James Johnson (1855-1929)

Farmer and grain dealer, municipal official, MLA (1896-1899), MLA (1900-1903), MLA (1903-1907), MLA (1908-1910), MLA (1911-1914), MLA (1914-1915).

Born at Mitchell, Ontario on 18 November 1855, son of John and Martha Johnson, he was educated the Mitchell public school then he farmed in Fullerton Township, Perth Company, Ontario from 1877 to 1882. At this point, he came to Manitoba and took up farming near Boissevain. He was also President of the Boissevain Land Company. He served as councillor and Reeve (1887-1888) of the Rural Municipality of Riverside, councillor and Reeve (1897) of the Rural Municipality of Morton, and councillor and Mayor of Boissevain. He was a member of Hugh John Macdonald’s short-lived provincial government, serving as Speaker from 1903 until the defeat of the Roblin government in 1915.

In 1879, he married Susannah Oliver (1856-?) of Mitchell, Ontario. They had three sons: Edwin Thomas Johnson (b 1880), John Bainbridge Johnson (b 1884), and Albert Oliver Johnson (b 1891). He was a member of the Masons.

He died at Boissevain on 6 February 1929 and was buried there.

Sources:

1901 Canada census, Automated Genealogy.

Who’s Who in Western Canada: A Biographical Dictionary of Notable Living Men and Women of Western Canada, Volume 1, 1911. C. W. Parker, editor. Canadian Press Association, Vancouver.

“James Johnson dies of flu at Boissevain”, Manitoba Free Press, 7 February 1929, page 10.

Funeral notice, Manitoba Free Press, 8 February 1929, page 4.

Profile revised: 10 November 2009

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