Fred Johnson

JOHNSON

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 3/11/2009 at 16:09:07

Fred Johnson who is living on Sec 12, Douglas township, has become the owner of a valuable farm of 320 acres entirely as a result of his own enterprise, untiring energy and keen discrimination in business affairs, and his life proves conclusively how potent tin America are industry and resolution in the gaining of success. Mr Johnson is a native of Sweden his birth having occurred there on April 29, 1840. He is a son of Andrew Johnson, who was also born in that land and after arriving at man’s estate wedded Elizabeth Nelson, a native of the same country. The father followed farming in Sweden and three children, who are yet living, were born unto him and his wife there In 1851 he determined to seek a home in the new world and with his family crossed the Atlantic to New York, whence he proceeded at once westward by was of Chicago and Keokuk, Iowa to Boone county, where he found some substantial friends. Andrew Johnson died the same year at Keokuk. The family were six months upon the way and had endured many hardships and privations. The voyage across the Atlantic had lasted for twelve weeks and four days, during which time the vessel encountered some very severe storms. Mrs Johnson long survived her husband and died in this county in 1892. The subject of this review was the second in order of birth of three children. The eldest Mrs Mollie Anderson is now a widow residing in Douglas township, while Matilda, the younger sister is now the wife of Peter Sholan, of Madrid.
Fred Johnson spent the first eleven years of his life in the land of his nativity and then came to the United States. Well does he remember many incidents of the voyage and of the trip across the country. At length the family reached their new home in Boone county and here he was reared upon the farm. He had but limited school privileges, so that he is almost entirely a self educated as well as a self made man. From his youth he has depended upon his own resources for a livelihood and the success that he has achieved is the direct result of his own labors. After arriving at years of maturity he chose a companion and helpmate for life’s journey and was united in marriage on October 26, 1866, to Miss Haddie D Larson, a native of Sweden in which country she spent her girlhood days. Her father is D Larson, of Garden township, Boone county. The young couple began their domestic life upon a farm near Madrid which MR Johnson had previously purchased, a tract of 86 acres. He began at once to further improve and develop the property and as the years passed and his labors brought to him increased financial resources he added to his land until he now owns 500 acres, comprising three good farms. He has sways carried on the cultivation of grain and also the raising, feeding and fattening of stock for the markets. His business has been successfully conducted and although he started out in life for himself empty handed having enjoyed but few advantages he has steadily climbed the ladder of success and today he is numbered among the men of affluence in the community.
The home of Mr and Mrs Johnson was blessed with nine children, eight of whom are yet living. John A, who is married and follows farming on his father’s land. Charles G, who is married and lives in Denver, Colorado, C Eddy, a young man at home, Oscar F, who is married and is living on one of his father’s farms, Anton S, who is also married and lives on one of his father’s farms, Selma, Mary and Clarence L all under the parental roof. They also lost one son, Arthur who died at the age of nine years.
When Mr Johnson attained his majority he became identified with the Republican party, for his consideration of the questions and issue of the day lead him to believe that the best interests of the country would be conserved through the adoption of the Republican principles. He cast his first presidential ballot for Abraham Lincoln in 1864 and has voted for each presidential nominee of the party since that time. He was elected and is now serving for his second year in the office of township trustee. He and his wife were reared in the Lutheran faith and hold membership relations with the Swedish Lutheran church of Madrid and aided liberally in the erection of the house of worship there. Mr Johnson is deeply interested in every movement and measure calculated to prove of general good and he is familial with the history of up building in Boone county through the past half century. He has seen its pioneer conditions give way before the encroachments of civilization. He has seen the county crossed and recrossed by a network of railroads, telegraph and telephone wires, has witnessed the introduction of many business enterprises, the establishment of towns and villages, while the wild lands have been made to bloom and blossom as the rose. A man of unquestioned honor in business and loyalty in social circles, he has the confidence of friends and neighbors and well deserves representation in this volume.

1902 Boone County History Book