Daniel N Johnson

JOHNSON, HAAVIG, DAVIDSON, CLEVEN, ELVEBAK, HOLE

Posted By: Gordon Felland (email)
Date: 9/30/2007 at 16:33:45

The united efforts of many men have made Iowa a great agricultural state, second to none in its crop production along certain lines. Daniel N. Johnson, who has been actively connected with the farming interests of Winnebago county for many years, is now residing on section 30, Norway township. He was born on the 26th of December, 1846, in Valestrand, Søndhorland, Bergen, Norway, his parents being Njeld and Margareta (Haavig) Johnson. The father was employed as a farmer and laborer in his native country until 1857, when he took passage on a sailboat bound for the United States and with his wife and three children came to the new world. He did not tarry on the Atlantic coast but made his way at once into the interior of the country, settling in Kendall county, Illinois, where he remained until the fall of 1859, when he went to Winneshiek county, Iowa, where he resided until 1866. In that year he traveled by ox team to Winnebago county, four families making the trip together in the same manner. This was then a wild western frontier district, in which the work of progress and improvement seemed scarcely begun. There were no settlers between the state line and Forest City west of Lime Creek. Their nearest market was at Austin, Minnesota, thirty miles away, and there was no road to Lake Mills, until 1879. Mr. Johnson purchased land in Center township and engaged in farming there until his death, which occurred June 24, 1881. His widow continued to reside upon the old homestead until she, too, passed away in November, 1902, when her remains were interred by the side of her husband in a cemetery on section 7, Center township. The place has now been abandoned for further burial purposes but has been preserved by the children of those buried there. In his political views Njeld Johnson was a republican, while his religious faith was indicated in his membership in the Synod Lutheran church. He worked diligently to gain a start and used industry, determination and perseverance as a foundation upon which to build his success. While he was practically empty handed when he came to the new world, he had become the possessor of a comfortable competence ere death called him to the home beyond.

Daniel N. Johnson acquired his education in the pioneer schools, which he attended as opportunity offered, for his time was largely devoted to work upon the home farm, where he remained until he attained his majority, sharing with the family in all of the hardships and privations incident to pioneer life. In the family were three children, of whom he was the eldest. His sister Martha became the wife of Ole Bendickson, of Center township, Winnebago county, and died some years afterward, leaving a family of twelve children. The other sister, Guri, became the wife of S. G. Smith, formerly of Ridgeway, Winnesheik county, but later of Norway township, Winnebago county, where they resided until about twenty years ago and then removed to Genesee, Washington, and subsequently to Moscow, Washington, where Mrs. Smith still makes her home, but her husband passed away, March 30,1911.

Leaving home on attaining his majority, Daniel N. Johnson, then secured a homestead of his own in Center township, comprising the west half of the northwest quarter and the west half of the southwest quarter of section 7. He at once began the arduous task of developing a new farm. He cleared the land, plowed under the wild prairie grasses and prepared the fields for planting. Year after year he carefully cultivated the place and remained thereon until 1874, when he sold out. He then bought the southeast quarter of section 30, Norway township. This, too, he had to clear and all of the work of converting it into the present valuable property has been done by him. He has continuously farmed the place and has made all of the improvements thereon. His first house was a dugout and later he built a log house, which in 1900 was replaced by his present fine home. He has also secured the latest improved farm machinery to facilitate the work of the fields, and good barns and outbuildings have been erected for the shelter of grain and stock. For seven years, Mr. Johnson was secretary of the Scarville Creamery Company, in which he still owns stock, and he is also a shareholder in the Farmers Elevator Company of Scarville, the Farmers Elevator Company of Lake Mills and the Lake Mills Lumber Company. All this is the visible evidence of his life of well directed energy and thrift, for he started out empty-handed and has made his success through his own effort.

On the 7th of February, 1867, Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Sarah Davidson, a daughter of Lars and Guri Davidson, natives of Norway, who in 1864 crossed the Atlantic to the new world and established their home in Freeborn county, Minnesota, where they remained until called to the home beyond. Mrs. Johnson was born May 23, 1847, and by her marriage became the mother of fifteen children: Nels J., whose home is in Burke county, North Dakota; Margaret Marie, the wife of T. J. Cleven, of Logan township; Lars D., who died at the age of twenty-four years; Peter J., living at Lake Park, Minnesota; Dina G., now the wife of A. M. Elvebak, of Eden township, Winnebago county; two children who were named Syvert 0., and died in infancy; Syvert 0., third, now living in Burke county, North Dakota; Hans Gilbert, who is in business with his brother at Lake Park, Minnesota; Martha B., a resident of Plentywood, Montana; Anna S., who died at the age of seven years; Guri 0., the wife of Andrew Hole, who is assisting in the work of the home farm; Selmer N. M., now located at Plentywood, Montana; Frederick Oscar E., living in Emmons, Minnesota; and Anna Sophia, also a resident of Plentywood. The wife and mother passed away March 13, 1911, and was laid to rest in the Lime Creek United Lutheran church cemetery. She was a member of the United Lutheran church, of which Mr. Johnson also is a member.

His political endorsement is given to the republican party and he has been called to fill some local offices, serving for fourteen years as justice of the peace of his township, in which he rendered decisions that were strictly fair and impartial and won golden opinions from all sorts of people. In 1915 he was president of the school board, of which he became a member two years before, and he is interested in all those forces which work for the upbuilding and progress of the community in which he lives, his influence ever being on the side of right and improvement. Moreover, his life record should serve to inspire and encourage others, showing what may be accomplished by determination, energy and ability.

Source: History of Winnebago and Hancock Counties, Iowa, 1917, Vol. II, pages 494-496.