David C. Johnson, a leading citizen of Greenwood county and the present mayor of Eureka, is a native of Illinois, born in Effingham county, February 20, 1860. He is a son of Dr. David W. and Sarah F. (Mills) Johnson. Dr. Johnson was also a native of Illinois, born September 25, 1825. He was active in the practice of the medical profession to the age of sixty-five years and died August 20, 1902, at Ingalls, Okla. His wife was a native of North Carolina, born November 20, 1826. She died January 18, 1875, at LaClede, Ill. Dr. Johnson and wife were the parents of eight children, as follows: Levi, died at the age of eleven; John M., died at the age of fifty-two; Robert A., died at the age of twenty-two; Olive S., died at the age of forty-three; Lorenzo H., a lawyer at Toronto, Kan.; Mary A., the wife of William McKinley, a cousin of the late President, resides at Marshall, Okla.; Wilbur died in infancy, and David C., the subject of this review.

David C. Johnson was educated in the public schools of Effingham county, Illinois, and attended school in Greenwood county, Kansas, after coming to this State with his parents in 1876. When the family came to Kansas they drove the entire distance from Illinois, locating in Greenwood county at a town called Charleston, which is now extinct. Young Johnson followed teaching in early life and for eight years taught school in Greenwood and Elk counties, one year of which he was principal of the Fall River schools. In 1889 he, in partnership with his brother, Lorenzo H., engaged in the loan business at Eureka under the firm name of Johnson Brothers. In 1894 Lorenzo H. was elected prosecuting attorney of Greenwood county and withdrew from the firm and David C. continued the business alone and in 1910 incorporated the Eureka Mortgage Company, of which he is the secretary, treasurer and manager. This company does an extensive mortgage loan business, and has done thousands of dollars' worth of business in this section of the State.

In addition to his extensive business affairs Mr. Johnson takes a commendable interest in public matters. He has served on the Eureka Board of Education eight years, and for three years was president of the board. He has always been active in any movement which had for its object the betterment of his town or county. In 1911 when Eureka adopted the commission form of government, Mr. Johnson was elected mayor. He led the progressive movement for municipal improvement and ownership, and during his administration has brought about many improvements, including street pavement, and yet the tax rate has not been materially increased. He was largely instrumental in securing a Carnegie library for the town, and his public services as mayor of Eureka are worthy of commendation. He is public spirited and is ever ready to support with his time and money any enterprise for the public good.

Mr. Johnson was married October 17, 1888, at Buffalo, Kan., to Miss Eva, daughter of J. L. and Elizabeth (Stone) White, of Buffalo. Mrs. Johnson was born October 29, 1869. Her parents were natives of Kentucky and came to Kansas in 1870, locating in Wilson county on the present site of the town of Buffalo, where the father died in 1883 and the mother departed this life at Wichita in 1912. They were the parents of nine children, all of whom are living: Ada L.; George L.; James W.; Simeon R.; Ida; Robert M.; Eva and Cassius C. To Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have been born two children: Lois M., born May 6, 1893, is a graduate of Washburn College, Topeka, and Roscoe E., a graduate of the Eureka High School. Mr. Johnson is a member of the Masonic lodge and past eminent commander of the Knights Templars. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the family are members of the Congregational church, in which Mrs. Johnson is an active worker.