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- CLARENCE D. JOHNSON Clarence D. Johnson was born in Holmes County, Ohio, May 5, 1850. Attheage of 5 years his parents removed to Ceader County, Iowa. Hisfather SD. Johnson raised a company of soldiers for the Civil War, waselectedCaptain, and was killed in the battle of Champion Hills, May 6,1863. Histwo brothers Frank and Joe S. Johnson both served in the war,our subjectattempted three times to enlist but was not accepted onaccount of hisage. On March 1, 1866 he enlisted in the regular armyand served untilMarch 1, 1869.
Mr. Johnson was one of a party of 21 men and one woman that left whatwasknown as Ft. Pierre in 1876 to enter the Black Hills. They wereattackedseven times by Indians in ten days and twelve of the reds paidfor theirfun with their scalps. They helped lay out Crook City (nolonger inexistence) and Deadwood, S. D., then scouted along theMissouri riveruntil the summer of 1877, when on August 10, 1877, hewith others settledon the banks of the James River near what is nowColumbia, S. D. Ranchinga little, doing some farming and Indianexperiences notably of which washis encounter with Chief DriftingGoose, who on July 6, 1878, with fourof his braves arrived atJohnson’s cabin and ordered him to leave in 20days, that he, DriftingGoose, was on his way to participate in a grandSun Dance, and if onhis return still found him there he would resort tomeans thatcertainly would remove him for good from the valley. Johnsonrepliedthat he intended to remain until carried off dead. The next dayhe andhis brother Nathan started for Minnesota for provisions and topurchasecattle. They brought back 40 head of cattle and a load ofprovisions.About 3 days after their return Drifting Goose rode up toJohnson’scabin. Mr. Johnson stood in his cabin door eyeing the Chief,andspeculating in his mind what the Indian would do next. About darkMr.Johnson took his rifle and blanket and lay down within 20 feet ofwherethe Chief had dismounted and tied his pony. The Chief made nohostiledemonstrations during the night. Mr. Johnson did not take hiseyes offthe dusky form the entire night and would have sent him to thehappyhunting grounds had he shown the least sign of hostility. Thenextmorning Mr. Johnson went about his business, paying no attentionto theIndian. After breakfast the Chief approached Mr. Johnson andrequestedpermission to see his cattle, explaining that some of hiscattle hadstrayed and he was looking for them. He was refused. It ispresumed thatthe Chief merely made up the cattle story as an excuseand had reallycome to see how Johnson was protected. He then beggedfor a sack of flourand that was also refused him. He told the Chiefthat when he came andconducted himself civilly, he would be treatedgentlemanly in return. Mr.Johnson had been among the Indians forseveral years and knew their waysquite well, he could talk theirlanguage and was known to have no fear.Drifting Goose departed and itwas the last time he was seen in that partof the country.
In August 1880 Governor Ordway appointed Mr. Johnson and othersascommissioners to organize Brown County, S. D., and at the electionheldin November of that year Mr. Johnson was elected as one of thethreeCounty Commissioners being on the first Board of CountyCommissioners ofBrown County, S. D. They established the County Seatat Columbia whichwas later moved to Aberdeen, S. D.
In 1884 Mr. Johnson came to McIntosh County and located on the banksofGreen Lake where he engaged extensively in ranching until he soldout toAndy Stone and moved to Hoskins, N. D.
On January 25, 1887, he was married to Louisa Castor, to this unionwasborn one child Wilbur L. Johnson of Ashley, N. D., on November 28,1887.
During the time Mr. Johnson lived in McIntosh County he heldvariousoffices most important of which was Sheriff of McIntosh Countyand servedfrom 1887 to 1894 inclusive. He also engaged in farming andat one timewas engaged in the hotel and livery business in Ashley. Hemoved thebuildings from Hoskins to Ashley in the spring of 1888. Mr.Johnson wastaken sick at Aberdeen, S.D., while there an a businesstrip and passedaway November 4 th , 1898.
Information for this sketch was given us by Wilbur L. Johnson, Ashley,N.D.
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1850 - 1898 (47 years)
