Born January 23, 1835, at Ellicottville, New York, and received his educational training in the district schools and in academies at Springville and Fredonia, New York. He attended one term at Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island. In July 1860, he came to Waterloo, where he resided almost continuously. During the first years he was engaged in the grain and lumber business and, in connection with C. A. Farwell, built the first grain elevator erected in Waterloo. He was also engaged in the grain business at Independence, Iowa, where he made his home for a few months, owning the first elevator in that city. Mr. Johnson was also engaged for one year in the grain commission business in Chicago and was a member of the Chicago Board of Trade, having his family and home in Evanston. In 1864, he established the first bank in Bremer County, Iowa, at Waverly, owning it until 1870, when he sold out to a stock company and returned to Waterloo, to enter the partnership of Leavitt, Johnson & Lusch, private bankers. In 1876, the firm became Leavitt & Johnson and so continued until 1898, when it was organized into The Leavitt & Johnson National Bank. In 1902, Mr. Johnson organized The Waterloo Savings Bank, owning two-thirds of the stock. In 1901, The Leavitt & Johnson Trust Company was organized to conduct the farm loan part of the business which had formerly been done by the banking firm of Leavitt & Johnson, and to this Emmons Johnson devoted his time. In 1898, he purchased Mr. Leavitt's entire interest in The Leavitt & Johnson Trust Company. In 1903, Mr. Johnson purchased capital stock in the First National Bank of Waverly. Mr. Johnson is the holder of considerable real estate in Waterloo, and is greatly interested in the welfare of the community; he was always a liberal supporter of every public enterprise and takes great pride in the progress of the city. On October 27, 1859, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Lucy Leland, of Morrisville, New York. She and Mr. Johnson had six children. Mrs. Johnson died in February, 1892. Mr. Johnson was again married in March, 1895, to Mrs. Ella H. C. Kellogg, of Rochester, New York. Socially, Mr. Johnson is a Mason; religiously, he is a Congregationalist, and politically, a Republican. During Mr. Johnson's residence in Waverly, he was elected a member of the Iowa State Senate, which position he resigned on his removal to Waterloo in 1871.
History of Black Hawk County, Iowa Ed. by Isaiah Van Metre. Chicago: Biographical Pub. Co., 1904.
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