The Johnson Families of Wapello County, Iowa

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

Nicholas Johnson was born in North Carolina and was a farmer by occupation. He married Diadama Henshaw, also a native of North Carolina, and they reared nine children, six of whom are now living, namely: Isaac, Elizabeth, Elijah, Rebecca, Mahala and Nicholas.

Elijah Johnson lived in Morgan county, Indiana, until he was ten years of age, when he came to Iowa with his parents in 1848, the journey being made l3y- wagon, in two weeks' time. His father located in Washington township, Wapello county, and Elijah remained with him until he reached the age of twenty-five years. Ele then located on the southwest charter of section 24, Agency township, and in 1881 moved upon his present farm in section 25, Agenc township. \Mien he first came here he was in debt to the extent of $800, but By hard, energetic wf rk and the exercise of good judgment he wiped out all indebtedness and at the present time owns 1,200 acres of excellent farm land in A\wapello county. In 1882 he built his present two-story, eight-room house, which is of good appearance and comfortably arranged. He rents most of his land and is engaged in general farming.

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

CHARLEY E. JOHNSON.

Charley E. Johnson, engaged in general farming and dairying, is the owner of valuable property, comprising two hundred and seventeen acres on sections 19 and 30, Agency township. It was in this township that he was born on the 4th of November, 1864, and he is a son of Elijah and Priscilla Johnson, the former a native of Indiana and the latter of Ohio. The year 1848 witnessed their arrival in Wapello county, Iowa, at which time they took up their above upon a farm. They became the parents of six children: Charley E.; Elizabeth D., the wife of H. Mathes of Wapello county; D. W., living in the same county; Harry, a resident of Glenwood, Iowa; and two who have passed away. The father died on the 20th of February, 1909, after a residence of about sixty years in this part of the state.

Charley E. Johnson remained at home until he reached the age of twenty-four years and then took up his above upon the farm where he now resides. In his chosen life work he has been very successful and the secret of his success is not hard to find, for he has ever been persistent and diligent and in business affairs displays sound judgment. He is today the owner of an excellent property of two hundred and seventeen acres on sections 19 and 30, Agency township, and thereon conducts a dairy business as well as general farming. He keeps a number of good cows for dairy purposes, and his dairy products find a ready sale on the market. He is also one of the directors of the Wapello Savings Bank.

On the 7th of March, 1889, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Mary B. Connelly, who was born in this county in 1867 and is a daughter of W. W. and Elizabeth (Ruckman) Connelly, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio. The year 1845 witnessed their arrival in this county, which was then a frontier district, giving little promise of rapid or substantial development in the future. Mr. Connelly, however, lived to see remarkable changes ere his death, which occurred April i6, 1908. His daughter Mary was one of a family of seven children, six of whom survive. Before her marriage she was a teacher in the public schools, but after her marriage she concentrated her energies upon the care of her home and children, who are three in number: Ethel Veda, who was born October 20, 1890. and is the wife of Joe AL Bohlender, of this county; Hazel Dell, who was born June 14, 1893, ''id is now in college in Mount Pleasant; and Ronald E., who was born September 5, 1895, and is also in college. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Johnson is republican in his political views. For twenty-one years he served on the school board as secretary and the cause of education finds in him a warm friend, who does all in his power to further the interests of the community in that direction. His energy is unfaltering, and his advancement has been won along the lines of ceaseless business activity.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

ARNOLD E. JOHNSON, a prominent farmer of Columbia township, Wapello county, Iowa, lives on government lots 2 and 3, section 7. He was born on his present farm August ij, 1862, and is a son of Arnold and Mary (Arans) Johnson, both natives of Holland.

Arnold Johnson came to America in 1847, landing at New Orleans. He immediately thereafter located in Wapello county, Iowa, and settled upon the land in Columbia township which is now owned by his son. The tract contained 101 acres, and to this he added 40 acres of wholly unimproved land. He set to work improving the land and fenced it in. He built a log house, which he later replaced by a frame dwelling, which was destroyed by fire in 1879. The following year he erected the present substantial nine-room house. He also built a barn and other (.outbuildings, and made the property one of the best improved farms in the township; He as one of the most prosperous farmers of the community, and had a large number of friends. He sold his farm to his son, Arnold E., April 23, 1892, and died on May 16 of the same year, at the age of seventy-two years. He was three times married, his first union being with Mary Arans, By whom he had the following children: Mary; George: Nellie; Louisa; Dora; Adrian; Annie; Elizabeth; Lizzie; and Frank. Mrs. Johnson died on March 15, 1873, and Mr. Johnson was married to Jennie Nixon, who died six weeks later. He was later married to Annie Cramer, who died in 1892. In religious belief, he was a Roman Catholic. Politically, he was a Democrat, and served on the school board.

Arnoldi E. Johnson attended the common schools of Wapello county, and at an early age applied himself to farming, which he has followed all his life. He is engaged in general farming and stock raising, and prefers Shorthorn cattle and Poland-China hogs. His farm is well watered and under a high state of cultivation.

In 1890 Mr. Johnson was united in marriage with Martha J. Brown, who was born

October 23, 1868, and is a daughter of David Brown, a record of whose life may be found in this work, under the title of W. A. Brown. This union resulted in the birth of two children, Helen, born June 19, 1892; and Wilbur E., born October 26, 1896. In politics, Mr. Johnson is a Democrat, while in religious attachments he is a member of the Catholic church. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and holds a policy in the Des Moines Life Insurance Company.

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

N. O. JOHNSON.

It has been said that in America "labor is king;" at all events effort is not hampered by case or class and the individual who is persistent and energetic and whose activities are intelligently directed may win success. At the outset of his career N. O. Johnson had no influential friends to aid him and was dependent entirely upon his own resources. He did not corn honest labor and his industry has constituted the foundation upon which he has builded his prosperity.

He was born in Sweden, December i6, 1851, and in 1869 he came to the United States, then a young man of about eighteen years. He landed at New York on the 19th of May, but did not harry in the eastern metropolis, making his way directly to Iowa. It was about the ist of June that he reached Ottumwa and here he secured employment on the railroad. He was afterward in the employ of Thomas Foster, a farmer of Wapello county, for whom he worked for about ten years. His long service with one man indicates unmistakably his fidelity as well as his industry. In 1881 he returned to Sweden and was married, remaining for three months in his native land, after which he brought his bride to the new world. Once more he made his way to Wapello county and rented a farm in Washington township. He continued to cultivate leased land for six years, but during that period carefully saved his earnings until his industry and economy had brought him sufficient capital to enable him to purchase a farm. He then bought two hundred acres of Jerry Lanning on section 30, Agency township, and afterward he added to this property. He now owns three hundred and ninety acres on sections 19, 30 and 31. He makes a specialty of raising and feeding stock and keeps on hand high grades of cattle. For a long period he remained the active head of the farm, but has now practically retired, while his sons arc carrying on the work, operating the farm on shares.

On the 17th of March, 1881, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Annetta Siegerstrom and they became the parents of four children: Charles A.; Clara E., who is a graduate of the State Normal School and for several years has been successfully engaged in teaching; Wilbur S.; and Harry E., who is a high-school graduate. Mrs. Johnson and the children are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Mr. Johnson votes the republican ticket and has served as township trustee. He is ever loyal to the land of his adoption and is much interested in the development and progress of his home locality. A self-made man, he had but a dollar and a half in his pocket when he first reached Ottumwa; not only this but he was terribly handicapped by not being able to speak the language, but this he has since mastered and now speaks it very fluently. He has gradually worked his way upward, early recognizing the eternal principle that industry wins, and he has ever depended upon earnest, honorable labor in order to attain success. He has never neglected his duties but has performed the tasks that each day has brought and by working earnestly and unremittingly he has gained the handsome competence which he now enjoys and which ranks him with the substantial citizens of this part of the state.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

ALBERT WRIGHT JOHNSON, who has been a resident of Ottumwa, Iowa, since 1878, is at the present time identified with the firm of Samuel Lilburn & Company, packers and shippers of butter and eggs. He was born in Seneca county, Ohio, December 10. 1854.

Mr. Johnson was reared and educated in Northern Ohio, and was graduated from Baldwin University with the class of 1876. Upon leaving college, he entered upon the study of law, and soon after coming to Ottumwa, in 1878, was admitted to the bar of Iowa. In addition to the practice of law, he served as principal of the Ottumwa High School during 1879 and 1880.

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

Cary Johnson is well known in business circles of Ottumwa as a dealer in automobiles, handling the White, Studebaker and Spaulding cars. He is widely recognized as a young man of enterprise and energy who has won success in his undertakings. His birth occurred in Illinois on the 23d of March, 1880, his parents being W. C. and Ann (Jones) Johnson, the former born in Ohio on the 8th of May, 1833, and the latter in Indiana in 1845. W. C. Johnson, who followed general agricultural pursuits throughout his active business career, now makes his home with his children. During the period of the Civil war he served for three years with the Ninety-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. His wife was called to her final rest in 1900. They had four children, as follows: Charles, who is a resident of Champaign, Illinois; Edwin, living in Moscow, Idaho; Cary, of this review; and Forest, of Fayette county, Iowa.

Cary Johnson attended the common schools of his native state in the acquirement of an education and was reared to manhood on the home farm. He came to Iowa in 1902 and has since spent most of the time in Wapello county. He was actively engaged in agricultural pursuits until September, 1913, and still owns a farm in this county on which he resided for two years and which is now operated with the aid of hired help. In September, 191 3, he took up his above in Ottumwa and bought out the automobile business of Mr. Fisk, having since maintained the salesroom in the Utt building. He handles the

White, Studebaker and Spaulding cars and is accorded a gratifying patronage that makes the undertaking profitable.

On the ist of September, 1900, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Ociea Smith, a native of Ohio, and a daughter of J. E. and Catherine (Snavely) Smith, who are residents of Eldora, Iowa. The father is an agriculturist by occupation. Our subject and his wife have four children, namely: Edna Marie, Bertha May, Ona Irene and Virgil Glenn. Mr. Johnson gives his political allegiance to the republican party and is a Methodist in religious faith. His fellow citizens know him as a man of honor and genuine personal worth, meriting their respect, good-will and confidence.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.