{{short description|American politician (1848–1930)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2023}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = William Tell Johnson | image = William T. Johnson (Missouri politician).png | alt = | caption = Johnson in 1917 publication | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date|1848|8|4}} | birth_place = Osceola, Missouri, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|1930|9|11|1848|8|4}} | death_place = Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. | resting_place = Forest Hill Calvary Cemetery<br />Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. | party = Democrat | spouse = {{marriage|Agnes M. Harris|1885}} | children = 3 | father = Waldo P. Johnson | relatives = | education = | alma_mater = University of Notre Dame (BA, MA) | occupation = {{hlist|Politician|judge|lawyer}} | signature = Signature of William Tell Johnson (1848–1930).png }}
'''William Tell Johnson''' (August 4, 1848 – September 11, 1930) was an American politician, judge and lawyer from Missouri.
==Early life== William Tell Johnson was born on August 4, 1848, in Osceola, Missouri, to Emily (née Moore) and Waldo P. Johnson. His father was a U.S. Senator, member of the Confederate States Senate and advisor to Jefferson Davis.<ref name="obit">{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kansas-city-times-william-t-johnson/122779553/ |title=William T. Johnson Dies |date=1930-09-12 |newspaper=The Kansas City Times |page=3 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2023-04-13}}{{Open access}}</ref><ref name="catholic">{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/cu31924063262053/page/n143/mode/2up |title=The Catholic encyclopedia and its makers |year=1917 |pages=93–94 |publisher=The Encyclopedia Press Inc. |via=Archive.org |access-date=2023-04-12}}</ref><ref name="missouri">{{cite book|editor=M. L. Van Nada|publisher=T. J. Steele & Co.|title=The Book of Missourians|year=1906|url={{Google books|Cc4yAQAAMAAJ|page=223|plainurl=yes}}|pages=223–224}}</ref> He studied at private and grammar schools in Hamilton, Ontario. He graduated from University of Notre Dame with Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees.<ref name="obit"/><ref name="catholic"/> He studied law at the office of his father and was admitted to the bar in Butler in 1872.<ref name="missouri"/>
==Career== Johnson served as mayor of Osceola in 1872. He served as judge of the St. Clair County probate court from 1873 to 1874.<ref name="obit"/>
Johnson opened the law firm Johnson & Lucas in Osceola with John H. Lucas in 1874. They expanded to Kansas City in 1879. In 1883, William H. Lucas joined the firm. The firm was later renamed Johnson, Lucas, Landon & Graves.<ref name="obit"/><ref name="missouri"/> After moving to Kansas City, Johnson became an advisor to the bishop of the Kansas City diocese. He remained in that role until his death.<ref name="obit"/>
Johnson was a Democrat.<ref name="missouri"/> In 1921, Johnson was a member of the Missouri constitutional convention.<ref name="obit"/>
He served as vice president of the Western Exchange Bank. He was a member of the National Geographical Society.<ref name="catholic"/> He was also a farmer and operated several farms.<ref name="obit"/>
==Personal life== Johnson became a Catholic in 1867. He married Agnes M. Harris on September 5, 1885. They had three children, Robert W., Mrs. Mary J. Bland and Mrs. Margaret J. Morley.<ref name="obit"/><ref name="catholic"/><ref name="missouri"/> He was friends with Bishop Thomas Francis Lillis.<ref name="obit"/>
Johnson moved to Kansas City in 1880.<ref name="obit"/> Johnson died on September 11, 1930, at his home at 3659 Harrison Street in Kansas City.<ref name="obit"/> He was buried at Forest Hill Calvary Cemetery.<ref name="obit"/>
==Awards and legacy== Johnson received the Knighthood of St. Gregory from the Pope in 1924.<ref name="obit"/>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{wikiquote}}
*{{commons category-inline}} *[https://archives.nd.edu/findaids/ead/html/ZAZ000.htm University of Notre Dame: William T. Johnson Family Papers]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, William T.}} Category:1848 births Category:1930 deaths Category:People from St. Clair County, Missouri Category:Politicians from Kansas City, Missouri Category:University of Notre Dame alumni Category:Missouri lawyers Category:Farmers from Missouri Category:Missouri Democrats Category:Catholics from Missouri Category:Knights of St. Gregory the Great Category:Mayors of places in Missouri Category:Lawyers awarded knighthoods Category:19th-century mayors of places in Missouri