Daniel Johnson (Michigan politician)

Daniel S. Johnson (1821 – August 6, 1860) was a Michigan politician.

Daniel Johnson
Member of the Michigan Senate
from the 29th district
In office
January 5, 1853 – December 31, 1854
Succeeded byHenry J. Alvord
Personal details
Born1821
Haverstraw, New York
Died(1860-08-06)August 6, 1860 (aged 38–39)

Early life

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Johnson was born in 1821 in Haverstraw, New York, United States.[1]

Career

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Johnson was a ship lumber dealer in New York City. In 1846, Johnson moved to Michigan with his brother Solomon. From 1847 to 1858, Johnson was the leading lumberman in Saginaw Valley.[1] In 1848, the brothers settled land on the Saginaw River and constructed a sawmill there.[2] They named their settlement "Zilwaukie" as a way to attract confused settlers in search of Milwaukee.[3] On November 2, 1852, Johnson was elected to the Michigan Senate, where he represented the 29th district from January 5, 1853 to December 31, 1854.[4] On January 20, 1854, Zilwaukee was organized into a township, and on that day, the first township elections were held in Daniel and Solomon's office. Johnson was elected as one of the first justices of the peace for the township, alongside B. F. Fisher, William H. Marsh, and Casper Schulteis. The Johnson Brothers attempted to found a bank, the Bank of Zilwaukee, and while currency was printed for the bank, it failed in 1858. The currency was never circulated.[2][5]

Personal life

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Johnson was married.[2]

Death

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Johnson died on August 6, 1860.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Michigan Historical Commission (1924). Michigan Biographies: Including Members of Congress, Elective State Officers, Justices of the Supreme Court, Members of the Michigan Legislature, Board of Regents of the University of Michigan, State Board of Agriculture and State Board of Education, Volume 1.
  2. ^ a b c Mills, James Cooke (1918). History of Saginaw County, Michigan: Historical, Commercial, Biographical, Volume 2.
  3. ^ "History of Zilwaukee". City of Zilwaukee. Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  4. ^ "Legislator Details - Daniel Johnson". Library of Michigan. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  5. ^ Mills, James Cooke (1918). History of Saginaw County, Michigan: Historical, Commercial, Biographical, Volume 1.