J. A. Carlson

As printed in 1914

J. A. CARLSON.

J. A. Carlson is a farmer and stock-raiser residing on section 34, Harrison township, where he owns a fine farm of two hundred acres. Its present splendid condition is due to his efforts, as when it came into his possession it was raw prairie. Mr. Carlson was born in the province of Jonkoping Liin, Sweden, April 12, 1845, a son of Carl Frederick and Anna Greta (Johnson) Carlson, both of whom spent their entire lives in Sweden. They were members of the Lutheran church and were highly respected farming people. Our subject was one of a family of eight children, of whom one brother and three sisters came to America. Charley J. and Josephine, a widow, are both residents of Chicago.

J. A. Carlson was reared on the home farm in Sweden but came to America in 1868, when a young man of about twenty-three years. He had no capital and began life in this country as a farm hand, working by the month in Princeton, Illinois.. He was industrious and saved his wages and when he removed to Shelby county, Iowa, he had about five hundred dollars in money. He then rented land on shares for two and one-half years and as he was a careful agriculturist his labors were rewarded by gratifying financial returns. In 1876 he came to Boone county, Iowa, and bought eighty acres of land at twelve dollars and a half per acre. In the years intervening since that time he has added to his holdings until he now has title to two hundred acres of land in this county and also owns one hundred and sixty acres in Sanborn, South Dakota, which is operated by his son.

Mr. Carlson was married at Princeton, Illinois, in 1873, to Miss Hannah Samuelson, who was born in 1853 in Sweden and came with a sister to America when about twelve years of age. Her brother-in-law and sister, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Johnson, are now living in honorable retirement at Boone. To Mr. and Mrs. Carlson were born nine children: Emma is now the wife of Samuel Clark, a farmer residing near Riceville, Iowa, and each has a child by a former union. Laura is the wife of Ernest Johnson, who operates a part of our subject's farm on section 28, Harrison township; Eva is the wife of W. H. Wheeler, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. Nellie resides at home. Millie is the wife of Charles Richards, of Harrison township, and they have one son. Oscar departed this life at the early age of twenty-seven, leaving a widow, who was before her marriage Grace Johnson. Artie, a resident of South Dakota, married Nellie Smalley, a daughter of R. F. Smalley, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work. Lester and Reuben, who complete the family, are at home.

Mr. and Mrs. Carlson are members of the Swedish Mission church of Boone and follow its precepts in their daily lives. Mr. Carlson gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has acceptably served in school and road offices. He is a loyal citizen of his adopted country as he has here found opportunities which he has utilized and which have led him to success and prosperity.

As printed in History of Boone County, Iowa (1914). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.