Mathilda Linderholm Johnson

LINDERHOLM, JOHNSON, BURGH

Posted By: Nathan Lingwall (email)
Date: 9/19/2007 at 22:58:22

G.E.Q. JOHNSON'S MOTHER IS DEAD AT THE AGE OF 86

Mrs. Mathilda Johnson, mother of United States District Attorney George E.Q. Johnson, died in her home at 626 Wellington Avenue yesterday of bronchitis. She became ill three weeks ago.
Mrs. Johnson, 86 years old, was born in Smaland, Sweden, and came to America when she was 3 years old. The family estabilished residence at Victoria, in Knox County, Illinois. As a child Mrs. Johnson heard several of the debates between Lincoln and Douglas.
"My mother kept a vivid impression of Lincoln," said District Attorney Johnson last night. "She heard him debate a number of times with Douglas, and delighted in telling of her recollections of those historic incidents."
Shortly after the civil war, Mrs. Johnson-then Mathilda Linderholm-was married to John Johnson, also of Victoria. In 1868 they moved by covered wagon to Dayton, Ia. The family crossed the Mississippi river by ferry while the stock swam across. The Johnsons moved to Chicago in 1897 to give their children better educatioal facilities. In 1900 Mr. Johnson died, and since then Mrs. Johnson had lived on the north side.
She was the mother of nine children, seven of whom survive. They are Distrit Attorney Johnson, Dr. O.T. Johnson, Attorney J. Arthur Johnson, Paul Johnson, Mrs. Jennie Burgh, Mary L. Johnson and Hilda Johnson. Funeral arrangements will be announced today.
Mrs. Johnson's grandparents helped found the first Swedish Methodist church in Illinois at Victoria in 1851, and also aided in founding the first Swedish Methodist church in Dayton, the oldest church of its kind in Iowa.

Submitters note:
George E.Q. Johnson, her son was born in Harcourt, Iowa and was the prosecutor who put Al Capone behind bars.