Joel Johnson (1923)

JOHNSON, RIDGLEY, HANSEN

Posted By: Ken Akers (email)
Date: 9/10/2007 at 22:10:51

Audubon County Journal (IA)
Jan. 25, 1923, pg. 1
Relative of Exira People

Dead at Marathon, Ia.

Mr. Joel Johnson who will be re-
membered by many of Exira's older
residents, passed away on January
12th at his home near Marathon,
Iowa, after a short illness which
terminated in lock jaw. His wife
will be remembered by our older
people as Miss Emma Ridgley, sis-
ter of our genial townsman, F. W.
Ridgley. Mr. Ridgley and Mr.
and Mrs. Chris Hansen were pres-
ent at the funeral osbequies which
were held on Tuesday of last week.

(Taken from Marathon Republic)

He was married to Emma J.
Ridgley of Exira, Iowa - August 15,
1902. They began their happy
married live in Ireton, Iowa, where
Mr. Johnson held the position as
superintendent of the Ireton school.
In 1905 they moved to Sanborn,
Iowa where he held a similar posi-
tion. About 1909 the family moved
to Marathon and since that time
his live has been very unsettled ow-
ing to the ill health of his wife.
During the few years he lived here
he held the following positions:
For two years he was assistant
cashier of the National Bank. The
following year he became editor
and publisher of the Republic and
was also postmaster at that time.
He was elected mayor of the town
about nine months after he moved
here. He was a member of the
school board. He was a faithful
church man and a member of the
offical board. He spared no labor
or expense to help build the new
Methodist church of which he and
his wife were active members.

About 1915 he moved to his
farm two and one half miles south
of town in the hope of benefitting
his wife's health. For several
years fortune smiled upon them.
During his busy farm life he found
time to help on the county board
of education, and with Y. M. C. A.
work, besides his home church.

On January 2, 1923, he suffered
an attack of pleurisy and for a
few days was very sick but was
practically on the road to recovery
when the dread affliction, tetanus,
seized him and in spite of all that
medical skill could do, he suc-
cumbed to its ravages.

He leaves to mourn his sad de-
parture his wife, the adopted
daughter, Helen, aged 12, and the
little daughter, Doris, aged 6 be
sides his mother, two brothers and
three sisters.