C. S. Johnson
A striking illustration of the opportunities which may be utilized in America by a young man coming from a foreign land is presented in the life of C S. Johnson, now a prosperous business man of Boyer.
He was born in Sweden, May 19, 1873, a son of John A. and Anna Johnson, both natives of Sweden. The father died in the old country but the mother is still living there.
C. S. Johnson of this review was the only child of his parents. He grew to manhood under the favorable conditions of a quiet home and received his preliminary education in his native land. As he approached manhood he felt an irresistible desire to see the world and decided that he would seek a permanent home in America. Accordingly, in 1892, being then nineteen years of age, he crossed the ocean and went west to Nebraska, where he spent five years.
In 1897 he arrived in Crawford county, Iowa, where he worked upon a farm for one year and then for five years followed the carpenter's trade. He began in the furniture business at Kiron but after several years sold out and entered the general mercantile business at Boyer, in which he has since continued with an ability which has produced very satisfactory returns. He has for seven years past been postmaster at Boyer, and he is also in partnership with Gust Sanders in business at Kiron. That he is attaining a goodly measure of success is evidenced by the fact that he owns a substantial store building in Boyer and also a store building in Kiron.
On the 25th of November, 1903, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Effie S. Erickson, a native of Crawford county and a daughter of John A. and Martha Erickson, both of whom were born in Sweden. The parents came to this country and are now making their home at Kiron.
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are the parents of two children: Eveline F., who was born June 14, 1905; and Carlyle A., who was born August 27, 1910, and died September 30 following.
Mrs. Johnson is a lady of fine intellectual attainments and she taught school very successfully before her marriage. She and her husband are active workers in the Baptist church and take great interest not only in its prosperity but in the advancement of all worthy objects. Politically Mr. Johnson adheres to the republican party, believing that its principles are most conducive to the prosperity of the state and nation. He was endowed by worthy parentage with the desire to win an honorable name in the world, and he is known as a man of strict integrity who possesses in the highest degree the respect and confidence of those with whom he associates.
Source: History of Crawford County, Iowa. Vol. II. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911.