John A. Johnson, Minnesota's first homegrown governor, is born in St. Peter. A Horatio Alger success story, Johnson overcame poverty to become editor of the St. Peter Herald. A popular figure statewide, he was elected governor in 1905, and his oratorical skills attracted nationwide attention. He died in office on September 21, 1909, cutting short plans to make him the Democratic Party's presidential nominee in 1912.