAQUOKETA.

The subject of this sketch is a native Iowan, and was born in Jones county, in 1873, and is a son of Dr. George O. and Lydia H. (Brown) Johnson. His father, a practicing physician, settled in Jones county, Iowa, in 1852, coming thither when a mere boy from Ohio with an ox team. His mother is a native of New York State.

Elza was graduated from the Maquoketa high school in 1889. He then attended the Iowa State University, and was graduated from the collegiate department with the degree of Ph. B. in 1893. He pursued his law studies in the office of Mr. D. A. Wynkoop, at Maquoketa, and was prepared to pass his examination and be admitted to the bar in 1898. Mr. Johnson had organized a company in 1893, and at the call for volunteers for the war with Spain, in 1898, tendered his company for the service, which was accepted, and he was appointed its captain by Governor Shaw. Captain Johnson went with his company to Cuba and remained in the volunteer service one year and eighteen days, the records of the company showing that, at no time, were there fewer than eighty-five men able to do duty. On their return from the war the company was re-organized, and Mr. Johnson was elected its captain which position he now (1901) holds.

In October, 1899, Mr. Johnson was admitted to the bar at Des Moines, and at once opened an office at Maquoketa and began a general practice of the law, in which he has been eminently successful, having, besides a large number of government and pension claims, a vast amount of commercial practice, which he has made somewhat of a specialty with marked success.

Captain Johnson is a Democrat in political opinion, but has neither held nor sought official position. He is a scholarly man, and, besides teaching district school one year, was for two years second assistant principal of the Maquoketa high school. In March, 1899, in Marshall county, Iowa, he married Miss Ada Mershon, daughter of Dr. G. A. Mershon.