Andrew J Johnson

JOHNSON

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 3/20/2009 at 01:13:19

Andrew J Johnson who is a well known farmer living on Sec 17, Garden township, is familiarly called “Chicago Johnson” by his numerous friends. He has qualities and characteristics which have gained for him the confidence and regard of many with whom he has been associated. He owns and cultivates a farm of 160 acres which returns to him a good income. A native of Sweden, he was born December 28, 1838, and was reared and educated there. In early life he learned the carpenter trade, which he followed for a few years in his native land and then, believing that he might better his financial condition in the new world, he bade adieu to home ad friends and sailed for the United States in 1864. He was first in the employ of the government at Nashville, being engaged in the manufacture of wagons to be used it the army. He as thus employed for six months. With others he was engaged in drilling two times a week and participated in the last battle of Nashville, in the company of which he was a member and which was being held in reserve. In the spring of 1865 he made his way north to Chicago and there worked at his trade of carpentering on railroad work. For fifteen years he was with the American Bridge Company, being employed in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota, Wisconsin, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and also in Canada.
In the year 1884, Mr Johnson arrived in Boone county and purchased the land whereon he now resides. He began to build upon it and improve the fields. While his sons have been engaged in farming he has carried on carpenter work and has erected a number of residences and barns in Boone county, thus contributing to the substantial up building and improvement of this portion of the state.
In 1869 occurred the marriage of Andrew J Johnson to Miss Clara Johnson, who was also a native of Swede, the wedding, however being celebrated in Princeton, Illinois. Five children have been born of this marriage: Minnie the wife of Swan Johnson, who is a contractor and builder of Oklahoma, Fred who is engaged in farming in Garden township, Ed, Emma and Clara at home. The parents are identified through membership relations with the Garden Prairie Congregational church and are people of worth in the community, enjoying the high esteem of a large circle of friends. Politically Mr Johnson is a stanch Republican and his first presidential vote was cast for U S Grant, in 1872. He has never yet failed to support a presidential candidate of that party. His fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability and his interest I the public welfare, have elected him to positions of trust and responsibility. He has served as supervisor of roads and as a member of the school board for fourteen years. In the latter office he has done all in his power to advance the cause of the schools and raise the standard of education. He came to the new world a poor man, in fact, was in debt, but here industry and energy are more potent factors in success than in any other land and through the possession of these qualities he has steadily worked his way upward until he is today one of the substantial farmers of his community. He owns 160 acres of land in Garden township and the place is now well improved and under a high state of cultivation. In early spring the work of plowing and planting is carried on and in the golden autumn he reaps good harvests as a reward of his labors.

1902 Boone County History Book