Johnson, William Jarvis

JOHNSON, COUTER, THAYER, BENTLEY

Posted By: Gary Norris (email)
Date: 12/2/2012 at 14:18:08

William Jarvis Johnson, a retired business man, of Malcom, was born in Baltimore, Maryland, March 15, 1840, a son of William H. and Sarah (Couter) Johnson, natives of Maryland. That state was also the birthplace of Mr. Johnson's maternal grandparents and likewise of his paternal grandmother. The paternal grandfather, James Johnson, was native of Philadelphia and served as a soldier of the War of 1812. The father, William H. Johnson, was a hatter by trade, and he and his wife both passed away in Baltimore during the childhood of the subject. In their family were six , of whom William Jarvis Johnson was the eldest. The others were as follows; Laura, deceased; Edwin, of Baltimore; Samuel; Emma, who married George Thayer, of Baltimore; and Washington, also deceased.
When a little lad of seven years William Jarvis Johnson went to Wheeling, West Virginia, and there took up his abode with his paternal grandmother, with whom he continued to reside for ten years. Upon her death in 1857 he came with an uncle to Iowa, locating first in Davenport, and in the following year began working at the carpenter's trade, which he followed until 1862, In that year he responded to the country's call for troops, enlisting from Davenport, on the 13th of August, as a soldier of Company E, Twentieth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He served until honorably discharged at Clinton, Iowa, on the 31st of August, 1865, and during this period took part in all of the engagements of his regiment.
He returned to Davenport and then in June, 1866, went to Brooklyn, where he engaged in merchandising until August of that year, when he sold out and came to Malcom, here erecting the first house in the town. He also opened the first store here on the 15th of September, 1866, and was made the first postmaster. Two years later, however, in 1868, he sold his business and resigned the office of postmaster to accept the position of agent for the Rock Island Railroad Company at Malcom. He was the second agent here and continued in that capacity until January 1, 1882, when he was elected treasurer of Poweshiek county, thus serving for three terms or six yers. In 1892 he returned to Malcom and in the following year, in connection with O. F. Dorrance and O. H. Leonard, of Brooklyn, purchased the Malcom Bank. This relationship continued for five years, during which period Mr. Johnson acted as cashier, owning a half or controlling interest in the business. In 1898 he purchased the interest of his partners and remained the sole owner of the bank until August 7, 1905, when he sold out to the Malcom Savings Bank.
He was deeply interested in the affairs of the institution of which he was the proprietor and inaugurated a system and policy which at all times commanded the confidence and patronage of the general public. At the same time he regarded the demands of every individual depositor as something to which he should give his attention and his opinions were frequently sought by patrons of the bank. On selling the bank he withdrew from active business and is now living retired. For a time, however, he served as a director of the Malcom Savings Bank, but his present connection therewith is merely that of a stockholder. He is the owner of a quarter section of land south of the town, and as a result of his well-directed efforts of former years he is now ranked among the men of affluence of Poweshiek county.
Mr. Johnson was united in marriage, on the 31st of August, 1862, to Miss Ann Elizabeth Bentley, who was born in Fishkill, New York, June 2, 1840, and in 1856 came west with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Bentley. Unto this union have been born six children, namely: Ella K., a graduate nurse of Johnstown, Pennsylvania; Clifton L., who was killed by a horse in Montezuma on the 18th of December, 1882; May Elizabeth, a graduate of the musical department of Grinnell College, who passed away July 18, 1895, when twenty-three years of age; Grace Ethel, whose death occurred in 1874; Edith Estella, who died in 1886 when nine years and seven months old; and George Sterling, a twin brother of Edith Estella, who is now advertising manager for the Des Moines Capitol.
Fraternally Mr. Johnson is a Mason, holding membership in Lily Lodge, No. 254, A.F. & A.M. of Malcom; Hyssop Chapter, No. 50, R.A. M.., of Malcom; and Oriental Commandery, No. 22, K.T., of Newton, Iowa. He is also a member of Wisner Post, No 127, G. A. R., of Montezuma, Iowa. Politically he is a stanch republican and aside from the position of county treasurer has held many town and school offices, serving as president, treasurer or director of the school board for many years. Ever public-spirited in his citizenship, he may truly be numbered among the community's builders, for he has been identified with the history of Malcom from the beginning, and while his efforts have been rewarded by a most substantial individual success, they have at the same time been potent factors in the development of the community at large and he is today recognized as one of the most substantial and representative citizens of Malcom.

History of Poweshiek County Iowa
- A Record of Settlement, Organizations, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II
written by Prof. L. F. Parker.
Published by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., in 1911
Pages 701-703