Merced County Biographies

LEWIS R. JOHNSON

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

 
        As a real estate and insurance broker, Lewis R. Johnson is adding his 
share to the business life of the city of Merced, where he ranks among the 
representative citizens. On September 27, 1878, he was born in Niles, Mich., a 
son of Hiram R. and Almeda (Simms) Johnson. Hiram R. Johnson was a railroad man 
and passed away when our subject was fourteen years old; the mother is still 
living, making her home in California. Lewis R. Johnson attended school up to 
the tenth grade, in Niles, Mich:, then took a business course, after which he 
became bookkeeper for the Ohio Paper Company in his native city, where he 
remained for six months. Then he volunteered for service during the 
Spanish-American War, and was a member of Company I, 33rd Michigan Volunteer 
Infantry. His service covered the period from May, 1898, to January, 1899, and 
he was in action at Santiago de Cuba, West Indies; while in service he 
contracted an illness and was sent home to recuperate, which required about one 
year. He then entered the employ of the New York Central Railroad Company; for 
the first five years he was a fireman, then for two years an engineer.
        In the fall of 1905, Mr. Johnson came to California and located at 
Merced, where for two years he succeeded as a truck gardener. He then took the 
civil service examination and when rural route No. 2 was established he was put 
on as carrier; during this time he was elected and served as chairman of the 
Republican County Central Committee. In the fall of 1909 he was elected auditor 
of Merced County, was reelected in 1913, and served two terms with marked 
ability and satisfaction to the voters of the county. After completing his term 
of office as auditor he removed to Stockton, Cal., where for a year and a half 
he was in the tire business, which he later sold and returned to Merced and 
engaged in his present business, which has gradually increased since its 
inception.
        The marriage of Mr. Johnson united him with Miss Edith E. Pickard, of 
Indiana, and four children have been born to them: Lonetta, Leonore, Frances and 
Harold. Mr. Johnson is a stanch Republican and fraternally is identified with 
the Woodmen of the World and the U. P. E. C. of Merced.
 
History of Merced County, California � Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1925
page 878-879