John D. Johnson

JOHNSON

Posted By: Gordon Felland (email)
Date: 3/3/2008 at 16:30:11

John D. Johnson was born in Norway, Dec. 28, 1829. He emigrated to America in 1849, landing in New York the 4th of July. He went to Wisconsin, stopping some time in Jefferson county, but settled in Columbia county, remaining four years. From there he removed to La Salle Co., Ill., in 1853, remaining there two years. He then went back to Columbia Co., Wis. In 1857 he came to Worth Co., Iowa, and settled on section 23, Hartland township. He has 280 acres of good land, which is well improved. He married Martha Einarson in 1853. She died in 1858, leaving two children— Josephine M. and Martha. He was again married to Julia M. Tollefson in May, 1859. She was born in Norway in 1834. They have seven children—Andrine, Growe, Michael, John, Andrew, Martineus and Alfred N. In 1860 they suffered a heavy loss by a prairie fire which destroyed the stables and all the hay, together with a yoke of oxen and a horse. By the aid of kind neighbors they were able to winter all their other stock however. They are members of the Norwegian Lutheran Church. He is a republican. He has been supervisor several terms and has held various town offices. He was the first assessor of Hartland township.

Source: History of Mitchell and Worth Counties, Iowa, 1883, page 772.