Johnson, Charles G.

   CHARLES G. JOHNSON.  The energetic, able and popular gentleman whose name heads this article, is president of the first National Bank of Rockport, and an extensive dealer in lumber, building supplies, ship chandlery and farm implements. Born in Aransas county, Texas, March 23, 1866, he was reared to ranch and stock pursuits and educated in the common schools and the parochial institution connected with St. Mary's Catholic Church, at San Antonio. His parents were Theodore and Bertha (Herra) Johnson, the father being a native of Denmark and the mother, of Germany. When quite young the father was left an orphan, found a home among relatives and friends, and while yet in his 'teens shipped as sailor on the high seas. His occupations brought him to all the important ports of the world, and his last voyage, when he had reached manhood, took him to America.
   It was Mr. Johnson's fortune to be wrecked upon the Gulf coast, but all the crew were saved and landed at Galveston. Later the young man went to Indianola and found employment in the bay and coast trade, and never returned to the high seas. He married at Indianola, settled his family in Aransas county, and engaged in the stock business. By also conducting a small farm he managed even during the first few years of his settlement to comfortably support his family. His love of the water was so strong, however, that he afterward bought a boat and engaged in the bay trade until 1895, when he abandoned that occupation altogether and settled with his family permanently on his ranch -- the property which is still his homestead at the ripe and hearty old age of sixty-eight. Shrewdness and industry have brought success to all the undertakings of the elder Mr. Johnson, and he has accumulated a comfortable estate. Besides his stock operations, the was a prominent bee fancier, established large colonies of bees, and for several years profitably conducted a well-arranged apiary.
   During the Civil war Theodore Johnson served in the Home Guard of the Confederacy, his special duties being in connection with the patrolling of the coast country. Having achieved his present honorable and comfortable standing through the wise use of the larger opportunities which he found in the United States, he has never failed to be grateful to the land of his adoption. He is not only grateful for the benefits which he has received, but for the freedom which he has enjoyed and which is now the heritage of his descendants. He is a strong Republican, but has never coveted public notoriety or honors, being simply a plain and honest American citizen and stock farmer. He is a worthy member of the Masonic fraternity and although a man of the strictest morality, has never been connected with any church.
   The wife of Theodore Johnson was formerly Bertha Herra, a most intelligent lady and worthy woman. She was born in Germany and about 1842 came with her parents to America, the family making their home at Indianola. Bertha was the only child, and about a year after coming to Texas her father died, the widow subsequently removing to Aransas county, where she again married and reared a second family. Both parents were faithful members of the Catholic church. Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Johnson were the parents of eleven children, as follows:  August, who died leaving four children; Charles G.; Edward, accidentally drowned at the age of fifteen years; Hubert, who is assisting Charles G. in the lumber yard; Amos, a well known mechanic, now serving as county commissioner; Robert, employed on the home ranch; Minnie, Mrs. Sutherland; Bertha, Mrs. Walker; May, Gussie and Phene, all unmarried and living at home.
   Charles G. Johnson, who is now (1907) in his forty-second year, is a native of Aransas county, and until he was eighteen years of age, remained on the homestead assisting his father on the ranch and in his boating business. He then went further west and for two years was employed on a stock ranch, after which he returned to Rockport and clerked in the lumber yard of Kahler & Hildenfels. After continuing with that firm for eleven years Mr. Johnson purchased their plant, and by strict attention to business and honest dealing has since established an extensive and increasing business. He carries a large stock of lumber and building material, including hardware, paints, oils, etc., and also operates a complete ship chandlery and farm implement depot.
   The First National Bank of Rockport was organized in 1892, with a capital of $60,000, which was later reduced to $52,000. In 1902 T. E. Mathis and Charles G. Johnson bought a controlling interest in the institution, at which time it was reorganized with the reduction of capital noted. The books of the bank now indicate a surplus and undivided profits of $15,000, deposits of $73,000 and $110,000 loans and discounts. The business embraces the buying and selling of exchange and general transactions, and is now classed among the most substantial financial institutions of the southwest. At the reorganization in 1902 Charles G. Johnson was made vice-president, with T. E. Mathis cashier. In 1903 Mr. Johnson became president. The headquarters of the bank are in a handsome three story brick building, while its accommodations include commodious safety vaults and other modern accommodations.
   In the winter of 1907, with two others, Mr. Johnson organized and incorporated the Light, Ice, and Power Plant of Rockport, which was capitalized at $25,000. Of this promising enterprise he is president, and is one of the three stockholders. The month of March, 1907, found the plant in successful operation, as to the manufacture of ice, and the electric light feature will be later developed. The industry is considered a good paying investment, as well as a valuable public improvement, and is an additional evidence of the enterprise, energy, and business and financial ability of Charles G. Johnson, who is esteemed as among the strongest and most progressive business men of Rockport.
   Charles G. Johnson is also one of the most influential Democrats in Southwest Texas, having strictly adhered to the principles of that party for many years. He has filled many city offices, and for a long time has been chairman of the Democratic county committee. He has often served on the county finance committee, and has most acceptably filled the positions of county commissioner, county assessor, chairman of the school board and school director. He has been reared in the faith of Catholicism, and has never departed from it, and in his fraternal relations is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Woodmen of the World.
   In 1889 Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Clara Peets, born in Refugio county, Texas, in 1870, and an intelligent and worthy wife and helpmate. Her parents, Edward and Libby Peets, were both natives of New York state, where they were married. The family came to Texas in the early 'fifties and settled in Refugio county, where the father became a prominent stockman and still resides there, an honored citizen. Although he saw much hard service, and endured many hardships in the Civil war, he passed through the conflict without being wounded or being made prisoner, and at its conclusion returned to his farming and stock raising. He is a strong Democrat, but has never had political aspirations, notwithstanding which his influence and character are such that the people have persisted in electing him to such offices as county commissioner and county financier for a period of more than twenty-five years. Mr. Peets is a member of the Masonic fraternity in good standing. In the full vigor and enjoyment of a well spent life he and his wife still reside on their old homestead, honored by a large and worthy family of children and by their neighbors and friends of many years standing. To Mr. and Mrs. Edward Peets were born the following:  Charles, who died single, at the age of twenty-five; James, who also died unmarried at the same age; Edward, a farmer; Emma, now Mrs. Dugat; Elizabeth, Mrs. F. Sparks; Clara, wife of Charles G. Johnson, and Hattie, now Mrs. Burdett. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Charles G. Johnson, with the dates of their birth, are as follows:  Carrie, January 15, 1893; Freddie, April 27, 1896; Travis, June 11, 1902, and Marie, August 25, 1904.

from A History of Texas and Texans, by Frank W. Johnson.  The American Historical Society.  Chicago, 1916.  Vol. IV, pp. 502-504.