Andrew & Josephine Johnson

JOHNSON NELSON

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 9/15/2010 at 20:36:25

History of Woodbury County, Iowa 1984

Andrew and Josephine (Nelson) Johnson
By Elaine K Johnson

Andrew Gus Johnson was born on November 18, 1849, in Vestevik, Sweden, the second son of John Peter Anderson. As a young man, he worked on freighters which sailed up and down the coastline of the Baltic Sea. In 1969, Andrew traveled by ship to the United States. The trip took about one month. Upon arrival in the United States, he journeyed to Iowa and settled near Kiron with his older brother, Charles. It was Charles who made it possible for Andrew to come to the United States. Andrew worked as a plasterer’s helper for a few years, but became restless and moved to Chicago, Illinois, to look for other work. He stayed in Chicago for only a short time and soon returned to Iowa to work for Charles.

Josephine Nelson was born on March 18, 1858, in Vimmerby, Sweden. She obtained enough schooling to learn to read, but was not able to continue her education long enough to learn to write very well. As a young woman, she hired out to do general housekeeping. In 1885, she boarded a ship and sailed across the North Sea to Hull, England, where she took a train to Liverpool, England, boarded another ship and crossed the Atlantic Ocean to the United States. The ship landed at Ellis Island. She traveled to Iowa and went to work for Charles Johnson, older brother of Andrew.

Andrew Johnson and Josephine Nelson were united in marriage on March 29, 1889. They lived near Kiron until 1894 when they moved to Odebolt, Iowa. In the spring of 1897, they moved to Woodbury County to an area very close to the area now known as Bronson. Andrew and Josephine were the parents of Robert A, Ethel R, Allison, Myrtle, and Jeannette.

Robert A was born on September 21, 1890. He married Edith Christenson (now deceased) on June 30, 1931. They were the parents of Robert, Jr, Ray L, and E Bruce. Robert, Jr died in a tractor accident on June 11, 1943. Ray L is married to Elaine Wink. They are the parents of Brett and Brian. E Bruce married Sharon Preston. They were the parents of Monty and Randy.

Ethel was born on January 27, 1892. She married Arthur Foster (now deceased). They were the parents of Carol, Marian, Lucille (who died while a young child) and Barbara. Carol married Melvin Wright (now deceased) and is the mother of Marilyn and Donna. Barbara (now deceased) married Duane Johnson and is the mother of Arthur and Vicki. Ethel (Johnson) Foster died on January 20, 1920.

R Allison was born on June 29, 1894 and died in January 1895.

Myrtle was born on February 28, 1898. She married Herman Carlson. They were the parents of Elaine, Carolyn, Jimmy (who died while a young child), Larry and Mary. Elaine is the mother of April. Carolyn married Ray Tippery and is the mother of two children. Mary married Robert Lyons and is the mother of one daughter. Myrtle (Johnson) Carlson died on December 13, 1972.

Jeannette was born on April 9, 1900. She married Albert Fulton (now deceased) on February 12, 1921. They were the parents of Eugene, Shirley, Beverly and William. Eugene is married to Betty Christiansen and is the father of Jack, Judy, Tom, Janice, Tim, Terry (now deceased), Jay Tracey and JoAnn. Shirley is married to Alvin Robinson and is the mother of Marsha. Beverly is married to Jack Hannah and is the mother of Michael and Bradley. William is married to Marjorie Duel and is the father of Todd (died in infancy), William Jr and Jane. Jeannette (Johnson) Fulton died on June 18, 1973 from injuries suffered during a tornado in Moville, Iowa, on that same day.