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 VERON JOHNSON. Aside from any distinction which may attach to him as a member of one of the pioneer families of Fremont County, Vernon Johnson, of Sidney, has gained prominence as one of the leading members of the legal profession of the county, and at various times has been the incumbent of official positions in which he has shown marked executive capacity, being at present president of the school board of Sidney. He is a man of broad views and practical principles, which combine to make him a valuable and constructive citizen. Mr. Johnson was born on the old home farm in Fremont County, June 2, 1881, and is a son of L. L. and Viola Jane (Carr) Johnson. His paternal grandfather was John Nelson Johnson, who was born in North Carolina, where he was reared and educated, and in young manhood took up a homestead in Fremont County, where he passed the remainder of his life, dying in 1866. Mr. Johnson was a man of great industry and accumulated some 1,500 acres of land, which, in those early days, was taxed at only twelve dollars. L. L. Johnson was born in the same house in which his son was later to be born, in 1859, and passed all of his active career as an agriculturist in Fremont County, although he is now retired and living at Minneapolis, Minnesota. He has always been active in the Presbyterian Church. A Republican in his political views, he had the full confidence of his fellow citizens and for seventeen years served in the capacity of township assessor. Mr. johnson married Viola Jane Carr, who was born at Wayne, Indiana, a daughter of John Carr who was born in Virginia, and went thence to Indiana, following which he came to Iowa about 1866 and spent the rest of his life in farming in Fremont County. Mrs. Johnson also survives, and she and her husband are th parents of six children: Vernon, of this review; Dr. W. C., who is engaged in the practice of surgery at Los Angeles, California; Dr. C. O., a veterinary surgeon of Silver City, Iowa; Hon. Clyde C., a prominent member of the bench and bar of Columbia Heights, Minnesota; Dell, who is connected with the Iowa State Highway Commission; and James W., of Ames, Iowa, one of the chief engineers of the department of materials and tests. The early education of Vernon Johnson was acquired in the country schools of Fremont County, following which he took a course in the high school at Thurman, and following his graduation was principal of the public schools of Hastings, Iowa. After three years he entered the law department of the Iowa State University from which he was graduated in 1913, and in 1914 commenced practice at Sidney. In the same year he was elected county attorney, and held that office from 1915 for six years, at the end of which time he resumed private practice, in which he continued to be engaged with constantly growing success. Mr. Johnson is recognized as a reliable and capable lawyer, who has a high standing in his profession, and is a member of the Fremont County Bar Association, the Iowa State Bar Association and the American Bar Association. In addition to his extensive practice he has a number of other interests and is a member of the board of directors of the Fremont County Savings Bank of Sidney. His religious connection is with the Presbyterian Church, of which he has been a trustee for several years. Fraternally Mr. Johnson is a York Rite Mason and Shriner and a member of the Knights of Pythias. A Republican in his political allegiance, he has long been active in his party, and was a member of the central committee thereof in 1920. At present he is serving capably as president of the school board of Sidney, and during the World war was food administrator for Fremont County, and active in all the drives. In June, 1907, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage with Miss Margaret M. Hixson, who was born and educated at Memphis, Missouri, and is a daughter of L. W. Hixson, who spent his life in agricultural pursuits in Missouri. They have no children. 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/)