JOHN C. JOHNSON. Honesty and stability of character are the foundation stone of a young man’s life, and in the formative period, when fitting himself for the battle of life, with those attributes of character, together with a fair measure of ambition, one is sure to arrive at the goal of his desires. Mr. Johnson is a native son of Madison County, Indiana, and has here resided all his life, His days here have been as an open volume to the citizens of Van Buren Township and the contiguous territory, and the people of his Township have conferred upon him the highest honor in official position in their gift,-that of Township trustee, The supervision of the schools, highways, bridges, etc,, and all pertaining to the interest and welfare of the Township have received his closest attention, and now, in the winter of 1913-14, his friends and acquaintances have solicited him to become a candidate on the Democratic ticket for the office of County clerk, and with straightforward honesty he is making the canvass, his candidacy seeming to meet the approbation of all.
A man of a jovial, kind and social nature, he makes friends easily and holds them steadfastly, and it is the expectation of many that Ike will carry the election at the head of his ticket, As one who thoroughly understands the requirements of modern education, he has already shown himself the champion of the local schools, and has used his best efforts to promote the efficiency of the local system.
John C. Johnson was born on the Joseph Johnson farm in section twenty-two on the ninth of November, 1877, His parents were Joseph and Elizabeth (Allen) Johnson, Joseph Johnson married Miss Allen in Hancock County, and then brought his young wife to Madison County in 1869, where he bought land in Van Buren Township, Successful as a farmer, he was also a man of more than ordinary local influence, He was twice elected Township trustee of Van Buren Township, and was always a willing worker in any community enterprise. His death occurred April 7, 1908, and he is buried in the cemetery of the Odd Fellows south of Summitville one and one-half miles, There were thirteen children in the family, whose names were: Manson N., Minerva J.; Jesse A.; Daniel M.; Mary E., who died May 28, 1910; Lewis W.; Etta L.; Amanda L.; John C.; Della A.; Pearl A.; James M. and Sarah C. The three last named are now deceased.
John C. Johnson spent his youthful days on the home farm of his parents in Van Buren Township, and as a boy first went to the old Zedekar schoolhouse No, 4, in Van Buren Township, For one year he was in the Summitville high school, and completed his education with one term of study in the Fairmount Academy in Grant County. It was his ambition to become a member of the legal profession, and with that end in view entered in 1896 upon a course of law studies under the able instructions of the Hon, Thomas Bagot, an honorable and successful lawyer, But ill health at that time intervened in the carrying out of this cherished desire and he returned to the farm. In the intervals of his school training Mr. Johnson worked on the farm, and was thoroughly trained for farm life and systematic business principles, Farming has been his regular vocation, and the cause of his most telling prosperity, He has a well improved eighty in section fifteen of Van Buren Township, though he does not maintain his residence on the home place for he moved into Summitville on November 7, 1907, where he has an attractive and comfortable home with his mother.
His election to the office of trustee, already referred to, came in 1908, and he has held the office up to the present time, Fraternally he is affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks No, 478, the Improved Order of Red Men, No, 149, and the A. F. & A. M., No, 691, His family are members and attendants of the Primitive Baptist church.