Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The
Big Bend Country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties,
State of Washington", published by Western Historical Publishing
Co., 1904.
JULIUS C. JOHNS0N, who is the
president and moving spirit in the Almira State Bank, is a capable and
prominent business man of the Big Bend country. He has demonstrated
his ability as a financier and has won for himself a standing in this country
second to none.
Julius C. Johnson was
born in Germany, on September 23, 1863, the son of Christian and Mary (Carstensen)
Johnson, natives of Germany. The father was a prominent and wealthy
agriculturist in his country. From the common schools of his native
country our subject received his early training and then completed a high
school course, after which, in 1882 he came to America, making settlement
in San Francisco. He was engaged for some time in a commission house,
then in 1883 landed in what is now Lincoln county. He took a homestead
and timber culture just north of where Almira now stands and has added
later by purchase until he owns one thousand acres of valuable wheat land,
all of which is in a high state of cultivation. In 1892, Mr. Johnson
came to Almira and took up the business of selling farm implements and
wheat buying. For five years he followed this, then bought out La
Follette Brothers. Under the firm name of Johnson & Stephens,
he conducted this business until 1900, in addition to the grain and implement
business. In 1902, Mr. Johnson organized the Almira State Bank and
the building in which it does business was the first brick structure in
Almira. The enterprise was started with twenty-five thousand dollars
paid-up capital and five thousand dollars surplus. From the very
start this banking house did a large business and has far outstripped every
banking institution in this part of the country of the same age.
Mr. Johnson has demonstrated his ability in the various lines of business
which he has conducted, and has gained for himself an excellent standing
among the people. He has two brothers, C. N., a farmer north of Almira,
who came to this country with out subject, and Carsten, in Almira.
In 1893, Mr. Johnson
married Miss Mable, daughter of S. C. and Hannah (Johns) Howard, natives
of Iowa, now living at Old Mission, Washington. The father was a
veteran of the Civil War. Mrs. Johnson was born in Iowa, on Dceember
15, 1873. To this marriage three children have been born, Norma,
Walter, and Raymond L.
In the spring of 1904
the town of Almira was incorporated and Mr. Johnson was elected its first
mayor by an almost unanimous vote.