Johnson, Robert E. (1885-1939)

JOHNSON, BALCH, GRUND

Posted By: C. Tucker (email)
Date: 9/18/2016 at 11:14:00

Times Republican
Marshalltown, IA [Monday 12-11-1939] p. 11

R. E. JOHNSON, LAWYER, DIES SUDDENLY

Was Active in County Democratic Politics For Many Years

Robert E. Johnson, Marshalltown attorney, prominent in democratic politics in Marshall county over a long period of years and at one time acting postmaster of this city, died suddenly at 1:40 p.m. Saturday at St. Thomas Mercy hospital where he had been a patient for several months for treatment of cancer of the throat. Mr. Johnson had not been seriously ill all of that time and occasionally left the hospital for short periods, but suffered a throat hemorrhage Saturday morning that was the immediate cause of his death. ONCE POLICE JUDGE A resident of Marshalltown since 1894, Mr. Johnson had been a practicing attorney here since his graduation from law school of the University of Minnesota in 1908. He once was police judge of Marshalltown, about 1910, the only time that office was in existence, succeeding the mayor's court which later was re-established before the organization of the municipal court in 1914. He was acting county attorney for seven months following the death of Anthony C. Daly in 1914 and after the death of his father A. G. Johnson, Marshalltown postmaster in the Wilson administration, in 1918, he served out his term as acting postmaster for about two years. For 22 years he was chairman of the county democratic central committee and frequently was the party's standard bearer for county attorney, altho he never was elected to political office. He was a candidate for judge of the municipal court here in 1929. BORN IN DAKOTA Robert E. Johnson was born in Grand Forks, N. D., Sept. 11, 1885, and the family came to Marshalltown in 1894. He was graduated from high schol here in 1905. He married Miss Katherine Balch, daughter of the late P. S. Balch, April 11, 1912. She died June 11, 1932. He is survived by a son, Robert Balch Johnson of Chicago, Ill.; a daughter, Miss Katherine Louise Johnson of Des Moines; a brother, J. Sidney Johnson, and his mother, Mrs. Emma M. Johnson, both of Chicago. An aunt, Mrs. Henry Grund of LaCrosse, Wis., also survives. The brother arrived here Saturday. Mr. Johsnon was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal church and of the Elks and Eagles lodges.