John A. Johnson, BiographyPorter County biographical sketches . . . .
Transcribed biography of John A. Johnson
JOHN A. JOHNSON. That every man is the maker of his own fortune is a truth of universal recognition. Pluck, not luck, determines for the most part to what degree the individual will succeed, and investigation shows that the majority of successful men in our country are men who have had to struggle for what they have achieved. The successful business career of Mr. Johnson is but another illustration of what a young man of integrity and courage may accomplish if he has a capacity for business and is willing to strike hard blows.
Born in Porter county, Indiana, on January 13, 1868, he is a son of Oliver and Sophia Johnson, both of whom were natives of Sweden and the latter of whom was Miss Isbey prior to her marriage. He was but four years of age when death deprived him of the loving and provident care of a father, and when ten years of age he began to work for P. A. Johnson. Until about seventeen years old his youthful days were spent in attending the public schools of Chesterton and in assisting in duties about the store of his employer. After leaving school he continued to he employed in the store of the elder Mr. Johnson for about eighteen years. Then he and his brother F. E. Johnson formed a partnership under the firm style of J. A. Johnson & Brother, and with the limited funds at their command purchased a small stock of goods for a general store. That was the beginning of their striving and well-stocked department store of today. Both partners are recognized as reliable, substantial and enterprising business men whose accuracy of business methods and fair dealing have drawn to them a large trade and who while building up one of the most prosperous business enterprises of Chesterton have advanced not only their own prosperity but the commercial standing of the whole county as well. Besides this department store they are the owners of other good realty holdings in Chesterton and have a farm of sixty-eight acres in Westchester township, which is largely devoted to the raising of hay and to stockraising.
The wife of Mr. Johnson was Miss Mary Gustafson prior to her marriage and was born in Sweden in 1874. To this marriage have been born one son and two daughters, namely: Oliver, whose birth occurred in 1895 and who is now a second year high school student; Eveline, now twelve years old (1912) and a pupil in the Chesterton public schools; and Dortha, who is but two years old.
Mr. Johnson is a member of Chesterton Lodge, No. 442, Knights of Pythias, and both he and his brother are members of the Maccabees. In political views and affiliation he is a Republican but has never taken any part in political affairs. Mr. Johnson has forged to the front in spite of early disadvantages, and by perseverance, determination and tireless energy has builded a success of which he may well be proud and one that well entitles him to a place on the roster of Porter county's leading business men.
Source: Lewis Publishing Company. 1912. History of Porter County, Indiana: A Narrative Account of its Historical Progress, its People and its Principal Interests. Chicago, Illinois: Lewis Publishing Company. 881 p.
Page(s) in Source: 808-809
This biography has been transcribed exactly as it was originally published in the source. Please note that we do not provide photocopies or digital scans of biographies appearing on this website.
Biography transcribed by Steven R. Shook