John F. Johnson John F. Johnson, president of the St. Olaf's Savings Bank, and farmer and stock raiser of large interests, was born in Wagner township, Clayton county, December 4, 1855. His parents were Fingar and
Ingred (Olson) Johnson, both natives of Norway, who came
to America, settling in Clayton county, Iowa, in 1852,
where they settled on a farm. His mother died in 1915,
but his father is still living on the farm at the
advanced age of eighty-eight years. To their union were
born seven children: Eliza, wife of Thomas Wold, who is a
farmer of Clayton county, in Wagner township; Mr. Johnson is what may well be termed a man of affairs, and has been successful in all his undertakings because of the intelligent insight and untiring industry he has brought to bear upon them. He remained on his father's farm until he was twenty-five years of age, when he began his own work in life by buying one hundred and sixty acres of land to which he soon added another one hundred and sixty. He acquired large land holdings in South Dakota and is extensively and profitably engaged in farming and stock raising. His integrity and keen business insight have made him president of the St. Olaf's Savings Bank, and the Republican party to which he belongs has availed itself of his clear judgment in the administration of various township offices. He has been secretary of the school board and is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church. Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Tillie Glesne, who was born in Clayton county, and to them have been born seven children, all of whom are still at home: Irene, Helen, Johanna, Frances, Arthur, Oliver and Ruth. source: History of Clayton
County, Iowa; From The Earliest Historical Times Down to
the Present; by Realto E. Price, Vol. II; pg 198-199 |