Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 426
CLAIBORN F. JOHNSON

Claiborn F.JOHNSON, a representative farmer of Jefferson Township, residing on section 32, came to Harrison County in the spring of 1859. He was born near Des Moines, in Polk County, Iowa, March 7, 1856, the son of Archy and Olive (OWENS) JOHNSON. The father was a native of Scotland, while the mother was born in Indiana. They farmed in Polk County until the spring of 1859, and then came to Harrison County, renting a place in Magnolia Township for three years, and then bought eighty acres of wild land in Jefferson Township, which he improved, and to which he added until he owned two hundred and eighty acres. The father is now living a retired life in Logan. The mother of our subject died in Harrison County, during the month of October, 1873.

Mr. JOHNSON remained at home, on the farm, working for his father until he was twenty-two years old, when he went to Smith County, Kas., bought a quarter section of land, remained three years, and rented his place there and came back to Harrison County, Iowa, rented land for two years and then took charge of his father's farm, which he operated until the spring of 1886, when he bought one hundred and sixty acres of improved land constituting his present farm.

He was united in marriage at Omaha, Neb., March 9, 1882, to Miss Minnie JOHNSON, daughter of Peter C. and Mary (MARTIN) JOHNSON. The father is a native of Russia and the mother, of Paris, France. Our subject's wife was born in Central City, Colo., December 25, 1863, at which place she lived at the time of their marriage.

By this union one child has been born, Robert Bruce, August 14, 1890. He died December 25, 1890.

Mr. JOHNSON received his education in the common schools of Harrison County. Both he and his wife are members of the Christian Church and politically, he affiliates with Republican party. He takes an active part in local politics and has been Trustee of Jefferson Township three years, and has held other offices of a local nature.

Mrs. JOHNSON'S father, Peter C. JOHNSON, was a merchant for many years, at Central City, Colo., going there at an early day. He had extended mining stock, and was the owner of Elliot Mine, near Central City, where he died November 23, 1884, at the age of sixty-one years. His wife died at the same place, in January, 1867. They were the parents of seven children of whom four are still living: Tillie, Mrs. WEBB, of Colorado; Robert C. and Charles J., of Colorado, who are engineers at the mines, and Minnie, our subject's wife.

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