Ole Johnson, who is well known and honored in this portion of the county, is distinguished as being one of the most enterprising farmers and extensive landholders of Wagner Township. He is the owner and occupant of five hundred acres of land, and is classed among those who make agriculture both an art and a science.

Our subject was born in Norway, January 8, 1838, and is 5th son of Ole and Lena (Benson) Johnson, also natives of the same country. The parents emigrated to the United States in 1849 embarking from Bremen, and were on the ocean four weeks and two days. On landing in Quebec, they at once made their way into the states, stopping first in the then hamlet of Chicago. From that place they made their way to Rock City, Wis., where they remained for a year, after they made their advent into this country. Ole Johnson, Sr., purchased forty acres of land, upon which he erected a log cabin 16 feet in dimensions, wherein the family made a home for about sixteen years. At the expiration of that time, the father sold this tract and moved to another farm, and the year following, 1861, built thereon a commodious and substantial residence. There the good wife and mother passed away within the sixty-second year of her age. Ole Johnson Sr., lived to be seventy-eight years old, when was also called hence. He was very successful agriculturist and at his decease left an estate comprising two hundred and thirty acres who bore many valuable improvements, and was well stocked with good grades of cattle and machinery.

Our subject was one in a family of six children three sons and one daughter of whom are yet living. He was reared on the home farm, aiding his father very materially in accumulating his wealth and in the meantime had acquired a good education in the schools of the districts when he establish a home of his own. He was married, at the age of thirty-two, to Miss Anna Wall who was born in Wagner Township, this country and was the daughter of Ole and Emma Wall. The latter were also natives of Norway, whence he emigrated to America in the year 1850, and lived in this state until their deaths when advanced years.

To our subject and his estimable wife have been born the following named children: Otto, Octavious, Henry, Emma, Johanna, Ruth, Beattie, Benjamin, Rudolph, Nettie and Ruth, deceased. Mr. Johnson remained upon the home farm for about twelve years after his marriage, and on expiration of that time we find that he located a tract of two hundred acres, which is included in his present valuable estate of five hundred acres. He is ambitious, wide-awake man, whose capabilities, industry and methodical business have been the making of him and given him good financial standing in the community.

Our subject, together with his father, has voted with the Republican Party since its organization. He has ever manifested a deep interest in the welfare of his township, and has been upon various times to hold most of the offices of responsibility and trust. He is a true Christian gentleman and a devoted member and regular attendant at the Lutheran Church.

The paternal grandparents of our subject, John and Mary Johnson, natives of Norway in which country they passed their entire lives. All were farmers by occupation, as were also most of the ancestors of Mr. Johnson.

~source: Portrait and Biographical Record of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton Counties; Chicago: Chapman Pub. Co., 1894; pg 521-522
~transcribed by Suzanne Terrell