Oscar Johnson

As printed in 1914

OSCAR JOHNSON.

Oscar Johnson, a well known merchant of Ogden, is successfully engaged in business as a member of the firm of Johnson Brothers & Bailey, who conduct the only exclusive grocery store in the town. His birth occurred in Moingona, Boone county, Iowa, in October, 1873, his parents being Charles E. and Bessie Johnson, both of whom are natives of Sweden. The father emigrated to the United States in 1866 and made his way direct to this county, locating at Mineral Ridge, where he was employed on the railroad until 1873. In that year he bought a tract of eighty acres on Alarcy township and began improving the property, while subsequently he extended the boundaries of his farm by additional purchase until it embraced one hundred and twenty acres of valuable and productive land. He devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits with gratifying success until 1909, when he put aside the active work of the fields and erected a handsome residence in Ogden, where he has since lived in honorable retirement. The period of his residence in this county covers nearly a half century and he is widely recognized as one of its substantial and esteemed citizens. To him and his wife were born eleven children, five of whom still survive, namely: Robert, David E., Oscar, Harry and Ellen.

Oscar Johnson acquired his early education in his native town and subsequently pursued a commercial course in the Highland Park College of Des Moines. He then came to Ogden and here clerked in diiTerent stores for some time. In 1904 he embarked in business as a general merchant on his own account and at the end of six years opened a bakery and grocery establishment in partnership with his brother Harry. In 1912 they admitted H. L. Bailey to the firm, which has since been known as Johnson Brothers & Bailey, proprietors of the only exclusive grocery store in Ogden. They carry a large and well selected stock of staple and fancy groceries and are accorded an extensive patronage, enjoying an enviable reputation as reliable, enterprising and up-todate merchants.

In March, 1901, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Nellie Ogren, a daughter of A. G. and Anna Ogren, who were natives of Sweden. They emigrated to America in an early day and took up their above in Geneseo, Illinois. The father, a tailor by trade, subsequently came to Boone, Iowa, and was here engaged in business as a tailor for. a few years. The last years of his life were spent in Ogden, where he passed away in 1898, while his wife was called to her final rest in 1884..Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have one child, Beulah A., who is ten years of age.

In politics Mr. Johnson is a progressive, advocating the principles set forth by Theodore Roosevelt at the time of the birth of the party. He now serves as secretary of the local school board and the cause of education has ever found in him a stalwart champion. In religious faith he is a Methodist. He enjoys an extensive and favorable acquaintance in the county in which his entire life has been spent and has long been numbered among its prosperous and representative citizens.

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.