Elsewhere in this work there is set out at some length an interesting and informative narrative concerning the life and the services of the late Cornelius Van Buren, banker, merchant and philanthropist, who for many years was one of the foremost figures in the general commercial and social life of that section of the beautiful Mohawk valley centering in and about the city of Amsterdam, where he had his headquarters and in the affairs of which city he was for so long most deeply interested. When Mr. Van Buren died, on September 21, 1921, it was found that he had left his quite considerable estate in trust, the same to be administered by J. Edward Johnson, who had been associated with the Van Buren operations ever since the middle '80s of the past century, and whose long and faithful and effective service in this behalf had gained for him the unreserved confidence of his careful and methodical chief. Since the death of Mr. Van Buren, Mr. Johnson has been giving his whole time to the management of the Van Buren estate and has thus been and now is in charge of interests that interlock or are related to many of the most important operations being carried on in the city, these including not only banking, commercial and industrial operations, but taking in other interests of one kind and another along other lines.
J. Edward Johnson is a native of the kingdom of Sweden, but has been a resident of this country and of the city of Amsterdam since the days of his young manhood. He was born on May 15, 1861, and was reared in his native land, where he received good schooling and where he remained until he had attained his majority, when he determined to come to the United States, seeking a wider opportunity for the exercise of his energies than seemed to offer at home. It was in 1883 that Mr. Johnson came to America. By previous inquiry he had made Amsterdam his objective, and not long after his arrival in port he made his way to that city, where he has ever since resided, a period of more than forty years, during which time he has come to be one of the best known men in that section of the valley as well as one of the foremost figures in the general commercial life of the city in which he elected to make his home. Upon his arrival in Amsterdam, Mr. Johnson found employment with Cornelius Van Buren. This employment was only a "job" then, but by faithful, conscientious and effective service in behalf of his employer and of the latter's then rapidly growing interests it was not long until this job became a permanent position of trust and responsibility, a trust that was continued during the lifetime of Mr. Van Buren and which at his death was extended to include the supervision and management of the great estate he had left. And it is to that trust that Mr. Johnson now is applying himself, general manager of the Van Buren interests.
On October 24, 1890, J. Edward Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Christina Johnson, who also was born in the kingdom of Sweden and had come to this country with her parents in the days of her girlhood. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson reside at No. 108 Guy Park avenue, Amsterdam, where they are very pleasantly situated. Mr. Johnson takes an interest in local fraternal affairs and is an active member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Artisan Lodge, No. 84, F. & A. M., and is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.