JOHNSON, John H. 1853-1913

JOHNSON, CLARK, SORGAARD, BUCK, WARNER, HEINE, VOSBURG

Posted By: Diane Johnson (email)
Date: 1/21/2003 at 06:53:53

JOHNSON, JOHN H. 1853-1913
J.H. Johnson Dies at Inwood - Pioneer Resident of Western Lyon; Inwood Locals

INWOOD- Special to the Reporter: Funeral services will be this afternoon (Thursday) at 1:30 at the home and at 2 o'clock in the Methodist church for J.H. Johnson, resident of Lyon County for 59 years, who died Monday morning, following a prolonged illness of heart disease.

John H. Johnson was born on a farm at Hadeland, Norway, on May 6, 1853. He came to this country with his parents and one brother in the spring of 1861 and the family settled at Walnut Springs, Wisconsin. Here he spent 11 years attending school and doing farm work. In the spring of 1873 the brothers came to Lyon county.

He was married to Sarah Elizabeth Clark in September, 1876. That fall they moved with Mrs. Johnson's parents to Kansas where they spent a year and a half farming. In the spring of 1877 Mr. Johnson returned with his family to Iowa and settled on a farm four and three-quarter miles east of Inwood. where he has lived ever since. Eight children were born to this union; Bertha, Walter, Eva, Loren, Ruth and Alice; also Maude and Edgar, who died in infancy. Mrs. Johnson died June 18, 1892. On the 25th of May, 1907, Mr. Johnson married Mollie Sorgaard, at Omemee, North Dakota to this union five children were born; Herbert, Horace, Earl, Mildred and Robert.

Surviving are Mrs. Johnson and Bertha and Walt of Inwood; Mrs. Fred Buck of Hazelton, North Dakota; Mrs. Cha. Warner, Wolverton, Minnesota, Loren of Valley Springs, South Dakota; Mrs. Geo. Heine, Austin, Minnesota; Mrs. Clint Vosburg of Larchwood; Herbert and Mildred of Iowa City, and Horace, Earl and Robert at home.

Mr. Johnson was known as "Apple Johnson" on account of the variety and productiveness of his orchid. his interest in fruit trees and shrubs. He was a member of the Minnesota Horticultural society for 20 years and was a life member of the Iowa Horticultural society. He made a trip to Madison, Wisconsin, and brought back and planted the evergreens that make the Inwood cemetery such a beautiful spot. He was a member of the Methodist church and was interested in the affairs of the community, having been school director and president of the school board for many years and township trustee for 13 years.