Oscar Johnson

JOHNSON

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 4/26/2010 at 10:59:12

Oscar Johnson, a well known merchant of Ogden, is successfully engaged in business as a member of the fir of Johnson Brothers & Bailey, who conduct the only exclusive grocery store in the town. His birth occurred in Moingona, Boone county, Iowa, in October 1873, his parents being Charles E And Bessie Johnson, both of who were natives of Sweden. The father emigrated to the United States in 1866 and made his way direct to this county, locating at Mineral Ridge, where he was employed on the railroad until 1873. In that year he bought a tract of 80 acres in Marcy township and began improving the property, while subsequently he extended the boundaries of his farm by additional purchase until it embraced 120 acres of valuable and productive land. He devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits with gratifying success until 1909, when he put aside the active work of the fields and erected a handsome residence in Ogden, where he has since lived in honorable retirement. The period of his residence in this county covers nearly a half century and he is widely recognized as one of its substantial and esteemed citizens. To him and his wife were born eleven children, five of who still survive namely: Robert, David E, Oscar, Harry and Ellen.
Oscar Johnson acquired his early education in t his native town and subsequently pursued a commercial course in the Highland Park College of Des Moines. He the came to Ogden and here clerked in different stores for some time. In 1904 he embarked in business as a general merchant on his own account and at the end of six years opened a bakery and grocery establishment in partnership with his brother Harry. In 1912 they admitted H L Bailey to the fir, which has since been known as Johnson Brothers & Bailey, proprietors of the only exclusive grocery store in Ogden. They carry a large and well selected stock of staple and fancy groceries and are accorded an extensive patronage, enjoying an enviable reputation as reliable, enterprising and up to date merchants.
In March 1901, Mr Johnson was untied in marriage to Miss Nellie Ogren, a daughter of A G and Anna Ogren, who were natives of Sweden. They emigrated to America in an early day ad took up their abode in Geneseo, Illinois. The father, a tailor by trade, subsequently came to Boone, Iowa, and was here engaged in business as a tailor for a few years. The last years of his life were spent in Ogden, where he passed away in 1898, while his wife was called to her final rest in 1884. Mr and Mrs Johnson have one child, Beulah A, who is ten years of age.
In politics Mr Johnson is a progressive, advocating the principles set forth by Theodore Roosevelt at the time of the birth of the party. He now serves as secretary of the local school board and the cause of education has ever found in him a stalwart champion. In religious faith he is a Methodist. He enjoys an extensive and favorable acquaintance in the county in which he entire life has been spent and has long been numbered among its prosperous and representative citizens.

1914 Boone County History Book