P. J. Johnson, farmer and stock-raiser of Sheridan Township, residing on section 18, where he has 160 acres of choice land, was born in the southern part of Sweden. December 20, 1850. His parents, John and Carrie Johnson, were also natives of Sweden, where they were reared and married, and to them were born seven children, four sons and three daughters, our subject being the fourth child. He was reared on his father’s farm in his native country, and received a fair education in the schools of his neighborhood. At the age of fourteen years he began learning the stone mason’s trade, at which he served an apprenticeship for five years. In 1870 he sailed from Malmo Harbor to America, landing at Quebec. He then proceeded to Rockford, Illinois, remaining there but a short time, when he went to Missouri and began working on the railroad. He subsequently came to Iowa, and began working on a farm near Des Moines, where he found employment until 1875, when he rented a farm near that city and followed farming for himself until 1882. He was married October 30, 1878, to Miss Minta Curran, who was born in Polk County, Iowa, December 31, 1854, a daughter of George and Tabitha Curran, natives of Ohio, who came to Iowa in its pioneer days and settled near Des Moines. In 1882 Mr. Johnson removed to the farm where he now resides, where he has since been successfully engaged in farming and raising stock. His residence is commodious and convenient, and his barns and other farm buildings are noticeably good, and he is classed among the well-to-do farmers of Sheridan Township. In his political views Mr. Johnson is a Republican.

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