James E. Johnson (Class of 1906)

History 204 | History of Indian Education | The Public Relationship Between Dickinson and the Indian School | Collective Biography of Indian Dickinson Students | Insitute to Institute: Dickinson College and Carlisle Indian School | Bibliographic Information

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.”