Martin N. Johnson

Martin N. Johnson
United States Senator from North Dakota
In office March 4, 1909 – October 21, 1909
Preceded by	Henry C. Hansbrough
Succeeded by	Fountain L. Thompson
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Dakota's 1st district
In office March 4, 1891 – March 3, 1899
Preceded by	Henry C. Hansbrough
Succeeded by	Burleigh F. Spalding
Member of the Iowa Senate
In office 1878–1882
Member of the Iowa House of Representatives
In office 1877
Personal details
Born	March 3, 1850 Racine County, Wisconsin
Died	October 21, 1909 (aged 59) Fargo, North Dakota
Political party	Republican
Residence	Fargo
Profession	Teacher

Martin Nelson Johnson (March 3, 1850 – October 21, 1909) was a North Dakota politician who served as a United States Representative and Senator from North Dakota.

Biography

Born to Norwegian immigrants in Racine County, Wisconsin,^[1] he moved with his parents to Decorah, Iowa, the same year.^[1] He was taught at home and attended the country schools; in 1873 he graduated from the law department of the University of Iowa at Iowa City,^[1] and taught two years in the California Military Academy at Oakland, California.^[1] He returned to Iowa in 1875,^[1] was admitted to the bar in 1876 and commenced practice in Decorah. He was a member of the Iowa House of Representatives in 1877 and a member of the Iowa Senate from 1878 to 1882. He was a presidential elector on the Republican ticket in 1876.

Johnson moved to Dakota Territory in 1882 and engaged in agricultural pursuits; he was prosecuting attorney of Nelson County from 1886 to 1890 and was a member of the constitutional convention of North Dakota in 1889. In 1889 he was an unsuccessful Republican candidate for election to the U.S. Senate, and was elected a Representative to the Fifty-second and to the three succeeding Congresses, serving from March 4, 1891 to March 4, 1899. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1898, having become a candidate for Senator; his candidacy was unsuccessful 1899, but he was later elected and served from March 4, 1909, until his death in Fargo, North Dakota in 1909. While in the Senate, he was chairman of the Committee to Investigate Trespassers Upon Indian Lands (Sixty-first Congress). Johnson died of Bright's disease in Fargo.^[2] Interment was in the City Cemetery, Petersburg, North Dakota.

References

1. "News of Senator Johnson's Death Caused Surprise". The Bismarck Tribune. October 22, 1909. p. 1. Retrieved July 22, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
2. "North Dakota Senator Pass'd Away at Fargo". The Bismarck Tribune. October 22, 1909. p. 1. Retrieved July 22, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.

• United States Congress. "Martin N. Johnson (id: J000162)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.