Jens J. Johnson

As printed in 1910

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 An illustrated history of Jackson County, Minnesota (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.