A Narrative History of The People of Iowa with SPECIAL TREATMENT OF THEIR CHIEF ENTERPRISES IN EDUCATION, RELIGION, VALOR, INDUSTRY, BUSINESS, ETC. by EDGAR RUBEY HARLAN, LL. B., A. M. Curator of the Historical, Memorial and Art Department of Iowa Volume IV THE AMERICAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Inc. Chicago and New York 1931 RAYMOND E. JOHNSON is measuring up to the full responsibilities involved in directing the fiscal affairs of his native state, and is giving a most efficient and popular administration as state treasurer of Iowa. Mr. Johnson was born at Wilton Junction, Muscatine County, Iowa, on the 26th of March, 1886, and is a scion of th third generation of families that were founded in the Hawkeye State in the pioneer period of its history, as is evident when it is noted that his father, Silas L. Johnson, was born in Cedar County, and his mother, Nellie (Bell) Johnson, in Scott County. Silas L. Johnson is the earlier stage of his active career was engaged in the cattle business at Wilton Junction, and thereafter he served fully twenty years as cashier of the American Savings Bank at Muscatine, in which city both he and his wife continued to reside until their death. Of their five children Raymond E., of this review, is the eldest of the three surviving; Bessie L. is the wife of Robert R. Vernon, who is now a member of the faculty of the college conducted by the Y. M. C. A. in the City of Chicago, he having been graduated from Morningside College at Sioux City, Iowa; Mildred is the wife of Frederick Wollett, a traveling salesman, and they reside in teh City of Peoria, Illinois. The late Silas L. Johnson was a Republican in political alignment, and he was county treasurer of Muscatine County during the period of 1894-1900. He was affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, and both he and his wife were earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His father, Paul W. Johnson, was born and reared in Ohio, and became one of the substantial pioneer farmers of Cedar County, Iowa. paul W. Johnson was a son of William Griffith Johnson, who likewise was born in Ohio, and who was a representative of one of the early pioneer families of that commonwealth. The family name of his wife was Drake, and their marriage was solemnized in 1779. Thomas Bell, maternal grandfather of the present state treasurer of Iowa, was born in the State of New York, came to Iowa in the '50s, and here reclaimed and developed one of the productive farm estates of Scott County. In the Muscatine public schools Raymond E. Johnson continued his studies until the had duly profited by the advantages of the high school. In 1908 he was appointed deputy treasurer of Muscatine County, and in 1910 he was made county treasurer, an office he retained until 1920, he having served five consecutive terms and his resignation having occurred when he accepted the office of secretary of the state executive council of Iowa, a position he retained from February 1, 1920, until January 1, 1925, when he resigned to assume his present office of state treasurer, in which he is now serving his third term and he has been renominated for reelection in the autumn of 1930. Virtually the entire active career of Mr. Johnson has been one of close association with fiscal affairs, and his record has been one of loyalty, efficiency and consecutive advancement, showing that he has well merited the popular confidence that has retained him in executive service of this order. Incidentally he has been active in political affairs in his native state during a period of somewhat more than twenty years. He has been influential in the councils and campaign work of the Republican party of Iowa, he and his wife are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in the Masonic fraternity he is affiliated with both York and Scottish Rite bodies, as well as the Mystic Shrine. He is a past eminent commander of DeMolay Commandery No. 1 of Knights Templar at Muscatine, this being one of the oldest commanderies in the state, and he is affiliated also with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Improved Order of Red Men. May 22, 1907, recorded the marriage of Mr. Johnson and Miss Edna I. Ryan, of Grandview, Louisa County, she being a daughter of Charles H. and Nettie (Lockwood) Ryan, who now reside at Muscatine, where the father is living retired, he having been born in Pennsylvania and having long been a resident of Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have two children: Charles S. is twenty-one years of age and is assistant state bank examiner, and Janet, seventeen years of age, is a student in the Des Moines High School. Debbie Clough Gerischer _http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/index.htm_ (http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/index.htm) _http://iagenweb.org/history/index.htm_ (http://iagenweb.org/history/index.htm) _http://gerischer.rootsweb.com/_ (http://gerischer.rootsweb.com/)