John W. Johnson aka John W. Birkestrand (1843-1920)

JOHNSON, BIRKESTRAND, LEE, BERHOW, HULDERSON, KLOSTER, SHELDAHL

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:12

From Nevada Evening Journal September 21, 1920 (page 1 continued to page 3)

HUXLEY PIONEER CALLED BY DEATH

JOHN W. JOHNSON, CIVIL WAR VETERAN ANSWERED "TAPS"

Special to the Journal.
Huxley, Sept. 21--One of the largest funerals held in this community in years was that of John W. Johnson (Birkestrand) which was held from the Fieldberg church Sunday afternoon.

Mr. Johnson, a resident of this neighborhood for two-thirds of a century was the last of the civil war veteran in Huxley and the immediate vicinity.

The services were attended by four civil war veterans and respect was paid to his military record by a squad of American Legion men, who attended in a body and fired a salute over his grave.

John W. Johnson of Huxley, passed away on Wednesday, September 14, after an illness of several months duration. Death was caused by dropsy and complications resulting from the disease.

Mr. Johnson, also known as Mr. Birkestrand was born May 21, 1843 at Birkestrand in Skaanevik, Norway. With his parents, Wier and Kari Birkestrand, he emigrated from Norway in the fall of 1849 and settled at Lisbon, Ill. In the fall of 1855 he came to Iowa and he settled in Story county between Cambridge and Huxley. He has been a resident of this same locality ever since 1855.

In September, 1862 then 18 years of age, he enlisted as a soldier in the Civil war, and he was mustered in as a private Company K. 10th Regiment of Iowa Infantry of Volunteers. He took sick and was honorably discharged from service in the spring of 1862.

He was married, Dec. 20, 1867 to Anna Martha Lee, who survives him as his widow. To this union were born thirteen children of whom seven survive, viz., Ella (Mrs. Thomas Berhow,) Henry, Wier, George, Albert, Cora (Mrs. Peter Hulderson,) and Nettie (Mrs. L. S. Kloster.) The six children who are deceased were Ole, Rasmus, Emilie, Annie (Mrs. H. C. Sheldahl,) Rasmus J., and Charles.

Forty-six grand children; eleven great grandchildren; and three brothers, Lars, Simon and Wier, survive the deceased.