Representative Francis Johnson View All Years

Compiled Historical Information
Date of Death: 2/27/1973
Birth County: Butler
Party Affiliation: Republican
Assemblies Served:
House: 40 (1923) - 44 (1931)
Home County: Dickinson
Speaker Video:
Francis Johnson
Dickinson County

FRANCIS JOHNSON

MR. SPEAKER: Your committee, appointed to prepare a suitable resolution commemorating the life, character and public service of the late Honorable Francis Johnson, begs leave to submit the following memorial:

Francis Johnson was born in Butler County, Iowa, August 6, 1890. With his parents, F. H. and Anna Johnson, he moved to Dickinson County in 1904. He was graduated from the Terril and Spirit Lake High Schools. He attended the State University of Iowa, graduating from the College of Law, and was admitted to the bar in 1912. He was married to Sara E. Thompson in 1914.

Mr. Johnson represented Dickinson County in the Iowa House of Representatives from 1923 to 1931, being a member of the Fortieth, Fortieth Extra, Forty-first, Forty-second, Forty-second Extra, Forty-third and Forty-fourth sessions of the General Assembly, and served as Speaker during the Forty-fourth General Assembly. He was one of the original sponsors of bills for state net income tax. He was a Republican in politics.

Mr. Johnson farmed in Dickinson County and lived at Terril and Arnolds Park. He served as township clerk and director of the Terril Savings Bank.

In 1934, he was elected president of the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation and held that position for 10 years. He had been a director of the American Farm Bureau Federation and also served as president of the Iowa Taxpayers Association.

He was a member of the Terril Methodist Episcopal Church, and the Richloyd Lodge of the A.F. and A.M. at Terril.

In 1952, he made an unsuccessful bid for the Republican nomination for state secretary of agriculture.

At the time of his death on February 27, 1973, at the Friendship Haven Retirement Home in Fort Dodge, Mr. Johnson was survived by his wife, Sara.

Therefore, Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Sixty-fifth General Assembly of Iowa: That in the passing of the Honorable Francis Johnson, the state has lost an honored citizen and a faithful and useful public servant, and the House by this resolution would express its appreciation of his service, and tender its sympathy to the members of the family.

Be It Further Resolved: That a copy of this resolution be spread upon the Journal of the House, and that the Chief Clerk be directed to forward an enrolled copy to the family of the deceased.

INGWER L. HANSEN

ROLLIN C. EDELEN

LESTER D. MENKE

Committee