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Johnson, Alfred I.


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Map of Benson
Benson, MN

House 1941-58 (District 25)

Party when first elected:  Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus

Counties Served:  Swift

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: ??/??/1898 Date of Death: 02/15/1977
Birth Place: Six Mile Grove, Minnesota Birth County: Swift Birth Country: United States
Other Names:
Gender:  Male Religion:  Lutheran
City of Residence (when first elected):  Benson

Occupation (when first elected):  Owner and Operator, Grocery Business

EDUCATION

Minnesota Schools; Elementary School; 8th Grade Education

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

Board of RegentsUniversity of Minnesota ??/??/1959 to ??/??/1965

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Adeline Rasmussen
Children: Two children: Marilyn Ann (daughter), James (son, served as an aide to Vice-President Walter Mondale), (both born while he was in office)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

He was of Norwegian ancestry.

He was born and raised on a farm.

He was one of the people who helped combine the Minnesota Farmer-Labor party with the Democratic party to form the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party.

"The Benson liberal has long been identified with Swift county activity in the DFL party and before that the Farmer-Labor party." ("Know Your Minnesota Legislature: Rep. A.I. Johnson." Minneapolis Star, January 8, 1957)

A public affairs scholarship at the University of Minnesota was named for him in 1987.

He died at a nursing home in Benson, Minnesota. His funeral was held at Our Redeemer's Lutheran Church in Benson, Minnesota. He was buried in the city cemetery in Benson, Minnesota.

He was a member of Our Redeemer's Lutheran Church in Benson, Minnesota.

Religion provided by the Minneapolis Star, January 8, 1957 and his obituaries.

Legislative Session: 60th (1957-1958)   Session Details term photo
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Body: House Elected: 11/6/1956 Term of Office: 1/8/1957 to 1/5/1959
District: 25 Residence: Benson
Counties Represented: Swift
Occupation: Businessman, Real Estate
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus Party Notes: "The Liberals have controlled the House only in 1933, 1937, 1955, 1957, 1959 and 1961." (Mitau, G. Theodore. Politics in Minnesota, 1970, p. 83.); "The Benson liberal has long been identified with Swift county activity in the DFL party and before that the Farmer-Labor party." ("Know Your Minnesota Legislature: Rep. A.I. Johnson." Minneapolis Star, January 8, 1957)
Committees:
Leadership Position: Speaker of the House
Leadership Notes: "The Liberals have controlled the House only in 1933, 1937, 1955, 1957, 1959 and 1961." (Mitau, G. Theodore. Politics in Minnesota, 1970, p. 83.)

Legislative Session: 59th (1955-1956)   Session Details
Body: House Elected: 11/2/1954 Term of Office: 1/4/1955 to 1/7/1957
District: 25 Residence: Benson
Counties Represented: Swift
Occupation: Business
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus Party Notes: "The Liberals have controlled the House only in 1933, 1937, 1955, 1957, 1959 and 1961." (Mitau, G. Theodore. Politics in Minnesota, 1970, p. 83.); "The Benson liberal has long been identified with Swift county activity in the DFL party and before that the Farmer-Labor party." ("Know Your Minnesota Legislature: Rep. A.I. Johnson." Minneapolis Star, January 8, 1957)
Committees:
Leadership Position: Speaker of the House
Leadership Notes: "The Liberals have controlled the House only in 1933, 1937, 1955, 1957, 1959 and 1961." (Mitau, G. Theodore. Politics in Minnesota, 1970, p. 83.)

Legislative Session: 58th (1953-1954)   Session Details
Body: House Elected: 11/5/1952 Term of Office: 1/6/1953 to 1/3/1955
District: 25 Residence: Benson
Counties Represented: Swift
Occupation: Business
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus Party Notes: "The Benson liberal has long been identified with Swift county activity in the DFL party and before that the Farmer-Labor party." ("Know Your Minnesota Legislature: Rep. A.I. Johnson." Minneapolis Star, January 8, 1957)
Committees:
Education
Markets and Marketing
Taxes
Temperance and Liquor Control
Towns and Counties

Legislative Session: 57th (1951-1952)   Session Details
Body: House Elected: 11/7/1950 Term of Office: 1/2/1951 to 1/5/1953
District: 25 Residence: Benson
Counties Represented: Swift
Occupation: Business
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus Party Notes: "The Benson liberal has long been identified with Swift county activity in the DFL party and before that the Farmer-Labor party." ("Know Your Minnesota Legislature: Rep. A.I. Johnson." Minneapolis Star, January 8, 1957)
Committees:
Education
Markets and Marketing
Taxes
Temperance and Liquor Control
Towns and Counties

Legislative Session: 56th (1949-1950)   Session Details term photo
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Body: House Elected: 11/2/1948 Term of Office: 1/4/1949 to 1/1/1951
District: 25 Residence: Benson
Counties Represented: Swift
Occupation: Business
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus Party Notes: "The Benson liberal has long been identified with Swift county activity in the DFL party and before that the Farmer-Labor party." ("Know Your Minnesota Legislature: Rep. A.I. Johnson." Minneapolis Star, January 8, 1957)
Committees:
Communications
Education
Taxes
Temperance and Liquor Control
Veterans and Military Affairs

Legislative Session: 55th (1947-1948)   Session Details
Body: House Elected: 11/5/1946 Term of Office: 1/7/1947 to 1/3/1949
District: 25 Residence: Benson
Counties Represented: Swift
Occupation: Business
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus Party Notes: "The Benson liberal has long been identified with Swift county activity in the DFL party and before that the Farmer-Labor party." ("Know Your Minnesota Legislature: Rep. A.I. Johnson." Minneapolis Star, January 8, 1957)
Committees:
Banking
Employees Compensation
Taxes
Temperance and Liquor Control

Legislative Session: 54th (1945-1946)   Session Details term photo
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Body: House Elected: 11/7/1944 Term of Office: 1/2/1945 to 1/6/1947
District: 25 Residence: Benson
Counties Represented: Swift
Occupation: Merchant
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus Party Notes: "The Benson liberal has long been identified with Swift county activity in the DFL party and before that the Farmer-Labor party." ("Know Your Minnesota Legislature: Rep. A.I. Johnson." Minneapolis Star, January 8, 1957)
Committees:
Aviation
Cooperatives
Education
Employees Compensation
Temperance and Liquor Control

Legislative Session: 53rd (1943-1944)   Session Details term photo
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Body: House Elected: 11/3/1942 Term of Office: 1/5/1943 to 1/1/1945
District: 25 Residence: Benson
Counties Represented: Swift
Occupation: Merchant, Operates Own Grocery Business
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus Party Notes: "The Benson liberal has long been identified with Swift county activity in the DFL party and before that the Farmer-Labor party." ("Know Your Minnesota Legislature: Rep. A.I. Johnson." Minneapolis Star, January 8, 1957)
Committees:
Aircraft and Airways
Civilian Defense, Veterans and Military Affairs
Communications
Education
Temperance and Liquor Control

Legislative Session: 52nd (1941-1942)   Session Details term photo
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Body: House Elected: 11/5/1940 Term of Office: 1/7/1941 to 1/4/1943
District: 25 Residence: Benson
Counties Represented: Swift
Occupation: Owner and Operator, Grocery Business
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus Party Notes: "The Benson liberal has long been identified with Swift county activity in the DFL party and before that the Farmer-Labor party." ("Know Your Minnesota Legislature: Rep. A.I. Johnson." Minneapolis Star, January 8, 1957)
Committees:
Education
Public Welfare
Relief
Taxes
Temperance and Liquor Control

Articles & Books About
"A.I. Johnson Scholarship Dedicated." Swift County Monitor-News, February 18, 1987.

Farley, Rose. "Public Affairs Scholarships Will Honor Former Regent." Minnesota Daily, February 11, 1987, p. 5, 8

"Alfred I. Johnson, The Editor's Page (Obituary)." Swift County News, February 23, 1977, p. 4.

"Mondale Coming for Alfred I. Johnson Funeral." Swift County Monitor, February 18, 1977.

"Mondale to Attend Johnson Funeral." St. Paul Pioneer Press, February 17, 1977.

"Ex-House Speaker A.I. Johnson Dies (Obituary)." St. Paul Pioneer Press, February 16, 1977.

“Know Your Minnesota Legislature: Rep. A.I. Johnson." Minneapolis Star, January 8, 1957.


Archive Collections
Johnson, Alfred I. ("A.I") Papers, 1933-1971 - Available in the West Central Minnesota Historical Research Center's Collection at the University of Minnesota, Morris, Briggs Library.


Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, 645 State Office Building, Saint Paul, MN  55155