JOHNSON, JOHN B.

JOHNSON, SWANSON, MAGNUS, PEARSON, ALCORN, PETERSON, BRIGHAM

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 3/4/2004 at 13:15:23

Biography reproduced from page 17 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

Emblazoned on the historical pages of Kossuth county so that all who run may read, is the name of John B. Johnson, the founder of Bancroft and an intensely active citizen, useful in his day and generation and honored and respected by all who knew him. He was prominent in the business and political affairs of his county, and his death, which occurred December 17, 1904, was deeply regretted by the community. An Algona paper, commenting at length on his departure, paid him a deserved compliment, writing in part as follows: “A man of few words, his advice never profitless, his judgment ever sound, his extensive business dealings of over a fourth of a century leave not one item to shadow his merited reputation for integrity and fairness. An active champion of his political faith, he conducted himself in such contests as in his business in a manly, straight-forward and honorable manner that held the friendship and admiration of those he opposed.” John B. Johnson was born in Halland province, Sweden, October 3, 1848, a son of Carl and Johanna Johnson, both natives of that country. The father was a coast watcher and fisherman, being employed by the crown to detect smugglers. He emigrated to the new world in 1854 and settled at LaCrosse, Wisconsin. Later he removed to Red Wing, Minnesota, and in 1885 came to Kossuth county, Iowa, where he continued his residence until his death. Both he and his wife passed away in Bancroft.

John B. Johnson was six years of age when his parents emigrated to this country and he was educated in the district schools of Goodhue county, Minnesota. In 1872 he came to Kossuth county and settled at Swea. There were no buildings in the town at that time except the company house of the American Immigration Company and he was made the local agent for that concern, a position he held for five years. It was Mr. Johnson who took charge of the Swedish emigrants sent to Swea City by Captain Jensen at Castle Garden, New York, and he assisted them in picking out their homes in Swea and adjoining townships. In the village of Swea, Mr. Johnson opened the first store and was also the first postmaster, a position which he held for ten years. He then sold his store and removed to where Bancroft is and platted the town, opening the first store at that place. He continued here in general mercantile business for a considerable period, after which he sold out and embarked in the machine and farm implement business, being so engaged at the time of his death, which occurred in Bancroft, December 17, 1904. At the time of his death he was vice president of the First National Bank of Bancroft and was a director of the State Bank of Swea City and also of the State Bank of Ringsted. He likewise owned an interest in a six hundred and forty acre farm near Bancroft.

Mr. Johnson was married in Goodhue county, Minnesota, March 5, 1870, to Miss Christina L. Swanson, a daughter of Andrew and Gretta (Magnus) Swanson, both natives of Sweden, who came to America in 1851. The father, a farmer by occupation, located on land near St. Charles, Illinois, where Mrs. Johnson was born, and after residing there for three years removed to Red Wing, Minnesota. Later he took up a homestead near that place and lived upon it for eight years. He next removed to Faribault, that state, and bought a large farm there, which is still owned by representatives of the family. The father died in Faribault on his farm on the 29th of January, 1901, surviving his wife, whose death occurred March 5, 1896. To Mr. and Mrs. Johnson six children were born, namely: Lillian Viola, the wife of Olaf Pearson, a dealer in automobiles at Swea City, by whom she has two children, Buell and Bernice; Alice Rosamond, living at home with her mother; Charles LeRoy, a ranchman living hear Hot Springs, South Dakota, who married Gazelle Alcorn, of Seneca township and has two children, Neva and Alcorn; Mabel Josephine, who married Marius Peterson, a farmer of North Dakota, and who has one child, Bernard; Wilford Paul, who is engaged in farming at the Standing Rock reservation in South Dakota, and who married Gertrude Brigham, of Bancroft; and Jerome Buell, who is engaged in the oil business in Minneapolis, Minnesota. After the death of Mr. Johnson his widow and children continued to live on in Bancroft for four years, when they sold their home and implement business and removed to Swea City, where they built the modern residence which they now occupy.

Politically, Mr. Johnson was a stanch republican and served for three terms as county commissioner of Kossuth county, and at the time of his death was serving his fourth term as postmaster at Bancroft. He had served for two years as mayor of that city, had been councilman for many years and had held other positions of trust and honor. He was a school director of Swea township from the time the first school was established there until many years later. He was afterward president of the school board of Bancroft for four years and was also holding that position at the time of his demise. He was a member of the Swedish Baptist church of Swea township when they held meetings in the old company house and later in the schoolhouse. After removing to Bancroft, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson became members of the American Baptist church of that city and now Mrs. Johnson is a member of the same denomination at Swea City. The death of Mr. Johnson was a calamity to Kossuth county, which was deeply regretted by the entire community. He was one of the foremost of his countrymen residing in Iowa and by his active, useful life performed a great service in behalf of the sons and daughters of Sweden who took up their residence in this great state, large numbers of whom are now prosperous and honored citizens of the state. The memory of John B. Johnson will not soon fade as he was known by practically all of the older settlers and to know him was to respect and love him.