The Johnson Families of Jackson County, Minnesota

BEN H. JOHNSON (1865). One of the very earliest of the settlers of Jackson county who now reside in the county is B. H. Johnson, who lives a retired life in the village of Jackson. During the early days Mr. Johnson took an active interest in the affairs of the new county and participated in its organization.

Mr. Johnson was born in Plymouth, Litchfield county, Connecticut, August 1, 1834, the son of Louis and Nancy (Marsh) Johnson. He received a public and academic education in Watertown, Connecticut, and at the age of eighteen years came west and located in Baraboo, Wisconsin. He farmer in the vicinity of that town ten years and then enlisted in the army. The date of his enlistment was December 4, 1862. when he became a member of company F. of the Third Wisconsin cavalry. He served in the union army until September 29, 1865, when he was discharged at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Immediately after his discharge Mr. Johnson returned to his old home in Baraboo. He immediately made preparations to seek a home in the new country of Jackson county, and on Christmas day, 1805, landed on the Des Moines river. He bought sixty acres of land, partly in Des Moines township and partly in Visrciii>iii township, and also filed a homestead claim to land in Wisconsin adjoining his sixty acres. His life during this pioneer period was full of hardships, as were those of nearly all the settlers of that day. In January, 1868, while he was away from home, his house and everything in it was destroyed by fire. Mr. Johnson and his family then moved into a little log house which was located on another part of his farm.

Until September, 1873, Mr. Johnson continued to farm in Jackson county. Then, on the fifteenth of the month, he set out with a team for Kansas to make his future home in that country. He located at Burr Oak. in Jewell count.y, bought an eighty acre farm near town, and engaged in agricultural pursuits about five years. He then moved to town and for about fifteen years was engaged in the drug business. He was street_ commissioner of the village for three years and during the rest of the time he was a resident of Burr Oak he lived a retired life. In 1903 Mr. Johnson returned to his old home in Jackson county, and since that time has made his home in Jackson.

Upon the organization of Jackson county in January, 1866, Mr. Johnson received the appointment of clerk of the district court and served until his successor was elected and qualified. As there were practically no duties to perform the office was a nominal one only. He was a member of the board of county commissioners in 1867 and 1808, and during those j'ears served as chairman of the board. He held the office of justice of the peace four years and was assessor in both Wisconsin and Des Moines townships. Mr. Johnson is a Mason and a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge.

Mr. Johnson has been married twice. His first marriage occurred at Reedsburg, Wiscojisin, November 9, 1859, when he wedded Emma T. Cornish. She died October 3, 1871, aged 29 years. To this union two children were born: Rollan W., born December 4, 1860; Irving v., born January 10, 1870. His second marriage occurred April 3, 1873, in Jackson, when he wedded Martha Moore. As a result of this marriage the following children were born: Louis L. and Lloyd W., twins, born October 6, 1879; Ethel W., born January 31, 1881; Gretla H., born May 16, 1886, died May 20, 1891; Alice C, born September 3, 1887.

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

ABRAHAM JOHNSON (1869), deceased, was one of the very early settlers of Heron Lake township. He was born in Norway January 7, 1830, the son of George and Gro Johnson. He came to America at the age of twenty-four years and settled in Houston county, Minnesota, where he resided until 1869. He served one year in the civil war, enlisting from Chicago in company F, of the twenty-third regiment of Illinois volunteer infantry.

ilr. Johnson came to Jackson comity in 1869 and bought railroad land in Heron Lake township. He lived on that place fourteen years and then bought school land on section 36. West Heron Lake township, upon which he resided, engaged in farming, until his death, which occurred October 4, 1908. At the time of his death he owned 160 acres of land on sections 36 and 25, where he had builded a fine home. He was a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church and for several years was an officer of his school district.

Mr. Johnson was married in Heron Lake township November 1, 1872, to Rachael Timrud, who was born in Norway November 2, 1832, and came to the United States when eight years of age. Her parents were Ole and Tone Timrud, who settled in Houston county, Minnesota, before the civil war, and who later moved to the Red River valley, where they died. To Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were born five children: Tilda, born November 20, 1874; Olof. born July 30, 1877; Gena, born November 7, 1879; Julius, born January 10, 1881; Henry, born March 1.5, 1887. Mrs..Johnson resides on the home farm, which is managed by her sons, Julius and Henry.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

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

A. E. JOHNSON (1872), farmer and land owner of Delafield township, has lived in that precinct ever since he was two years of age. lie was born at St ought on, Wisconsin. Mareli 28. 1870. His father, Erick Johnson, was born ill Norwa.v and came to the Ignited States about 1805. He located first in Wisconsin and came to Jackson county in 1872, where he died in 1891. The mother of our subject was Ingcbor Johnson. She died in 1806.

The subject of this biography came to.Jackson county with his parents in.Tune. 1872, and has ever since lived in Delafield township. His father took a homestead claim of eighty acres on section 24, and on that farm young Johnson grew to manhood. He attended the district schools and worked on the farm for his father. In 1895 he took charge of the home farm, and, his mother dying the next year, he then engaged in farming on his own account. In 1903 he located on his present ])lace. having planted the grove and erected the buildings thereon. He is a member of the M. W. A. lodge of Windoni.

Jlr. Johnson was married in Belmont township September 11, 1897. to Belle Sogge. a native of Belmont and a daughter of Ole G. Sogge. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Jolmson, named as follows: Eldon, born June 9, 1898; Gehardt, born August 24, 1899; Benora, born March 3, 1901; Alma, born March 22, 1902; Lillian, born October 24. 1906.

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

JENS J. JOHNSON (1870). ex-sheriff of Jackson county and a successful farmer of Delaficld township, is one of the pioneer settlers of the county. He owns a 120 acre farm in Delafield and Christiauia townships, on which he has lived many years.

Mr. Johnson was born in Norway July 21, 1842, and lived in his native land until he was twenty years of age. After becoming old enough to earn wag's he went to work in a saw mill, making his home with his parents until fifteen years old. At that age he was confirmed and until 18.59 made his home with a minister. He again took up his residence with his parents and lived with them until he sailed for the United States in 1862. Arriving in the new world, he located at Stoughton, Dane county, Wisconsin. There lie worked two and one-haif years and then he located at Grand Rapids, of the same state, where he worked in a sawmill during the winter and rating logs during the summer. He again returned to Dane county, where he engaged in farming three years.

In _1S70 Mr. Johnson came to Jackson county and on October 8 took as a homestead claim the south half of the northeast quarter of section 12, Delafield township. Here he built a house, 14x18 feet, of lumber, in which he and his family lived until it was supplanted by a commodious structure in 1883. In the old shack he passed the early days, fighting grasshoppers and striving to make a living in the devastated country. He planted the groves and has made all the improvements his farm now has.

In 1883 Mr. Johnson conducted a grain elevator at Windom in addition to his farming operations, and in 1887 he moved to Windom, where he engaged in the lumber business ten years. Mr. Johnson was elected sheriff of Jackson county in 1875 and sei'ved four years. He has been justice of the peace and clerk of his school district, and was a federal census enumerator in 1880. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church and of the A. 0. U. W. lodge.

Our subject is the son of Johannes Nilson and Tngeborg (Peterson) Nilson, who came from Norway in 1873. The former died in Windom April 15, 1892, aged 80 years; the latter died in Jackson county in 1881. Jens is one of a family of eleven children born to these parents, of whom three are now living.

Jlr. Johnson has been married three times. His first marriage occurred at Grand Rapids. Wisconsin,.Tune 30, 186G, when he wedded Mary Peterson. She died October 25, 1860, leaving no children. Mr. Johnson's second marriage occurred September 3, 1870, when he wedded Sarah Johnson, who was born in Norway and who came to America when six years of age. She died April 28, 1890, aged forty-three years. The following named eleven children were born as a result of this union: Julia (Koeford), Mary (Peterson), Oscar E., Carl G., Casper E., Sophia (Barber), Albert B. and.Tens E. Mr. Johnson was married to his present wife at Windom, Minnesota, January 13, 1894. She was Mary Ann Nelson, a native of Norway. They have no children.

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

J. C. JOHNSON (1869) is one of the well known and successful farmers of Jackson county, having resided here since he was a boy seven years of age. He now resides in Belmont township.

Mr. Johnson is a native Minnesotan, having been born in Houston county February 13, 1862. He is the son of John E. and Susan (Swanson) Johnson, who now reside on their old homestead in Wisconsin township. The former came from Norway in 1841 and until he became of age lived at Muskego, Wisconsin. He then located in Houston county, Minnesota, where he enlisted in the mounted rangers of Minnesota volunteers and served In the campaigns against the Indians. He took his homestead in Wisconsin township in 1868 and located on the place the next spring. The mother of our subject came from Sweden in

J. C. Johnson accompanied his parents to Jackson county in the spring of 1869 and until he was eighteen years of age lived with his parents on the Wisconsin township farm, receiving a common school education and assisting with the farm work. From the time he was eighteen years old until 1886 Mr. Johnston worked at the miller's trade in Jackson and Brownsburg. Then he bought land in Wisconsin township and engaged in farming there until 1901. He then sold out and bought his present farm of 200 acres on sections 28 and 21, Belmont township. He has a well improved farm and has prospered. He engaged extensively in the raising of cattle and hogs. Mr. Johnson has stock in the Belmont Creamery company and in the Farmers Cooperative Store comiMiny of Lakefield. He has held township and school offices during nearly all the time since he became of age. He is a member of the Lutheran church and of the M. W. A. lodge of Jackson, No. 1069.

Mr. Johnson was married January 10, 1885, to Sina Larson, a native of Dane county, Wisconsin and a daughter of Nels Larson. Her father took as a homestead claim the farm now owned by !Mr. Johnson in 1866. To Mr. and Mrs.

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

ALBERT J. JOHNSON (1883), Belmont township farmer, was born on the farm where he now lives January 30, 1883, the son of John H. and Bertha (Iverson) Johnson. These parents were born in Norway and came to America when young children. They were married in Goodhue county, ilinnesota, and in a very early day came to Jackson county and homesteaded in Belmont. They are still living and make their home with their son. He is 64 years of age; she is 60. Eight children were born to them, as follows: Anna, Joseph, Andrew, Ada, Bertha, Albert, Julia and Clara.

Albert attended the district school and grew to manhood on his father's farm. He worked for his father until he was twenty-two years of age, and then took the management of the place, having since worked it on shares. The farm consists of 160 acres on section 24.

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

WILLIAM JOHNSON (1881), a Belmont township farmer, was born in Norway August 24, 18G2, the son of Mr. John Dalthorp and Mrs. Carolina (Halverson) Dalthorp, the eldest child of a family of five children. The mother of our subject died in Norway; his father came to Jackson county and died here in 1907 at the age of 73 years.

William Johnson lived with his parents in his native country, attending school and working out, until 1881. That year he came to Jackson county, spent the summer here, and then located in Cottonwood county, Avhere he resided three years. He spent the next year in Kittson county, and then came again to Jackson county. He owned land and farmer several years on section 18, Belmont, later on section 29, and in 1899 bought his present farm on section 22, where he has since resided.

Mr. Johnson was married in Jackson county in August, 1890, to Mrs. Bertha Olson, a native of Norway. Two children have been born to this union: Colman and Cora. The family are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church. He is treasurer of Belmont township and has held the office several years He has also served in various capacities as a school officer.

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

NELS A. JOHNSON (1889) is one of the big farmers of Weimer township and resides just outside of the corporate limits of the village in Heron Lake. He owns 500 acres of land on sections 29 and.30, Weimer township, and section 8, West Heron Lake township, and farms it all. He has a nice home and modern conveniences.

Nels A. Johnson is the son of the late Andrew Johnson and Mary (Kjos) Johnson, the latter a resident of Weimer township. He is the eldest of a family of five children, the other children being named Annie, Dora Katie and Gilbert. He was born in Lafayette county, Iowa, November 8, 1862, and that was his home until he came to Jackson county in 1889. He was educated in the Norwegian and English schools of his native county and spent his 3'younger years working out on farms, making his home with his parents. Coming to Jackson county twenty years ago, he bought the northwest quarter of section 8, West Heron Lake township, adjoining Okabena station, and engaged in farming there fourteen years. In 1903 he bought the land adjoining Heron Lake village and has since made his home there.

Mr. Johnson is a man of family, having been married in West Heron Lake township March 12, 1892, to Louisa Johnson, who was born in Chicago in 1808. She is the daughter of M. B. Johnson, who came to Jackson county in 1806 and who is now a resident of Weimer township. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, as follows: Mabel A., Arthur M., Noel K., Ruth L., Fremont L. and Paul J. C. The family are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church of Heron Lake.

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

H. O. JOHNSON (1897), of Christiania township, was born in Norway February 19, 1863, the son of Ole and Carrie Johnson. He came to America with his parents when three years of age and has lived, respectively, in LaCrossc county, Wisconsin, until 1874, Swift county, Minnesota, until 1877, Mitchell county, Iowa, until 1881, Rock county, Minnesota, until 189.3, Grant county, South Dakota, until 1897, and in Jackson county since the last named date. He received a good common school education and was brought up a farmer. With the exception of six months in the mercantile business at Luverne, Minnesota, and one year as a photographer in Benson, Minnesota, Mr. Johnson has been engaged in farming ever since he reached manhood.

Mr. Johnson was married December 12, 1889, to Caroline Olson, and to them have been born five children: Ida, born in April, 1891; Alfred, bom May 12, 1896; Ernest, born in November, 1897; Mabel, born in April, 1900; Carl, born in April, 1902. The family are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and Mr. Johnson is a member of the Woodmen of the World. He owns a quarter section of farming land in Marshall county, Minnesota, and has stock in the Farmers Elevator company of Windom.

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

JAMES C. JOHNSON (1897), of Jackson, was born in Olborug, Denmark, March 4, 1864, the son of Christ and Marie (Jensen) Johnson. He received a common school education in his native country and lived there until he was nineteen years of age.

Mr. Johnson came to America in 1883 and located at Spencer, Iowa, where he lived fourteen years, being employed at various kinds of labor. He moved to Lakefield in 1897 and for two years was employed as a grain buyer. He then moved to Jackson and that village has been his home ever since.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

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