Peter A. Johnson

As printed in 1910

PETER A. JOHNSON.

Among the prominent and prosperous business men of Cambridge, who from a small beginning in the commercial world have achieved success entirely through their own innate powers and persevering efforts, is Peter A. Johnson, a manufacturer and dealer in agricultural implements, buggies, carriages, automobiles, etc., having resided in this city for the past fourteen years. He was born in Swedonia, Mercer county, Illinois, December 15, 1859, a son of John and Hannah (Hanson) Johnson, both of whom were natives of Sweden. Peter A. Johnson was one of four children born to this union, the others being: August, who is now deceased; John, Jr., residing in Osco township; and Edward, a resident of Cambridge.

John Johnson, the father of our subject, was a carpenter, builder and agriculturist in Sweden. He emigrated to the United States in 1854, and, coming to Illinois, settled in Swedonia, Mercer county, whence he removed to Andover township, Henry county, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of unimproved land. For some time he devoted his time and energies to its further development and improvement, and that his labors were rewarded is indicated in the fact that he finally became the owner of over a section of land in this locality. At different times he lived in Osco and Cambridge, his death having occurred in the latter place in the fall of 1902, when he had reached the advanced age of eighty-two years. He survived his wife for several years, she having passed away when about sixty-five years of age. Both were members of the Swedish Lutheran church and people of the highest respectability, whose honorable and upright lives commanded for them the esteem and warm regard of all who knew them.

Peter A. Johnson has lived in Henry county since he was six years old and during his boyhood spent most of his time on the farm in Andover township, attending the district school during the winter months and learning the more valuable lessons in the great school of experience. He assisted his father in plowing, planting and harvesting, working industriously in field and meadow from the early spring until the crops were garnered in the late autumn. His father, wishing to encourage his efforts, gave him some land to cultivate on his own account and the son engaged in farming in Andover township for a number of years, being now the owner of a good tract of land containing one hundred and sixty acres, which was a part of his father's estate. Subsequent to this time he engaged in the further development of a farm near Cambridge and also conducted an implement business in the town for six years before locating there in 1902. Since then he has conducted a business which, under his capable control and active management, has been developed into substantial proportions. In the year of his arrival in Cambridge he bought his first automobile and at present he engaged extensively not only in buying and selling automobiles but all kinds of agricultural implements, buggies, carriages, etc. He owns three business buildings and a foundry where wagons are manufactured and occasionally an automobile.

In April, 1883, occurred the marriage of Peter A. Johnson and Miss Emma E. Young, of Swedonia, Ilinois, who is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Young, both of whom were natives of Sweden and early settlers of Mercer county, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have three children: Alfred E., who formerly was in partnership with Fred Cook, the firm engaging in the manufacture of gasoline engines; Lillie E.; and Herbert S. Both Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are members of the Swedish Lutheran church, and he gives his political support to the republican party. Although he started in the business world almost empty-handed, he has built up a business of large proportions, which is not only a source of gratifying income to himself but also a credit to the city, and he is, indeed, a worthy representative of commercial interests in the city wherein he is numbered among the men of affluence.

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.