William R Johnson had been born in Dover, New Hampshire on June 8, 1837. He came to Minnesota in 1857. When war was declared he volunteered. He was 22 years old when, on May 23, 1861, he was placed in Company E of the First Minnesota. He was shot through the lung at the battle of Antietam. His wound was severe enough to prevent him from rejoining his comrades. He was discharged for disability on March 25, 1863. He returned to Minnesota and settled in St Paul in 1864, and engaged in the "confectionery" business. (In 1872, William Lochren noted that Johnson was living in St Paul and engaged as a dealer in "Fancy Goods".) William joined the Acker GAR Post #21 in St Paul, on May 17, 1870. He died in St Paul on November 1, 1901. He is buried at the Soldiers Rest area at Oakland Cemetery in St Paul. His gravestone states that he died on April 6, 1908, but other records indicate that his more likely date of death was either Nov 1st or 2nd, 1908. Sources: Roll of the Dead 1886-1906, Department of Minnesota, Grand Army of the Republic, Paduan Press, St Paul, Mn, 2000, p34. History of the Acker Post No. 21, G. A. R., Apr 9. 1891, p 35. Proceedings 35th Annual Reunion of the First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, St Paul, MN, June 20-21, 1902. Collections of the Minnesota Historical Society Collections, Vol XIV, June 1912, p 382. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
