James E. Johnson

James E. Johnson was born in Edgenton Wisconsin and was a Stockbridge Native American. He attended the Carlisle Indian Industrial School, the Dickinson Preparatory and entered into a two year course at Dickinson College in 1902. While at Dickinson College he was a successful football captain and recognized athlete. In 1903 he was chosen by Walter Comp to play on the all-American football team for Northwestern. He later attended Northwestern University in 1904 where he took courses in dental surgery and obtained his degree as a Dentist at the Dental College in 1907. Shortly after, he married Florence Welch Johnson, Dickinson class of 1905. Dr. Johnson travelled to San Juan, Puerto Rico in 1909 to investigate into career options and determine if where to practice his profession. He decided to move to Puerto Rico and opened up a business as a dental surgeon. It was reported that in 1911 he “did a business of more than $4,000 and numbers some of the most prominent officials and residents of the Island.”

Sources

• The Alumni Record, 1905.
• The Red Man, April 1910.
• Mrs. Mercedes Wallace to Marie Ferré, Carlisle, 4 November 1992.
• The Indian Craftsman, June 1909.
• The Indian Craftsman, February 1909.
• The Red Man, February 1912.

Prosopography of Indian Dickinson College Students