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Johnson, Sr., C. A. "Gus, Little Gus"

Sessions Served    Other Information

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.

Most recent term photo
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Total Days Served: 3630

SESSIONS SERVED

67th Legislative Session (1971-1972)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/5/1971
Body: House
District: 11A
Elected: 11/3/1970
Residence: Mankato
Term of Office: 1/4/1971 to 12/31/1972
Oath Date: 1/5/1971
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

66th Legislative Session (1969-1970)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/7/1969
Body: House
District: 11A
Elected: 11/5/1968
Residence: Mankato
Term of Office: 1/6/1969 to 1/3/1971
Oath Date: 1/7/1969
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
term photo
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65th Legislative Session (1967-1968)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/1967
Body: House
District: 11A
Elected: 11/8/1966
Residence: Mankato
Term of Office: 1/2/1967 to 1/5/1969
Oath Date: 1/3/1967
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

64th Legislative Session (1965-1966)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/5/1965
Body: House
District: 11
Elected: 11/3/1964
Residence: Mankato
Term of Office: 1/4/1965 to 1/1/1967
Oath Date: 1/5/1965
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

63rd Legislative Session (1963-1964)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/8/1963
Body: House
District: 11
Elected: 11/6/1962
Residence: Mankato
Term of Office: 1/24/1963 to 1/3/1965
Oath Date: 1/24/1963
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
Session Notes: He and Donald E. Swenson were originally tied 3,598 to 3,598. The two contestants agreed to settle the outcome by a flip of the coin and Swenson won. Johnson subsequently filed for a recount. After the recount he was declared the winner by 37 votes. 707 votes in Mankato were under dispute because the election judges numbered the ballots before giving them to the voters. Swenson would have won if the ballots had been thrown out by the judge. A judge determined the election judges had not willfully intended to violate the law and determined Johnson the winner.
term photo
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OTHER INFORMATION

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.

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