The Johnson Families of Black Hawk County, Iowa

One who is a keen judge of human nature has said that Emmons Johnson "is one of the most prominent business men of Waterloo. He ranks at the top socially, financially and morally." It is not the province of biography to give voice to a man's modest estimate of himself and his accomplishments but rather to leave the record establishing his position to the consensus of public opinion, and judged in this light it is safe to characterize Emmons Johnson as one of the foremost citizens of Black Hawk county. He has been prominently identified with commercial interests of the state and for many years has been actively engaged in the banking business, being now president of the Leavitt & Johnson Trust Company and president of the Waterloo Savings Bank. He is almost an octogenarian yet remains an active factor in the business world. He was born January 23, 1835, in Ellicottville, New York, a son of Elisha and Herma (Jewett) Johnson, the former a native of New York and the latter of Connecticut. The father also reached an advanced age, passing away in 1870.

In early boyhood Emmons Johnson attended the schools of Ashford and Otto, New York, embracing every opportunity to acquire an education up to the time he reached the age of twenty-two or twenty-three years. For a time he was a student in academies at Springville and Fredonia, New York, and for one term attended Brown University at Providence, Rhode Island. Mr. Johnson was a young man of twenty-five years when he sought the opportunities of the growing west, making his way in 1860 to Waterloo, where he has spent most of the time since, although he made his home in Independence, Iowa, for a time, was also a resident of Evanston, Illinois, for a year and although from 1864 until 1870 he was engaged in the banking business in Waverly. Following his arrival here he became connected with the grain and lumber trades and was associated with C. A. Farwell in building the first grain elevator at Waterloo, which he afterward operated. He also conducted a grain business at Independence, Iowa, where he made his home for a few months, also owning the first elevator in that place. For a year he conducted a grain commission business in Chicago and was a member of the Chicago Board of Trade, making his home in Evanston during that period. Removing to Waverly in 1864, he there established the first bank in Bremer county, remaining its owner until 1870, when he sold out to a stock company and returned to Waterloo to become a partner in the firm of Leavitt, Johnson Lusch, conducting a private banking business. After six years Mr. Lusch sold out to his partners and the firm continued as Leavitt & Johnson until 1898, when the business was reorganized into the Leavitt & Johnson National Bank. Although the name of Mr. Johnson is continued he is not connected with that institution at present. In 1902 he organized the Waterloo Savings Bank, in which he owns two-thirds of the stock.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

J. E. JOHNSON.

The number of productive industries which have sprung up in Waterloo in the last two or three decades has largely been the means of bringing about the city's rapid and substantial growth, whereby it has become one of the metropolitan centers of the state. In this connection J. E. Johnson is well known as the secretary and treasurer of the Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company. For fourteen years he has here resided and not only has he won a merited reputation in business circles but has also become a recognized factor in advancing the public good through his indorsement and support of many valuable civic measures.

A native of Nebraska, Mr. Johnson was born in Omaha in 1864 and spent the period of his boyhood and youth there. He supplemented a public-school course by study in Cornell College of Mount Vernon, Iowa, from which he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He afterward entered Boston University and there won the S. T. D. degree, after which he had a year of special study in sociology in Harvard University. Lie also received the honorary degree of D. D. from Cornell College in June, 1914. He has been a minister in the regular service of the church since 1892. His first charge was at Brockton,

Massacliusetts, after which he was called to Xiantic, Connecticut. He then accepted the pastorate of the First Methodist Episcopal church of this city and yet gives much time and earnest thought to the upbuilding of the cause of Christianity. Fie entered industrial circles when, in November, 1907, he became connected with the Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company, of which he is now the secretary and treasurer. He thus has voice in its management and control and his practical opinions are a valuable asset.

In 1895 Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Martha Cadwallader, a daughter of Chester Cadwallader, of Waterloo, and to them have been born two sons and a daughter, Harold E., Paul E. and Alargaret E. Mr. Johnson is a member of the Masonic fraternity and is in hearty sympathy with the beneficent purpose of the craft. His deep interest in the cause of education is manifest in the fact that he is serving on the board of trustees of Cornell College and his humanitarian spirit finds expression in his service as a member of the board of directors of the Associated Charities. He likewise belongs to the Town Criers Club, an organization for the upbuilding of the city and the extension of its Imsiness connections. He is one of the leading residents of Waterloo, active in all projects for the betterment and advancement of the city along material, intellectual, social and moral lines. He has a hand constantly outreaching to aid his fellow travelers on life's journey; he is generous to the needy, sympathetic to those in distress and is constantly teaching by example as well as precept those views of life which recognize the opportunities of the individual and his duties and obligations toward his fellowmen.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

As president of the Johnson & Wyth Company of Cedar Falls, Iowa, who conduct a large hardware, plumbing and heating business, Henry Johnson is an important factor in commercial circles of that city. He was born in Denmark in 1837 and in 1862 emigrated to America, settling in Chicago. In 1863 he enlisted in the Seventy-fifth Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry for service in the Civil war and remained with the regiment until the conclusion of peace, being mustered out at Springfield, Illinois, in 1865. He returned to Chicago, where he entered the grocery business, in which connection he remained until 1870. He then sold out his interests there and came to Cedar Falls, establishing a grocery store on Main street which he conducted for a year. After selling that store he located upon his two hundred and twenty-acre farm four and one-half miles from Cedar Falls and for seven years concentrated his energies upon farm work. He then rented his land and came again to Cedar Falls, establishing a drug and grocery business which he conducted for eighteen years. At the end of that time he engaged in the hardware, plumbing and heating business and has since remained active in that line. He is the executive head of the Johnson & Wyth Company and much of the success of that concern has been due to his knowledge of business conditions, his foresight and financial acumen. The business of the company has grown steadily and promises to continue to do so as the goods carried are of the highest quality, while the prices are reasonable. Mr. Johnson is a director of the First National Bank of Cedar Falls and owns stock in a number of manufacturing concerns of this city. He also owns considerable residence property in Cedar Falls from which he derives a gratifying addition to his annual income.

Mr. Johnson was married in Chicago, in 1868, to Miss Louisa Frandsen, a native of Denmark. Of the children born to them three died in infancy, the others being as follows: Harry, cashier of the First National Bank of Cedar Falls; Louis, who is a partner in and treasurer of the Johnson & Wyth Company; Nettie, a graduate of the Cedar Falls high school, who is bookkeeper and stenographer for that company; Josie, the wife of W. A. Waterman, a resident of Rockford, Illinois; and Eva, who died when nineteen years of age.

Mr. Johnson is independent in his political views and was for thirteen years a member of the school board. His family belong to the Protestant Episcopal church and are helpful in its work. He is a Knights Templar Mason and also belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Danish Brotherhood of America. He has never regretted coming to this country as he has risen to a position of prominence through utilizing the opportunities that he found here. He is thoroughly American in spirit and is one of the valued citizens of his adopted city.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

ANDREW P. JOHNSON.

Andrew P. Johnson is a retired market gardener and old settler of Black Hawk county, well known in Waterloo and throughout this part of the state. He is a native of Denmark, where his father conducted farming on a small scale and there Andrew P. Johnson attended school until fourteen years of age. When old enough he went out to work, receiving fifteen dollars and a suit of clothes for his first year's labor. He aided in plowing, wielded the flail and moved with the scythe and did other farm work according to the primitive manner of the times, when farm machinery was very crude compared to that in use at present.

When he was twenty-two years of age or in 1870 a neighbor, who was leaving for the United States, told Mr. Johnson that if he would go he would pay his passage. Mr. Johnson prepared for the trip. When he told his mother that he was intending to leave she cried and begged him not to go, but he felt that this was his opportunity. They made the voyage on a steamship called the Ocean Queen. When half way over they were struck by an awful gale and barely reached New York, having spent sixteen days in making the crossing. They landed in New York and thence made their way to Cedar Falls, Iowa, and began farming at Hudson at fifteen dollars per month. Mr. Johnson worked in that way for four years, at the end of which time he was taken ill and returned to Denmark in order to regain his health. The sea voyage proved the needed cure and he remained for six months ere again coming to the new world. It was during that period, on the 8th of March, 1876, that he was united in marriage to Miss Wilhelmina Anderson, who was born on Christmas day, 1846, in the same town in which his birth occurred. She had attended the country schools and was confirmed at the age of fourteen years in the same church as her husband.

Mr. Johnson brought his wife back on the vessel Cimbria from Hamburg to New York and the next year the ship went down with all on board. Mr Johnson established his home at Cedar Falls and both he and his wife were employed upon a farm. The following year they began housekeeping in Waterloo but had to go m debt m order to buy their household furnishings. They were resolute, determined and courageous, however, and gradually advanced toward success. For a year Mr. Johnson operated the Kingsley farm and afterward was employed in. connection with the J. A. Fowler greenhouse for eight years. Later he purchased of Mr. Fowler five acres east of the town and did gardening for thirty years. He then disposed of the property after having improved and beautified the land. He won substantial success in the capable management of his business affairs through his untiring industry and perseverance. For the past three years he has lived retired, enjoying a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves.

During their later years Mrs. Johnson's parents, Anders and Catherine (Larson) Petersen, made their home with her and here both passed away. They had a family of six children and also reared an adopted child. Mr. Petersen was a farmer by occupation. To Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have been born two children: Gustave C, of Waterloo, who married Marie Bruce and has three children, Emil, Holger and Arthur; Marie, the wife of J. C. Miller, of Waterloo, by whom she has two children, Marguerita Katrina and Edna.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are devout members of the Lutheran church and assisted in building the church of that denomination in Cedar Falls, of which A. S. Nelson was the pastor and in fact the first Danish minister of this denomination in this section of the state. Mr. Johnson has held office in the church and has ever been a generous contributor to its support. He also helped to purchase the church building on the corner of Fifth and South streets, Waterloo. When he and his wife were first married they assisted many young Danish people to get a start, entertained them at their home, kept them in the church and helped them to take out citizens' papers. Their influence and aid have ever been on the side of progress, improvement, justice, truth and right. They now have an attractive home in Waterloo which Mr. Johnson owns and he also has another residence property and vacant lots in the town. His has been a well spent life that has brought to him not only success but the respect and goodwill of his fellow townsmen. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to come to the new world, for here he has found the opportunities which he sought and, working his way steadily upward, is now numbered among the good citizens of Black Hawk county.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.