JOHNSON, Hans Laurits 1869-1952

JOHNSON, JENSDATTER, PETERSON ALMS

Posted By: Deidre Badker (email)
Date: 3/7/2014 at 13:23:06

Hans Lauritz Johnson was born May 18, 1869 at Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa to Ole Helgesen Johnson and Berthe Jensdatter, the fourth of their ten children.

Hans was baptized on May 25, 1869 at the Rock Creek Lutheran Church at Meroa, Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa. He was confirmed on June 7, 1885 also at RCLC.

Found in the 1870 - 1885 censuses living on a farm at Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa:
1870: Olen Johnson 37, Bertha Johnson 32, Helen Johnson 5, Gonnel Johnson 3, Lawrence Johnson 2 (Hans Lauritz).

1880: Ole Johnson 47, Betsy Johnson 42, Helena Johnson 15, Gunnel Johnson 13, Hans Johnson 11, Johannes Johnson 8, Carl Johnson 6, Ole Johnson 2, Maria Johnson 11m, Ole Larson 20.

1885: Oley H Johnson 52, Betsy Johnson 47,Helena Johnson 20, Kenstian Johnson 17, Louis Johnson 15, Johan Johnson 13, Carl Johnson 11, Julias Johnson 7, Maria Johnson 5, Olea Johnson 2.

Hans married Carrie Hansdatter Peterson Alms on September 18, 1893 at her parent's farm near Orchard, Mitchell, Iowa.

The couple had 3 sons who were all born in Cedar township, Mitchell County, Iowa:
Hjalmer Olvin Julius (b June 1, 1894, d December 19, 1969 Osage, Mitchell, Iowa);

Irvin Bernhard (b October 6, 1895, d July 29, 1980 Cape Girardeau, Missouri) and

Newell Birchard (b March 15, 1904, d May 7, 1984 Osage, Mitchell, Iowa.

Family found in the 1900-1940 censuses living in Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa:
1900: Lauritz Johnson 30, Kari Johnson 28, Olvin H Johnson 5, Irvin B Johnson 4, Carl Johnson 26, Ole Johnson 67.

1910: Hans Lauritz Johnson 41, Carrie Hansdatter Petersen Alms Johnson 38, Hjalmer Olvin Julius Johnson 15, Irving Johnson 14, Newell Birchard Johnson 6.

1920: Hans L Johnson 50, Carrie Johnson 48, Olvin J Johnson 25, Irvin B Johnson 24, Newell B Johnson 14.

1925: Lauris H Johnson 55, Carrie H Johnson 53, Olvin H Johnson 31, Irvin B Johnson 30, Newell B Johnson 20.

1930: H Lauritz Johnson 60, H Alvin J Johnson 35, Irvin B Johnson 33, Newell Johnson 25, William B Kerley 50.

Hans was a farmer and a bookkeeper.

In the 1911 Mitchell County Atlas, Section 2, page 18, a paragraph states that Hans lived on the old Torgerson farm. Hans was the secretary of the Rock Creek Co-Op Creamery at Meroa, Iowa in 1911. He served as their bookkeeper. He was a very smart man and was admired for the way he could add a column of numbers faster than someone using an adding machine.

During the depression, Hans was forced to cease farming. He then resided at the Pervin Berge home near Meroa, walking or getting a ride to the creamery.

His granddaughter recalls that he only drove a car once in his life. Hans bought a car in 1914, when Newell was about 10 years old. He drove from his farm, which was a couple miles east of the Presbyterian Church, to the Creamery, taking Newell along for the ride. He was terrified by the experience. When they got to the creamery, his knuckles were white and his hands were almost frozen to the wheel. Newell had to drive home and Hans never drove again.

Around 1944, Hans retired as bookkeeper of the Rock Creek Creamery and moved to rural Riceville to live with Newell and his family. When they all moved to Rudd in 1945, he worked part-time as the bookkeeper at Ehlebracht Implement in Rudd until about 1951.

Hans Lauritz Johnson died July 20, 1952 at Rudd, Floyd, Iowa. His funeral was a prayer service at the Champion Funeral Home in Osage and a funeral service at Rock Creek Lutheran Church conducted by Pastor M. G. Berg. Alida Motland was the organist and Mrs. Pervin Berge sang "In Heaven Above". His pall bearers were: Pervin Berge, Fred Ellebracht, Orv Barrett, Lloyd Staff, Lloyd Odden and Ed Maakestad.

Hans was buried at the Rock Creek Lutheran Church Cemetery, Meroa, Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa.

See FindaGrave Memorial# 65168829.