Born: Indiana, 1847.
Died: Illinois, 1902.
Mr. Johnson's father, Dr. John B. Johnson, served as assistant surgeon during the Civil War. His grandfather was a Baptist minister who was a chaplain in the War of 1812. Hale Johnson inherited the fighting blood of his ancestors. At the age of seventeen he enlisted in Company D, 135th Indiana Infantry. He, with his father's family, came to Illinois in 1865.
Mr. Johnson was an attorney. His residence was in Newton. He became a Christian in 1870. To the close of his life he was a praying, active, sincere man. His church came first in his life. His generosity was unfailing. His last contribution, made the day before he died, was to a Christian Orphans, Home. He was open-minded, always willing to investigate and learn what would contribute to the religious, social and civic betterment of society.
At one time he was mayor of the city of Newton. In 1882 he left the Republican party because it refused to submit a prohibition constitutional amendment to a vote of the people. In a public address he gave Min. N. S. Haynes the credit of pulling him loose from his old party moorings. Thereafter, he was one of the most effective, prominent and influential party Prohibitionists in America. He served well on committees, State and national. In 1896 he was nominated for Governor. Later in the same year he was placed on the national ticket for the Vice-Presidency, with Joseph Levering for the office of President. During this campaign he stumped in more than thirty States, speaking day and night. While party Prohibitionists have rarely been successful as such, the fruits of their self-sacrificing and heroic labors are manifest in the growing public sentiment that finds increasing expression in State and national legislation. The Christian conscience of the nation has decreed that the liquor traffic must die. The handwriting is even now on the wall.
Mr. Johnson's death was tragic. He had gone to a country merchant to try to persuade him to settle a debt peaceably. The merchant became enraged and shot him. A few hours later the assassin committed suicide. Mr. Johnson's untimely death was deplored, particularly among Prohibitionists. They placed a beautiful monument over his grave in the cemetery at Newton.