Paul L. Johnson

As printed in 1910

PAUL LAWRENCE JOHNSON.

Paul Lawrence Johnson is one of the prominent men of Bishop Hill whose business methods in the conduct of a hardware store of which he is proprietor commend him to the confidence and support of the general public. Energetic and enterprising, he seeks success along well defined lines of trade and commerce, A native son of Bishop Hill, he was born June 22, 1861. His father, John B. Johnson, long known as the giant of the colony, was born in Obgermanland, Sweden, in 1814, and came to this country with a band of Jansenists who established the

Bishop Hill colony. While the colony existed in its original form he engaged in wagon making, but when village organization was adopted he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, continuing in the work of the fields until his death, which occurred in 1891, when he was seventy-seven years of age. His size and physical strength when he was in his prime won him large renown, for he was six feet four inches in height and it is chronicled that at one time he lifted a dead weight of thirteen hundred and sixty-five pounds. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Brita Johnson, was born in Bolnas, Helsingland, Sweden, in 1827. She crossed the Atlantic at the same time as did Mr. Johnson, becoming a member of the Bishop Hill colony, and died in this village in 1903 at the age of seventy-six years.

Paul L. Johnson was educated in the Bishop Hill schools and through private instruction in the higher branches, especially in mathematics. He worked upon the home farm until 1882, when he married and at the same time started in business life for himself. Taking up the occupation to which he had been reared, he at first rented a tract of land but later purchased a farm. For eight years he carried on general agricultural pursuits and in that time cultivated three hundred and twenty acres. In 1890, however, he sold his farm property and removed to Bishop Hill where he opened a blacksmith and general repair shop, for the success which he had previously enjoyed in conducting a repair shop while engaged in farming led him to the belief that he might win a still larger measure of prosperity if his entire attention were given to the work. A short time after his removal to the village he extended the scope of his business by adding a small line of tinware and gradually increased his stock to include hardware, stoves and kindred lines until today he has one of the best equipped stores of the kind in the county, carrying an extensive stock of farm implements, heavy hardware, tinware, clocks and silverware. Acting upon his motto "What you don't see, ask for," he has usually been able to supply the wants of his customers and the business, established upon a small scale, has gradually developed in the past two decades until his sales are estimated at fifteen thousand dollars a year.

In addition to his store and business property Mr. Johnson also owns other real estate including two dwellings in the village. His own home, in the midst of spacious grounds on the south side of the village, is frequently pointed out to visitors as being one of the handsomest in this part of the township. Mr. Johnson, displaying marked skill in cabinet-making, has designed and constructed many of the admirable and attractive pieces of furniture and the interior decorations which adorn his home. The dining room in particular is worthy of note, being entirely finished in black walnut which was taken from the pews and gallery of the old Colony church. The house is equipped with all modern conveniences, even to a private gas plant which Mr. Johnson installed, and its location is a most attractive one.

Mr. Johnson is also well known because of the merit he has displayed along literary and musical lines. For a number of years he was the Bishop Hill correspondent for the Galva Standard, and his contributions to that paper, which are well remembered for their fearless, plain-spoken style, greatly increased its subscription list in his section of the county. Ever a over of music, he plays several instruments, principally for his own amusement. For some years, however.

he was organist of the Colony church and has been musical director of the Swedish Methodist Episcopal church, leading its choir on special occasions.

]Mr. Johnson has been married twice. In 1882, at Bishop Hill, he wedded Miss Amanda Johnson, a daughter of IMartin Johnson, who in his day was one of the leading residents here. Mrs. Johnson died in 1887, at the age of twenty-four years, leaving three sons, Roswell M., Clarence R. and Leroy F., who are now twenty-six, twenty-four and twenty-two years of age, respectively. In 1890 Mr. Johnson married Miss Emma A. Olson, a daughter of Olaf Olson, now deceased, who was a farmer of Henry county and one of the veterans of the Civil war. He was born in Alfta, Sweden, July 13, 1843, died at his home south of Bishop Hill, April 19, 1904. He came to America with his parents in 1849, the journey from the old country taking four months. Mrs. Mary Olson, the mother of Mrs. Johnson, was born December 27, 1846, and was the first white child born at Bishop Hill. Both Mr. and Mrs. Olson were long members of the Bishop Hill colony. Mrs. Johnson was born May 19, 1868, and acquired her education in the common schools and in the Galva high school. She afterward engaged in teaching for several years prior to her marriage, being employed as primary teacher in the Bishop Hill school for three years.

Politically Mr. Johnson is allied with the democratic party, being strongly opposed to the tariff. In 1888 he made a strong race for the position of county clerk. Henry county is normally republican by a majority of three thousand, but on the occasion of his candidacy he was defeated by a majority of only four hundred and fifty votes, his large support being an indication of the high regard in which he is held, even by those who differ from him in their political sympathies. He has held all of the village offices, including that of president of the board, and is now one of the trustees, having continuously served on the board, with the exception of two years, since becoming a resident of the town. He is also school treasurer of Weller township at the present time. In all the relations of life, business, political or social, he has maintained such a high standard of honor and integrity that he has won the respect, good will and confidence of those who, through daily intercourse with him, have come to know him well.

As printed in History of Henry County, Illinois (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.