Minnie Johnson
1911–1917
Significant Facts
Born: June 11, 1869 in Sacramento, CA
Died: January 25, 1955
Married: Hiram Johnson in 1886
Maiden Name: McNeal
Family
Father: Archibald McNeal
Mother: Lucretia Kennedy
Husband: Hiram Johnson
Children: Hiram and Archibald
Find out more about the time period and interests of Minnie Johnson
Did You Know?
- Minnie's obituary says that she and Hiram eloped when she was 17 years old. As gift to the couple, Minnie’s dad, a well-known contractor in Sacramento, gave them a cottage to live in.
Biography
While attending Mills College in Oakland, Minnie McNeal met Hiram Johnson. They married in 1886 and had two sons. Minnie was known as "the boss" by her husband and her friends because of her forceful personality. She was devoted to her family and constantly encouraged her husband's political ambitions. While First Lady, Minnie hosted former President Theodore Roosevelt on numerous occasions. In fact, Roosevelt visited the Johnson's so many times that the third floor bedroom of the Governor's Mansion became known as the "Teddy Room." In 1917, Minnie moved to Washington D.C. when Hiram Johnson became a U.S. Senator. Minnie Johnson died on January 25, 1955 in San Francisco. She is buried in Cypress Lawn Memorial Park in San Mateo County.
Bibliography
Books and Articles
- Cook and LaDue, The First Ladies of California, Xlibris Corporation, 2007
- "Hiram Johnson Widow, Eloper at 17, Dies at 85," Los Angeles Times, January 26, 1955, page 10