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