W. F. Johnson

As printed in 1907

W. F. JOHNSON.

W. F. Johnson is the owner of a valuable farming property of three hundred and twenty acres on sections 10 and 15, Baker township, and he operates altogether five hundred and thirteen ares of land which is richly cultivated and bears every evidence of the careful supervision and progressive methods of the owner. About half the with of the continent separates him from his birthplace, for he is a native son of New Jersey. He was born June 30, 1869, and is a son of '. L. and Katherine Johnson, the former born in New Jersey in 1832 and the latter in 1836. It was in the year 1878 that they came to Iowa and established their home in Guthrie county upon a farm which Mr. Johnson continued to cultivate for a number of years, bringing his fields under a high state of development. His continued and carefully directed labor at length brought him a competence sufficient to enable him to put aside further business cares and he and his wife are now living retired in Guthrie Center. Of their family of nine children W. F. Johnson is the youngest.

In taking up the personal history of our subject we present to our readers the life record of one who is widely and favorably known in this locality. He was brought to Iowa by his parents when a lad of nine years and his education, begun in the east, was continued in the public school near his old homestead. The summer months were largely devoted to the work of the fields and, finding farm life congenial, he has never sought to engage in other occupation but has devoted his time and energies to general agricultural pursuits as the years have gone by. He has made judicious investment in property as his financial resources have increased until he now owns three hundred and twenty acres of land on sections to and 15. Baker township, and in addition he rents other property until he is now cultivating fix'e hundred and thirteen acres. He is also feeding stock nn an extensive scale and makes large annual shipments.

Fortunately situated in his home life. Mr. Johnson was married on the 22d of October, 1893, to Miss Lillie M. Rose, who was born in Gutlirie county April J4. 1870. Her parents were natives of Ohio, the father born October 15. 1834. and the mother December 6. 1842. Their removal to the west at an early day made them residents of Scott county. Iowa, whence they came to Guthrie county about 1860, locating in Baker township, where they reared their family of eleven children, of whom Mrs. Johnson was the eighth. The death of the father occurred July 22, 1898, while the mother passed away on the lath of January, 1899. They had long traveled life's journey together and were separated by death for only a brief period.

Mr. and Mrs. Johnson attend and support the Presbyterian church. His political views are in accord with the principles of the republican party and he has held the office of assessor, while at the present writing he is township trustee. Interested in all that pertains to the welfare of the community, he cooperates in many movements for the public good. As with a great majority of the world's workers, his attention is chiefly given to his business interests, which he has developed along modern, progressive lines until he has become one of the more successful agriculturists of the county. He and his wife have many friends here, to whom they have become endeared owing to their excellent qualities of heart and mind.

As printed in Past and present of Guthrie County, Iowa : together with biographical sketches of many of its prominent and leading citizens and illustrious dead (1907). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.