Clinton Elijah Johnson (1868-1939)

JOHNSON, HOWARD, LARSON, MASON, DUNTZ, HAMMER, BUSH, SMITH, LEE

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 9/16/2024 at 12:34:53

From Story City Herald May 4, 1939 (page 4)

CLINT JOHNSON

Clinton Elijah Johnson was a son of a family of eight boys and one daughter born to Wm. S. and Nancy Johnson. He came to gladden their home while they lived near Marion, Inc., on the 5th day of May, 1868, and passed away, after a lingering illness, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. James Smith of Story City, Friday morning, April 21, 1939, at the allotted age of three score years and ten for his span of life was 70 years, 11 months and 16 days.

When a child of two years of age he, with his parents, came to the state of Iowa in a covered wagon and located in the vicinity of Story City. At that time his father purchased some of the raw prairie in the northwestern part of Story county and began to break the sod to till the soil and on which a home was established. His father also opened and operated what has been known as the Summit coal mine on this farm, a few miles to the southwest of Story City. It was here where Mr. Johnson grew to manhood and he remained a citizen of the community for about a half century.

After having been reared in the parental home and remaining with his parents until having reached his majority, he was married to Miss Jeanette Howard of the same community in 1887. To them were born ten children, of whom two preceded him in death. After their marriage they made their home on several different farms in close proximity to Story City. For about ten years he, with his companion, resided in Gilbert, and during this time he was engaged in blacksmithing. Thruout his active life he operated a threshing machine, and this gave him a wide contact with farmers in the country round about this section of the county.

About 14 years ago he and Mrs. Johnson left Gilbert and moved to Winnebago, Minn., where they made their home during this period of time. Here he was engaged in farming until his health became impaired, several years ago, when he was necessitated to retire from active life. Several months ago Mr. and Mrs. Johnson came from Winnebago to visit at the Jas. Smith home for a season, and it was during this time that his health began to fail very rapidly, which resulted in his death, despite all that medical skill and loving hands were able to do for him.

He is survived by his sorrowing widow with whom he had shared joys and sorrows for more than half a century; eight children who are Mrs. Gladys Larson, Mrs. Lois Mason and William Johnson, all of Winnebago; Mrs. Marie Duntz of Des Moines; Mrs. Isabelle Hammer of Ames; Mrs. Faye Bush of Glendale, Cal.; Mrs. Nellie Smith and Mrs. Lila Lee, both of Story City; 21 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren, besides other relatives and friends.

Out of town people present at the funeral were: Mr. and Mrs. Otto Larson, Mr. and Mrs. Will Johnson, Janet and Twyla Lou, Mr. and Mrs. T. M. Mason, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Larson and baby, Mr. and Mrs. George Whitney, all of Winnebago, Minn.; Mr. and Mrs. Ward Wilbert of Blue Earth; Mrs. Frank Remillard and Mrs. Vernon Remillard of Sioux Rapids; Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Duntz and son Devere, and Robert Dickenson of Des Moines.