Alva Johnson
Among the younger of the business men of Marion, Indiana, none is better known for his energy and progressive ideas, as well as the practical ability to carry them out, than Alva Johnson. Not yet turned thirty, Mr. Johnson is a member of the well known firm of J. Winters and Company, and is rapidly forging to the front as a real estate man. Although he has resided in Marion only a short time he has won a large measure of popularity and has taken an active part in the varied interests of the city.
Alva Johnson was born in Jefferson Township, near Upland, Grant County, Indiana, on the 30th of April, 1885. He is a son of James Noah Johnson and Bell (Connelly) Johnson. The father was born in Jefferson Parish, Grant County, and the mother in Wayne County, Indiana. The father was a son of James and Elizabeth Johnson who came into Indiana from Guernsey County, Ohio, and settled on the place that has since become known as the Johnson homestead in Jefferson Township. This was in 1843 and here James Johnson lived until his death on December 1, 1910. James and Elizabeth Johnson had eight children, only four of whom grew to maturity, as follows:
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John, who died at thirty-five.
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Solomon, of Jonesboro, Indiana.
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James Noah, who died in 1893
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Emma, who lives in Jefferson Township, Grant County.
James Noah Johnson lived on his father's farm until until about the time of his wife's death in 1890. He then engaged in the banking business, first working in a bank in Fairmount for a year and then he organized the Upland Bank, his father, James Johnson, being president, and he himself cashier. James Noah Johnson, being President, and he himself, Cashier. James Noah Johnson and his wife had three children:
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Bertha, who is the wife of Charles H. Snyder, of Upland.
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Alva Johnson
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Elva (twin sister of Alva), who married Charles F. Marley, of Upland.
The father died in 1893 and the three children went to live with their grandfather, making their home with him until his death at the age of eighty-nine. At his death these three children each inherited 560 acres of valuable land. For six months previous to his death the venerable old man had been blind, and his two granddaughters took tender care of him.
Alva Johnson was educated in Grant County, first attending the township school in Jefferson Township, from which he was graduated in 1900, and then becoming a student in the Upland High School. He was graduated from the latter in 1904, and until 1911 he lived on the farm. During that year he removed to Fairmount, and on December 27, 1912, his home and entire property there was destroyed by fire, in consequence of which he determined to move to Marion. He came to Marion on March 4, 1913, and bought a half interest in the firm of J. Winters and Company, thus becoming the company part of this firm. J. Winters "the land man," is one of the most successful business men of Marion, and the two form a strong partnership, destined to become one of the best known real estate firms in Indiana. Mr. Johnson has considerable landed interests, being the owner of 360 acres in Liberty Township, and also having interests in Upland.
Mr. Johnson is a member of the Methodist Church, and in political matters he is a Republican. In the fraternal world he holds allegiance with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Mr. Johnson was married on July 23, 1906, to Miss Gertrude Burnside, a daughter of George W. and Elizabeth (Seybold) Burnside, of Marion. They have two children: James Noah, Jr., aged six years and Elizabeth Rebecca, better known as betty, a lively tot of three.
Source: Centennial History of Grant County Indiana 1812-1912. The Lewis Publishing Co., 1914.