David W. Johnson, cashier of the Olsburg State Bank, has the honor of being a native of Kansas, and is one of the men of whom the state may well be proud as a leader in her banking and commercial development. He was born in Pottawatomie county, four miles west of Olsburg, Oct. 21, 1870, a son of David and Caroline (Josephson) Johnson. His father was born in Sweden, in 1833, where he was reared and educated and engaged in farming. Like so many young men of Europe he heard of the advantages in the United States for men whose only capital consisted in strength of body and quickness of mind, therefore he determined to risk his all in the New World. Soon after landing in this country, in 1859, he came west and drove across country from Leavenworth to Pottawatomie county and preëmpted 160 acres of unbroken prairie land, later homesteading it and made many improvements. He has added from time to time to his original tract until he owns 1,000 acres of fine arable land in Pottawatomie county. Mr. Johnson is a good practical farmer and shrewd business man. He has made a comfortable fortune and is regarded as one of the most prosperous and substantial members of the community. Both he and wife still live on the old home farm.

David W. Johnson was reared in the country, helped on the farm in the summer and attended the excellent public schools. His father desired him to have the higher educational advantages of which he had been deprived and sent his son to Bethany College, Lindsborg, Kan., also to the State Agricultural College at Manhattan, but the young man had conceived the idea of entering commercial life and, in 1889, started to learn the banking business. When the Olsburg State Bank was organized David W. Johnson was offered and accepted the position of cashier, which office he has since most satisfactorily filled. Although still young he is regarded as an able business man and has a large share in shaping the policy of the bank.

In 1896 Mr. Johnson married Emily, the daughter of Andrew Nudson of Garrison, Kan. Five children have been born to them: Doris C., David W., Jr., Beryl La Verne, Tracy El Delle, and Jay Barnard De Sales, all of whom are at home. The family are all members of the Lutheran church. Mr. Johnson is a member of the insurgent (1911) branch of the Republican party; being progressive he believes in clean government by the people and for the people and takes an active interest in the work of the party. He is ever ready with suggestion and spends liberally of time and money for the improvement of the city in which he makes his home.