Ole S. Johnson

JOHNSON, GROSSLAND, HOLSTAD, OLSON

Posted By: Gordon Felland (email)
Date: 1/2/2006 at 18:32:25

Ole S. Johnson, one of the prosperous farmers and representative citizens of Winnebago county, residing on section 21, Logan township, is a native of Norway, born in Nass Hallingdal, on the 22d of November, 1873, and is a son of Sven and Carrie (Olson) Johnson. In that country the father worked at the shoemaker's trade but determined to try his fortune in America and in 1871 crossed the ocean. He purchased a farm near Kensett in Worth county, Iowa, and there engaged in agricultural pursuits throughout the remainder of his life, passing away in 1911.. His wife is still living and continues to reside on the home farm in that county.

In the family of this worthy couple are nine children, all living, namely: Carrie, the wife of Halvor Grossland, superintendent of the county farm in Worth county; Ole S., whose name introduces this sketch; John S., a resident of Richland county, North Dakota; Sam S., also of Richland county; Martin S., of Saskatchewan, Canada; Astre, the wife of Herman C. Stendel, who is engaged in the creamery business in Vinje, Winnebago county, Iowa; Amund S., of Richland county, North Dakota; Otto S., of Saskatchewan, Canada; and Carl S., also of that province.

Ole S. Johnson was reared and educated in Worth county, Iowa, and after leaving school gave his father the benefit of his labor until his marriage. He then came to Winnebago county and purchased the northeast quarter of section 21, Logan township, which he at once began to clear and improve. Later he bought the north half of the northwest quarter and the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter and the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 22, so that he now has a fine farm of three hundred acres in a high state of cultivation and improved with good and substantial buildings. Mr. Johnson was administrator of his father's estate and is manager of the farm.

At the age of twenty-two years Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Mary Holstad, a daughter of Martin and Mary Holstad, of Bristol, Worth county, now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have seven children, namely: Mabel C., Melvin Selmer, Olinda Minnie, Otto, Benjamin Rudolph, Alfred Leroy and Bernice Evelana, all at home. The family are affiliated with the United Lutheran church and politically Mr. Johnson is identified with the republican party. He is now serving as school treasurer and township trustee. He is president of the Vinje Creamery Company and is a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company of Scarville. He is a man of good business and executive ability and usually carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes. All that he now possesses has come to him as the result of his own industry, enterprise and good management.

Source: History of Winnebago and Hancock Counties, Iowa, 1917, page 203

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