Calvin R. Johnson

CALVIN R. JOHNSON died at his residence in Washington, D.C., May 21, 1879, in the sixtieth year of his age. he was a native of Portage County, Ohio, in which State and Pennsylvania he spent his early life, coming to Iowa about a quarter of a century ago. He employed himself for the first few years after coming to this State in teaching principally, being eminently successful as a teacher, having taught in Ottumwa, Osceola and Hopeville.  In 1857 he began to take a prominent part in the affairs and history of Clarke County, having that year been elected to the office of county assessor. In 1858 he was elected clerk of the district Court, over M. R. Lamson, a very popular and efficient officer, by a majority of three votes, which office he filled one term with much honor and acceptance. In 1863 he was elected to the Legislature as representative from Clarke County, and served in that capacity for one term, taking a prominent part in the leading and exciting political measures incident to the turbulent scenes of the great war of the rebellion.  He had during that year entered the military branch of the service of his country, going out as Captain of Company H, Ninth Iowa Cavalry. It was during the summer of 1864, in the State of Arkansas, that he contracted the disease which clung to him with remarkable tenacity all the weary days of his life, until finally, after fifteen years of almost incessant suffering he yielded to the inexorable demands of the grim monster, death.  Mr. Johnson was connected with the pension department at the time of his death, and had been for the last thirteen years of his life. He was a man of fine business capacity – fully competent for any position to which he was ever called. He was also a man of more than ordinary ability as a speaker, being thoroughly posted in all the leading moral, political, scientific and religious questions of the day. His mind was well disciplined, and with a ready flow of the most expressive language he was at once ready to discuss, intelligently, privately or publicly, any of the leading issues of the times in which he lived.  He left to mourn his loss a wife and daughter in Washington, and five sons in Iowa, and a daughter in Maryland; also many warm friends in this community and throughout the county.

SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Record of Clarke County, Iowa, Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1886 p. 434