Andew Johnson

JOHNSON

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 3/20/2009 at 00:18:36

Andrew Johnson, who is living on Sec 16, Garden township, is on e of he extensive land owners of the locality, his possession aggregating 440 acres. Almost a third of a century has passed since his arrival here. As his name indicates he is of Swedish birth, his natal day being January 9, 1839. He as reared to manhood in Sweden and acquired a good education in his native tongue, but his knowledge of the English language has been obtained since his arrival in the new world. Attracted by the favorable reports which he had heard concerning America, he sailed for the United States in 1864, taking passage on a sailing vessel a Gottenborg, which after six weeks on the Atlantic dropped anchor in the harbor of Quebec, Canada. He made the voyage in company with his father, mother and four sisters, and on reaching the Canadian city he at once started for Illinois, crossing the lakes and thence proceeding to Bureau county. He located in Princeton and having learned the blacksmith’s trade in Sweden he began work at that vocation in connection with his brother in Princeton. He as a resident of that city for six years and in 1870 he came to Boone county, Iowa where he and his brother purchased 80 acres of rich land. At once they began the difficult task of cultivating it so that it would yield a good return for their labors. They placed it under fence and the track of the plow was soon seen across the hitherto wild prairie. As their labors brought a good return they purchased more land from time to time and became the owners of 440 acres. Andrew Johnson has 240 acres and has erected a large residence his being one of the attractive country homes in this locality. The farm is further improved with good barns, cribs and granaries and fruit and shade trees add to the value and attractive appearance of the place. Industry and economy have been the salient features in bringing to Mr Johnson the very desirable and creditable success which he now enjoys.
IN 1871 in this county was celebrated the marriage of our subject to Miss Matilda Segren a sister of Mrs A F Armstrong. She was born in Sweden but was reared in Boone county, and by her marriage has become the mother of five children: Mary, the wife of William Benson of Garden township, earnest, Amel, Fred and Elma, who are still under the parental roof. They lost their first born, Anna who died in 1890, when a maiden of sixteen years. Politically Mr Johnson is an earnest Republican who believes firmly in the party and cast his first vote for Grant in 1872. He has served as a member of the school board, but otherwise has steadily refused to hold office. He and his wife are members of the Madrid Mission church and endorses all movements and measures for the general good. IN an analyzation of the character of Mr Johnson we find that energy in business has been guided by honorable principles, that his friendship ahs been characterized by loyalty and that in the home he is a devoted husband and father, and these render him a valued resident of his adopted country and he well merit’s the esteem given him.

1902 Boone County History Book