In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1848
From History of Clay County, Iowa, from its earliest settlement to 1909 (1909)
JAMES JOHNSON.
James Johnson, owner of a neat and carefully cultivated farm on section 18. Lone Tree township, his home being not far from the village of Moneta, has been a witness of the growth and development of the county for thirty-six years, as his residence in this part of the tate (late from 1873. '" born in Dennark. March i. 1848, and remained a resident of his native land until after he had attained his majority. His educational opportunities were very Hmited. but reading, experience and observation have made him a well informed man since he attained his majority. He came to the new world as a young man of twenty years, sailing from Liverpool to Portland, ZNLiine. He did not harry in New England, however, but made his way directly westward to Brandon, Wisconsin. He' was unaccompanied by friend or relative and he brought no capital with him into the new world save his self-reliant spirit and commendable ambition. It was imperative that he obtain immediate employment and he went to work on a farm, where he remained through the summer, while in the winter seasons he was employed in the pineries. Subsequently he removed to the lumber regions of Michigan, settling at Ludington, where he worked in a sawmill one season. He then returned to Wisconsin and felt that his business prospects justified him in establishing a home of his own.
It was in the Beaver state, in the spring of 1872, that Mr. Johnson was married to liss Anna Anderson, a native of Denmark, who came to the new world* with her parents. In 1873 the young couple removed westward to Clay county, Iowa, which was then a frontier district, in which comparatively few settlements had been made, while many evidences of frontier life were here to be seen. Mr. Johnson first purchased eighty acres of land and the pioneer home was a little sod house in which they lived for eight years. It contained little beyond the necessities of life, but Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were willing to undergo hardships and privations, for eventually they might gain prosperity. With characteristic energy Mr. Johnson gave his attention to the arduous task of breaking the sod and bringing the fields into a state of rich fertility. It meant much hard labor but he did not walter and as prosperity attended him in the course of time he was able to purchase an additional tract of eighty acres adjoining the first purchase. This he also improved and still later he bought one hundred and sixty acres on section 20. Lone Tree township. On the home farm he set out a grove and also planted an orchard. Through the work of such men as Mr. Johnson this district of the county no longer deserves its appellation of Lone Tree township, for on almost every farm are now seen many fine trees, representing every kind of forest growth native to the state. Mr. Johnson has made many improvements on his place in other ways, including the erection of a large and attractive residence. He has also put up a big barn and cattle shed and now has a neat place on which none of the accessories of a model farm property is lacking.
Unto Mr. and ]Mrs. Johnson were born three sons and two daughters: Andrew \A' who is married and cultivates his father's second farm; Henry, who resides in Roberts county. South Dakota, on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres which his father owns there; jNIartin, who is the owner of six hundred and forty acres of land which he homesteaded in Nebraska; Minnie, the wife 01 M. R. Proctor, of Los Angeles, California, and Hannah, who is in Nebraska with her brother and also owns six hundred and forty acres adjoining his land.
The parents are members of the Seventh Day Adventist church and Mr. Johnson gives his political allegiance to the republican party and is conversant with the leading issues of the day. He has served as road supervisor and also as a member of the village board and is a man of strict integrity and worth, who has the confidence and regard of the entire community. As one of the early settlers of the county he justly deserves mention in this volume, for he has done an important work in advancing its present development, especially along agricultural lines.
As printed in History of Clay County, Iowa, from its earliest settlement to 1909 (1909). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1909. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.