Major Archie N. JOHNSON a successful practicing physician of Kansas City and a veteran of two wars — the Spanish-American and the great World war — was born at Red Wing, Minnesota, May 2, 1867, his parents being Andrew J. and Jeanette (CARPENTER) JOHNSON. The father died September 25, 1920, at the advanced age of eighty-eight years and six months. He had been a carpenter and builder and was also engaged in merchandising in Trego county, in western Kansas. He served his country as a soldier of the Civil war, belonging to Company F of the Sixth Regiment of the Minnesota Volunteers. He was a corporal and served throughout the entire period of hostilities, escaping wounds though often in the thickest of the fight. He was a native of Ohio, while his wife was born in New York.

Major JOHNSON of this review obtained his early education in the public schools of Carthage, Missouri, and afterward attended high school at Mount Ayr, Iowa. About 1885, following his high school course, he came to Kansas City and took up engraving in connection with the jewelry business, following this pursuit for about fifteen years. He then turned his attention to the study of medicine and in 1898 entered the University Medical College at Kansas City, from which he was graduated in 1903 with the M.D. degree. He then at once entered upon active practice, in which he has continued the only interruption to his professional activity coming through his military service.

Major Johnson is a veteran of the Spanish-American war, having joined the Third Regiment of Missouri Infantry. He was at Camp Alger, Virginia, for about seven months and then returned home as his country no longer needed forces in the field. He, however, continued his connections with the National Guards and with the Third Missouri Regiment went to the Mexican border during the difficulties of 1916 as captain in the medical corps. During the World war he was called into service March 25, 1917, and went to Camp Doniphan at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He was there made major in command of the One Hundred and Thirty-seventh Field Hospital Company of the Thirty-fifth Division and took his command overseas. He was in the Argonne and saw much of the horrors of war. In September, 1918, he was transferred to a relief place in command of Camp Hospital No. 82 ot Le Havre, Prance, opening the hospital and remaining there until it closed. It was a hospital of four hundred beds, but took care of as many as five hundred patients at a time. The following letter written by Colonel R. H. GOLDTHWAITE on the 29th of April. 1919, well describes Dr. JOHNSON'S work:

This is to certify that Major Archie N. JOHNSON, Medical Corps U. S. Army, was in command of Camp Hospital No. 82 from its organization October, 1918, till its dissolution April 30, 1919. This was an institution of four hundred beds, serving the port of Le Havre with a military personnel of nearly six thousand and a variable amount of passing troops enroute to and from the United States, permissionaries, auxiliary numbers, etc. It also acted as a collecting point for wounded or sick who had been originally admitted to British and French hospitals in this channel area. Major JOHNSON acted as operating surgeon as well as commanding officer of the unit during all this period. He was constantly under my observation and showed remarkable energy and efficiency In conducting a thoroughly satisfactory institution.

Major JOHNSON received an honorable discharge June 16, 1919, and returned to Kansas City, where he resumed the practice of medicine. Although he returned alone he was met at the station by a committee with the band and given a royal reception, his fellow townsmen recognizing the important service which he had done for his country. Since again taking up his professional work here he has engaged in general practice and specializes in women's diseases.

In 1906 Major JOHNSON was married in Kansas City to Miss Lena Alice DILLON, and they have one child, Eleanor. The Major is a member of the Rotary Club, in fact was one of its organizers in Kansas City. He is a Mason, belonging to the lodge, chapter and council, and has also taken the Scottish Rite degrees. He belongs to the Spanish War Veterans and to the American Legion, while along professional lines his connection is with the Jackson County and Missouri State Medical Societies.

SOURCE: STEVENS, Walter Barlow. Centennial History of Missouri: 1820 - 1921. Vol. IV. Pp. 871-73. S.J. Clarke Pub. Co. Chicago. 1921.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, November of 2010