Johnson, Sr., C. A. "Gus, Little Gus"
House 1963-66 (District 11); House 1967-72 (District 11A)
Party when first elected: Nonpartisan Election-Independent
Counties Served:
Blue Earth
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth:
8/18/1893 (uncertain)
Birth Place:
Birth County:
Birth Country:
Date of Death:
5/3/1977
Gender:
Male
Religion:
Lutheran
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
Gus, Little Gus
City of Residence (when first elected):
Mankato
Occupation (when first elected):
Lawyer, Law Firm with His Son Charles/Former Teacher, Lake Crystal Country and City Schools, Couple Years
EDUCATION
Lake Crystal High School; Secondary; Graduate, 1913
Mankato Normal School; Attended College; Teaching
Hamline University; Attended College; One Year
University of Minnesota, Law School; Law Degree; 1920
OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
Municipal Attorney:
Various Villages, Cities, and Townships, Minnesota;
19?? to 19??
Military:
United States Army (World War I);
1917 to 19??
County Attorney:
Blue Earth, Minnesota;
1930 to 1938
[Elected]
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
Spouse:
Susie Mullenix (married in 1920, she died in 1929); Bernice Schwanke (remarried in 1931; divorced in 1939, she died in 1948); Anne Ehlman (remarried in 1941; she died on January 13, 1974)
Children:
Three children: Charles A., and Carl A. (sons); Brenda M. (daughter)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
GENERAL NOTES
"Firmly declaring his independence, the man known affectionately as 'Little Gus' stated he would 'do the best I can for the City of Mankato and the state, neither controlled by, nor dictated to, by either party.'" ("Colorful Ex-Legislator 'Gus' Johnson Dies." Mankato Free Press, May 3, 1977, p. 1)
He was a member of the American Legion, the Masonic Lodge, the Elks, the Moose Lodge, and the Eagles Lodge.
He died at a nursing home in Lake Crystal, Minnesota. His funeral was held at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Mankato, Minnesota. He was buried in the Lake Crystal Cemetery.
He was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Mankato, Minnesota.
Religion provided by his obituary.
Body: House
District: 11A
Elected: 11/3/1970
Residence: Mankato
Term of Office: 1/5/1971 to 1/1/1973
Counties Represented:
Blue Earth
Occupation: Lawyer, Law Firm with His Son Charles
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Committees:
-
Appropriations
-
City Government
-
Crime Prevention (Chair)
-
Higher Education
-
Judiciary
Ran in next election? Yes. Defeated in general election
Body: House
District: 11A
Elected: 11/5/1968
Residence: Mankato
Term of Office: 1/7/1969 to 1/4/1971
Counties Represented:
Blue Earth
Occupation: Lawyer, Law Firm with His Son Charles
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Committees:
-
Appropriations
-
Cities of the Second and Third Class
-
Governmental Operations
-
Health and Welfare
-
Higher Education
-
Highways
-
Judiciary
Body: House
District: 11A
Elected: 11/8/1966
Residence: Mankato
Term of Office: 1/3/1967 to 1/6/1969
Counties Represented:
Blue Earth
Occupation: Lawyer, Law Firm with His Son Charles
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Committees:
-
Appropriations
-
Civil Administration
-
Health and Welfare
-
Highways
-
Judiciary
-
University and College
Elected: 11/3/1964
Residence: Mankato
Term of Office: 1/5/1965 to 1/2/1967
Counties Represented:
Blue Earth
Occupation: Lawyer, Law Firm with His Son Charles
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Independent
Committees:
-
Civil Administration
-
Drainage and Soil Conservation
-
Health and Welfare
-
Highways
-
Judiciary
-
State and Junior Colleges
Elected: 11/6/1962
Residence: Mankato
Term of Office: 1/24/1963 to 1/4/1965
Counties Represented:
Blue Earth
Occupation: Lawyer, Law Firm with His Son Charles/Former Teacher, Lake Crystal Country and City Schools, Couple Years
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Independent
Party Notes: "Firmly declaring his independence, the man known affectionately as 'Little Gus' stated he would 'do the best I can for the City of Mankato and the state, neither controlled by, nor dictated to, by either party.'" ("Colorful Ex-Legislator 'Gus' Johnson Dies." Mankato Free Press, May 3, 1977, p. 1)
Committees:
-
Civil Administration
-
Elections and Reapportionment
-
Health and Welfare
-
Highways
-
Judiciary
-
State and Junior Colleges
Articles & Books About
Berg, Ken E. "The Peacemaker (Obituary)." Mankato Free Press, May 9, 1977.
"C. Johnson, Ex-Legislator, Dies at 85 (Obituary)." Minneapolis Tribune, May 4, 1977.
"Gus Johnson a Hard Act to Follow (Obituary)." Mankato Free Press, May 4, 1977, p. 20.
"Legislator 'Little Gus' Dies at 85 (Obituary)." St. Paul Pioneer Press Dispatch, May 4, 1977.
"Colorful Ex-Legislator 'Gus' Johnson Dies (Obituary)." Mankato Free Press, May 3, 1977, p. 1, 2.
These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.