JOHNSON, AUGUST

JOHNSON, BOLLINGER, NELSON, ROBINSON, WINKE

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 3/5/2004 at 13:17:27

Biography reproduced from page 407 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

August Johnson, one of the representative agriculturists of Kossuth county, owns an excellent farm of one hundred and twenty acres on section 8, Irvington township, known as “Maple Grove,” in the cultivation of which he has been actively engaged for more than twenty-five years. He was born in Sweden, on the 15th of September, 1848, and is a son of John and Christina (Johnson) Johnson, who passed their entire lives in the land of their birth, where the father engaged in farming. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, our subject being the second in order of birth. The others are as follows: Anna, the wife of Melton Bollinger, of Greenleaf, Kansas; Lottie, the wife of Henry Bollinger, of Akron, Ohio; Alfred, who is living in Dixon, Nebraska; and Louisa, who has always remained in Sweden.

August Johnson was reared and educated in his native land, where he passed the first twenty-three years of his life. In 1871, he took passage for the United States, with Akron, Ohio, as his destination. Upon his arrival in that city he obtained a position in a sewer-pipe factory, where he was employed for a number of years. During that period he managed to acquire a small capital as he was thrifty and temperate in his habits, so in 1879 he resigned his position and went to Washington county, Kansas, to engage in farming. Three years later he returned to Akron, where he was employed until 1885, when he removed to Iowa. He came direct to Kossuth county and the following year bought his present farm, located on section 8, Irvington township, where he has ever since resided. The land was entirely unimproved when Mr. Johnson bought it, and during the period of his ownership he has erected a pleasant farm house, and good barns and outbuildings, all of which are substantially constructed and in excellent repair. He is progressive and enterprising and his farm is equipped with everything needed for its operation and he has at different times installed modern conveniences about the place, that both lessen the labor and expedite the work. One of the most attractive features of his farm is a beautiful grove of maples that he planted shortly after coming here, and from which his farm derives the name “Maple Grove.”

At Akron, Ohio, in 1875, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Christina Nelson, a native of Sweden, who came to the United States in 1872, and they are the parents of six children: Martha, the wife of Owen Robinson, who is engaged in farming in Irvington township; Minnie, who married Harry Winke, of Dixon, Nebraska; Anna, who is at home; William, at home; and George and Grace, twins, who are living at home.

In matters of religious faith the family are Lutherans, and his political support Mr. Johnson accords the republican party. He has always led a life of activity and enterprise and his efforts have been crowned with the success which rewards honest endeavor when earnestly pursued.