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Oscar E. Johnson

Oscar Johnson grew up appreciating the rich heritage of this country.  He was the son of Swedish emigrants who came to the U.S.A. as newlyweds in 1882.  He was the youngest of five children.  His parents spent their first seven years in this country in Iowa before coming to Spokane Falls in time to witness the great fire which destroyed the entire business district of that city in 1889.  Rural life was more to their liking than city dwelling and in 1891 August and Augusta, Oscar's parents, filed on a homestead 14 miles south of Cheney.  It took a full day to make the trip from Spokane Falls to the homestead traveling by team and heavily loaded wagon.

Oscar was born on March 11, 1898 on the homestead.  A neighbor lady who was a midwife assisted at his birth.  Doctors being so far away and an expensive luxury, births were usually attended by midwives.

Responsibility was learned early in life by the country youngsters.  Chores such as gathering eggs, searching out hidden hen's nests or the thrill of finding newly hatched chicks in the tall grass were all contributions in the childhood years.  As the child grew, chores advanced to keeping the woodbox filled and weeding in the garden.  Oscar experienced all this responsibility.

The teen years found the boys in the field helping break the soil, cultivating, seeding and harvesting.  Oscar did his share in that respect.  In young manhood he worked on the family farm and spent harvest season on the Albert Owes threshing machine.  He was popular with his fellow workers and sometimes the brunt of good-natured teasing.  One of the stories of his harvesting days dealt with his fondness for applesauce.  Mrs. Rose Smith was cook on Mr. Owes cook wagon which followed the crew from one farm to the other.  Mrs. Smith was a motherly lady who always tried to serve some of the crew's preferred foods if it was available to prepare, in Oscar's case, applesauce.  No matter how often or in what quantity it was served, she couldn't satisfy his appetite for it.  The men promptly nicknamed him "Applesauce Johnson" which stuck to him throughout his harvesting days.

Oscar's formal schooling had begun as a child in grade school at Cherry Springs School, a small rural one in his home district.  High school was completed in Cheney.  He then attended Cheney Normal and WSU prior to entering Northern Pacific Dental School (now the University of Oregon Dental School) in Portland, graduating in 1926.  He immediately returned to Cheney, set up his office in the old bank building on First St. and opened for practice.

The new young dentist became a familiar figure in town and the Normal School students weren't averse to seeking either his company or dental services.  One young lady in particular caught Oscar's attention and on February 21, 1927 Dr. Oscar Johnson and Ruth Matthies eloped to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho to be married.  Faye and Bob Horn accompanied them and were witnesses.

After living in several locations in town the Johnsons purchased a home on College Avenue which remained their residence for the rest of their lifetime in Cheney.  They were parents of a son and daughter, James A. in 1930, Ruth L. (Lu) in 1931.

Dr. Johnson liked to share in the obligations of his city's governmental process.  He assisted in many ways whenever he was called.  In 1936 he was elected Mayor serving until 1940.  There was no salary attached to the office, although other officers were salaried.  The monthly wages of the City Treasurer was $35.00; City Clerk received $50.00; City Attorney, $75.00 and City Health Officer, $25.00.  The city councilmen also served without pay.  Other city expenses were minimal compared with today's costs.  The city hall was reroofed at a total cost of $165.00.  Basic rate for a telephone in city hall was $2.00 a month; one month's long distance calls amounted to $1.05 for the total bill of $3.05; coal for heating the City Hall was $27.09 for the month of January in 1937.

In February of 1937 the council voted to buy a Chevrolet truck using funds from the permanent highway monies.  The Brown and Holter Co. won the bid for the truck at a cost of $894.00.  It was equipped with heavy duty radiator, overload springs, large dual tires, double windshield wipers and an additional $30.00 for an extra tire and tube.

In July, 1939 J.T. Halin won the bid to furnish all materials and labor to construct a transformer building, according to plans and specifications, for the lump sum of $598.00.

Always ready to participate in any community matters Dr. Johnson spent 12 years on the Cheney School Board.  He was chairman of the Draft Board during WWII for the jurisdiction including Spokane, Lincoln, Stevens and Pend Oreille counties.  He held a long-standing membership in the local Masonic Lodge, Temple #42, F and A.M. and was Master in 1939.

Dr. Johnson continued practicing dentistry full-time until his retirement in 1974 at which time he turned his practice over to his son Jim who had followed in his father's footsteps, choosing dentistry as his profession.  Sadly, Dr. Oscar Johnson and his wife were to have only a few months together in his retirement as Ruth died in October that same year.  He lived alone in the home until an accident of February 27, 1979 forced his admission into the Cheney Care Center on North Sixth St. where he passed away February 17, 1980.

Contributed by Ellen Proctor, 1988.