WI BIO - Dane Co - JOHNSON, Charles T.
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol II, pp 537-538

Among the many young men who have contributed by their energy and 
ability to the growth and prosperity of Stoughton, Dane County, WI, none is 
more worthy of mention than our subject, who is doing a thriving business in 
dry goods, carpets, millinery, and boots and shoes, at Stoughton. Charles T. 
JOHNSON was born in Pleasant Spring Township, Dane County, WI, [p 538] 28 Jul 
1864. His parents, Matthew and Olivia (JOHNSON) JOHNSON, were both natives 
of Norway, and came to America in youth, the father when seventeen years of 
age, settling in Janesville [Rock County], WI; and the mother at the age of 
ten years, settling in Christiana Township, Dane County, WI.

Matthew JOHNSON, who had learned the trade of a merchant tailor in his native 
country, followed that occupation after coming to America. He settled in 
Stoughton in 1850, where he continued his employment as a tailor, and in 1875 
opened a dry goods store. He was at the same time engaged in farming and was 
the pioneer wool and tobacco buyer of Stoughton. He carried on these several 
industries with success, being a man of unusual ability and energy, and left, 
at his death, a comfortable inheritance to his family. Matthew JOHNSON died 
05 Jan 1882, lamented by all who knew him as a man of sterling qualities and 
generous impulses.

His son, Charles T. JOHNSON, the subject of this sketch, received a 
preliminary education in the high school of Stoughton, and in 1881 entered 
the Beloit College [Beloit, Rock County, WI], at which he took a full course 
of study. After his father's death, he assumed charge of the dry goods 
business, which he has ever since successfully conducted, doing business 
under the firm name of Charles T. Johnson & Company. Besides this Mr. 
JOHNSON is also interested in the Stoughton Wagon Company, the Electric Light 
Company, and the U. S. Manufacturing Company, all of which are prosperous 
enterprises and have yielded him profitable returns.

Politically Charles T. JOHNSON is a Prohibitionist, strongly favoring the 
principles of that party. He is a useful member of the Lutheran church of 
his city and is President of the Young Men's Christian Association of the 
same place. Aside from the honored name and comfortable inheritance into the 
possession of which Mr. JOHNSON entered by reason of his father's abilities 
and thrift, he has inherited qualities which alone would have gained for him 
financial success and the respect of all honorable men.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly