Herman
Johnson, a successful general merchant of Mount Olive and one of its
most reliable and progressive citizens, is a native of Montgomery
county, Illinois. He is of Teutonic descent on both sides of the family
and was born May 19, 1883, a son of John B. and Trientje (Rossmiller)
Johnson. The parents were both born in Germany and were reared in their
native land, coming to America after they had reached years of maturity.
The father engaged in farming for a number of years in Montgomery
county, Illinois, and in 1889 removed with his family to Mount Olive,
where he has since resided. He was born January 1, 1829, and is now in
His eighty-third year. In April, 1908, he suffered a stroke of
paralysis, which has greatly weakened him physically. The mother is
still living and has reached the age of seventy-five. They are both
devout members of the Evangelical-Lutheran church. Mr. Johnson has
given his support to the republican party but has never been an aspirant
for public office, preferring to devote his attention to his business
affairs in which he has met with a merited degree of success.
Herman Johnson attended the public schools and the Mount Olive high
school, later being a student for one year at the Central Wesleyan
College of Warrenton, Missouri. Returning from college, he became clerk
in the store of Linsky Brothers, of Mount Olive, for four years and six
months, and then resigned to engage in general mercantile business on
his own account, opening a store as proprietor on November 18, 1908. He
has shown excellent business ability and has attracted an extensive
patronage, being today recognized as one of the leading business men of
Mount Olive. He is also interested in the Wire Reinforced Harness &
Manufacturing Company of Mount Olive and is a stockholder of the Chanute
Brick & Tile Company of Chanute, Kansas.
On the 17th of
November, 1907, Mr. Johnson was married at Mount Olive to Miss Sophia
Grossenheider, a daughter of Herman Grossenheider. Her father is a
prosperous farmer residing in Cahokia township, five miles north of this
city. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are the parents of one child, Elmer, who was
born April 3, 1909.
Politically Mr. Johnson gives his support to
the republican party in national affairs but at local elections votes
for the candidate he considers best adapted to fill the office. He and
his wife are members of the Evangelical Lutheran church and can claim
many friends in Mount Olive and vicinity. He is a member of the Retail
Business Men’s Association and, being an upright and loyal citizen, may
always be depended upon to support the best interests of the community.
Extracted 15 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 400-403.
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