Johnson, Nebraska History

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The history of Johnson begins in 1861, when Julius A. Johnson received a land grant from the federal government for 160 acres of prairie land. The town actually began about one-half mile east of its present location, where a store was built. The store was also used as a dwelling and post office. Alonzo J. Wright was the first appointed postmaster and assumed his duties on February25, 1873.

A small one-room school was located about one-half mile east of the store. Called the Johnson Country School it was a community-meeting place for church services, spelling bees, etc.

The Burlington Railroad from Tecumseh to Auburn was built in 1881 and the railroad and the Lincoln Land Company choose the present site of Johnson. Land was purchased from Julius B. Johnson and Joseph Miller and the town was laid out with four streets running east and west on the north side of the tracks and five streets running north and south. The coming of the railroad was a financial godsend for the settlers. Many local people were hired for $1.00 per day with their teams. They did most of the earth moving. Meat and other supplies were purchased locally. The infusion of money saved the community much hardship because of recent drought and grasshopper plagues.

I. H. Clagget built the first store ion the corner of Second and Main Streets. It was a two-story frame building known as "The Old Pioneer Building". Dr. Welford became the first doctor in Johnson when he moved into a tent near the railroad depot.

In 1882 the railroad was completed and a permanent depot was built north of the tracks at First and Walnut Streets. The town was also incorporated in 1882. Some of the town settlers during Johnson's early days were: Fred Kiechel, George Vorhies, J. H. (Hebe) Stone, Adam Wagner, John Snodgrass, Frank Stuck, Albert Jewel, John Wirick, Robert Fugate, Simon Hageman, Fred Parker, George Dominey, William Clarke, Daniel Casey, Elbert Case, and Joseph Miller.

Mrs. Hoadley opened the first drug store in 1882. A two-story building, known as Simpson's Hall, was built on the southeast corner of Second and Main Streets. The ground floor was used for flour and feed and the upstairs contained a large room that was used for church services and other meetings. Charley Bright opened a blacksmith shop, L. D. Fletcher and Joseph Moren a feed mill, and the Methodist Society was organized in 1882. Also, the first grain elevator was built by John Bousfield. Later operators of the elevator included: William Furguson, George Coryell, Herman Torbeck, H. Elmer Meyer, and Clarke Grain Company.

1884 found Mr. and Mrs. S. T. Payne operating a two-story hotel; Loren D. Fletcher a hardware, furniture, implements, harness, and undertaking business; a new two-room school was built near where the present school is located; the Duff Grain Company built an elevator on the corner of First and Main Streets; a stock yards was constructed east of the depot on the north side of the tracks; and Dr. Van Camp moved to Johnson and opened his office on the west side of Main Street.

The Christian Church organized and met in the Methodist Church until they built their own in 1896. The congregation disbanded in 1913.

D. D. Adams moved from Brownville to Johnson in 1886 and opened a drug store. One year later he installed the first soda fountain. 1887 was the year that the Johnson Pioneer Ball team was the state champion. The team consisted of: Charles Bright, Ed Ewing, John Young, Jim Hickey, George Miller, William Newkirk, George Hickey, Clarence Ewing, George Vandemark, John Wirick, and C. N. (Nip) Hickey.

The Johnson News began publishing in 1890 with Ralph Criswell and Charley Poole as the first editors. Several individuals owned the paper over the years until it was sold to Jack Vol me in 1940 and he moved it to Auburn and merged with the Nemaha County Herald. By 1892 Johnson was being served by two freight trains and two passenger trains daily.

The first brick building was constructed in 1892 when Peter Berlet opened Johnson's first bank, The German National Bank. In 1916 the bank became known as the First State Bank. It was liquidated in 1948. A Baptist church was dedicated in the fall of 1892. A dwindling congregation caused it to disband in 1919. 

The first jail was built in 1893. The Evangelical Church was organized in 1894, dedicated a church building in 1900, and disbanded in 1906 selling the building to the St. Matthew's Lutheran Congregation.

In 1896 the volunteer fire department was organized. The Farmer's Institute began in 1897 and helped to bring farmers up to date on the latest developments in agriculture. Johnson's population reached 400 in 1900.

The First National Bank was organized in 1906 with Daniel Casey as president. In 1908 the bank moved into its new brick building on the southwest corner of Second and Main Streets, the present site. Also, in 1906, St. Matthew's Lutheran Church was organized by several families from the Hickory Grove and Stone Church congregations.

The first electric generating plant was installed in 1913 by Ed Bartels. Electricity was shut off at 11 pm each night. The Johnson Bender Reese American Legion Post #330 was organized in 1919 and obtained a permanent charter in 1923. A new school building was completed in 1936.

The first street to be paved was Main Street in 1942. The Johnson Chamber of Commerce was first organized in October of 1949. The sewer system was installed in 1956. Another new school building was added in 1957 after the consolidation often-rural districts with the Johnson district.

Many of the early towns have passed on, victims of modern modes of transportation and our ever-changing society, but Johnson has endured for over one hundred years with a relatively stable population of 300-400. Undoubtedly one of the reasons for Johnson's longevity is the fact that concern for the town's existence reaches far beyond the city limits and includes many descendants of the hardy pioneers that laid the foundation for a successful community.

Copied from the Nemaha County History Book with permission