"An Illustrated History of Whitman County, state of Washington." San Francisco:
W. H. Lever, 1901.  p. 273.
 
EDWARD JOHNSON

     Prominent among the leaders in Whitman county, both as an agriculturist, a
stockman and a financier, the subject of this sketch has wrought in this
capacity, with ever increasing prestige, while he has constantly maintained an
enviable reputation for moral integrity and a high place in the social world.
    He was born to John W. and Abigail (Smith) Johnson, in Pike county,
Illinois, in 1848. When one year of age he removed with his parents to Ray
county, Missouri, where he lived for sixteen years, obtaining the training
possible in the public schools. In 1866 the whole family crossed the plains with
ox-teams, consuming but four months and twenty days to make the trip from start
to their landing in Douglas county, Oregon, where they located. Here he was
occupied on his father's farm until he was twenty-one years of age, and then
took up the carpenter trade, which he followed for five years, succeeding which
he embarked in the stock business. He brought the first band of sheep north of
the Snake river, and the date of his advent into Whitman county was 1871, when
he homesteaded and pre-empted one-half section of land four miles north from
Almota. To this his industry has enabled him to add by purchase until he is now
the owner of a magnificent estate of two thousand and eight hundred acres. In
1876 he changed from sheep to cattle, the rearing of which, together with
farming, has occupied his attention since. He now owns one hundred and fifty
head of fine cattle. His farm is tastily and substantially improved with all the
fine outbuildings needful in handling it successfully, while he has an orchard
and residence that show marked skill and a spirit of advancement. In addition to
these enterprises, Mr. Johnson has found time to assist in operating some of the
leading financial institutions of the county, being director in the Second
National Bank of Colfax and also conducting some large mining affairs. Mr.
Johnson lives in Colfax, where he owns an elegant home.
     His marriage occurred in Douglas county, Oregon, in 1886, when Miss Fannie
Smith, a native of that state, became his bride. Mrs. Johnson is a member of the
Smith and Applegate families, pioneers of Oregon in 1840. Her father was all
through the Cayuse Indian war as well as the fight at Steptoe Butte. Mr. Johnson
is happily affiliated with the Masonic fraternity and also with the I. 0. 0. F.
He holds an enviable position throughout the county in the esteem and respect of
all, while his career of success and uprightness have made him a worthy example
for the rising generations.
 

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Submitted to the Washington Biographies Project in July 2009 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.