Asa Emery Johnson Manuscript and Photograph

Asa Emery Johnson was born in 1825 in Bridgewater, New York. After studying homeopathy, he entered into a three year medical apprenticeship with a Dr. Erastus King. He completed his professional studies by two courses of lectures at the University of the City of New York and was granted the degree of M.D., after which he moved to Beloit, Wisconsin, where he met his future wife Hannah Russel.

In 1853, he moved to St. Anthony in Minnesota Territory, where he entered into partnership with Dr. Le Boutillier and established a highly successful practice. Dr. Johnson was an able surgeon and specialized in eye problems. Dr. Johnson was a founding member of the first county medical society in Minnesota, the St. Anthony and Minneapolis Union Medical Society. Dr. Johnson presented the first paper to the society. In addition to his medical interests, Dr. Johnson was an avid botanist and geologist, and was one of the eleven charter members of the Minnesota Academy of Natural Sciences (which was, in fact founded in his office) in 1873. He died in Minneapolis in 1906.