John Johnson

As printed in 1910

JOHN JOHNSON, JR.

John Johnson, Jr., one of the most prosperous of Osco township's agriculturists, who is intimately connected with its farming and stock-raising interests, was born in Sweden, March 24, 1850. His parents were John and Johanna (Hanson) Johnson, both of Swedish nativity, who came to this country in 1856. They were seven weeks in crossing the ocean, a journey which can be made in that number of days now, and before they were finally established in Swedonia, Mercer county. Illinois, where they located first, thirteen weeks had elapsed since they had set forth from their old home. Two children endured the hardships of that journey with them — August and John, of this review. Mr. Johnson had left his native land with some means, but they had dwindled on the way so that when he arrived in Illinois he had to start at the beginning to win a competence for himself and family. He bought first one hundred and sixty acres, but on account of failure of crops he was compelled to sell the greater part of this until he had only fifty acres left. About nine years after his arrival in this state, he moved to Andover township, this county, where he secured one hundred and sixty acres, and as his agricultural ventures prospered he was able to add to this tract from time to time until he had large landholdings in several townships of Henry county. In 1885 he built the first brick store erected in Osco and engaged in mercantile business, keeping up an active trade in grain and especially in room corn at the same time. Later, having won a pronounced success and a large income, he retired from active life, taking up his residence in Cambridge, where he passed away in 1902. In his family were five children, namely: August, who died unmarried; John, the subject of this review; Edd, who is now living in Cambridge; P. A., also a resident of Cambridge; and Carl B., who was the only child by his second marriage.

John Johnson, Jr., was about six years of age when his parents came to the United States and about fifteen when his father came to Henry county. He attended the common schools of his locality, and at home he acquired a practical knowledge of farming. At the age of twenty-five he left the paternal roof, for he had married and was naturally desirous to establish a home of his own and started in life for himself, receiving from his father a team of horses, a wagon, two cows and two pigs. The latter also rented him a tract of land, on which he lived for about ten years. At the end of that period in 1891 he purchased the farm he now occupies, paying sixty-seven dollars an acre for it. It is a fine tract, embracing two hundred and eighteen acres on section 33, Osco township, from which Mr. Johnson gained such rich returns for his labor that he has been able to add extensively to his landholdings. He owns one hundred and sixty acres in Merrick county, Nebraska, and after that purchase bought one hundred and sixteen acres in Clover township, this county, at the rate of sixty-five dollars per acre, obtaining one hundred and four dollars for it when he sold it in 1907. Next he procured the Tyson farm, of two hundred acres, on sections 16 and 17, Osco township, for twenty-five thousand dollars and in 1909 contracted for the Manguson place of two hundred and forty acres, on sections 18 and 20, the same township, for thirty-seven thousand dollars. From his father he had inherited one hundred and sixty acres and is the administrator of the three hundred and twenty acres which his father bequeathed to his son Carl B. Other investments which he has made include two houses in Cambridge and stock in the Farmers Bank and State Bank of that village and in the bank at Osco. In 1872 he assisted in the organization of the Swedish Insurance Company, of which he was for a number of years an appraiser. In short he is a man who through foresight, united with a great industry exercised in the most effective manner, has been able to derive from his agricultural pursuits and his extensive stock business a position in the community in which he lives that might be enviable were it not so inspiring as a record of what may be accomplished if one but make the best use of the opportunities at hand. His father had received but a very limited education, and he himself obtained one which would be accounted very meager were it placed alongside of such a one as boys acquire as a matter of fact today, yet both father and son won a fortune that came not from books but from the employment of those qualities which belong to men of strong character and determined purpose.

On the 2ist of August, 1872, Mr. Johnson wedded Miss Matilda Hanson, also a native of Sweden, who came to this country in 1869. To their union four children have been born: Anna, who married Enoch Swanson and is now the mother of two daughters, Clarice Ethel and Mildred Leona; J. Albert, who is at home with his father; Amanda Otelia and Nellie, who are also at home.

Mr. Johnson is a republican in his political views but is not an office seeker, although he has served as school director for a number of years. He and his family are members of the Swedish Lutheran church at Andover as was his father during his lifetime. Indeed, in 1867, when the church was rebuilt, the latter took an active part in the work, contributing generously to the fund raised for the purpose. Mr. Johnson, Jr., has also been lavish in supporting the congregation and for some time has served on the board of trustees.

As printed in History of Henry County, Illinois (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.