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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
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 3630

    SESSIONS SERVED

    67th Legislative Session (1971-1972)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 11A
    Elected: 11/3/1970
    Residence: Mankato
    Term of Office: 1/4/1971 to 12/31/1972
    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
    Body: House
    District: 11A
    Elected: 11/5/1968
    Residence: Mankato
    Term of Office: 1/6/1969 to 1/3/1971
    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
    term photo
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    65th Legislative Session (1967-1968)

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

    64th Legislative Session (1965-1966)

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

    63rd Legislative Session (1963-1964)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 11
    Elected: 11/6/1962
    Residence: Mankato
    Term of Office: 1/24/1963 to 1/3/1965
    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
    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.
    These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

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