A. O. JOHNSON
No history of business enterprise in this section of the country would be complete without extended reference to A. O. Johnson, of Northwood, who is a member of the firm of Evans, Johnson & Company, clothiers and men's furnishers, operating twenty-two stores in Minnesota , Iowa , Wisconsin , North Dakota and South Dakota . He well deserves to be ranked with Northwood's foremost businessmen and his life record should serve to encourage and stimulate others, showing what may be accomplished through individual effort intelligently directed.
Mr. Johnson was born in Kensett township, Worth county, on the 17th of May, 1876, a son of Ole and Barbo (Sabre) Johnson, who came to the United States from Norway in their childhood days, in company with their parents, the father being twelve years of age at the time he crossed the Atlantic, while the mother was a maiden of six when brought to the new world. The father's parents first settled in Chicago , while the mother's people took up their abode in Wisconsin . The Johnson family drove through from Chicago with an ox team in 1859 or 1860 and took up a claim just south of Blue Earth, Minnesota , whereon they resided for three years, but at the end of that time were driven out by hostile Indians. They left their home in the evening, being forced to abandon their stock, their chickens and everything except a few household necessities that could be quickly loaded into the wagon, but returned during the, night and got the cattle and chickens. They journeyed to Worth county, Iowa , and took tip their abode in Kensett township on a farm two miles west of the present corporate limits of Northwood. There the father and an uncle purchased eighty acres of land each and concentrated their efforts and attention upon farming. The former subsequently removed to another farm three and a half miles south of Northwood, where he resided until about 1913, since which time he has lived retired in Northwood. His has been an active and well spent life and he certainly deserves the rest which has come to him in the evening of his days.
A. O. Johnson of this review, a resident of Iowa throughout his entire life, early became familiar with the incidents and experiences that fall to the lot of the pioneer settler. He was educated in the district schools and in the Luther Academy at Albert Lea , Minnesota . His boyhood was spent upon the home farm and as soon as old enough to handle the plow he began assisting in the work of the fields. through vacation periods his attention was given to farm world until he reached his twenty-first year. In 1898 he took up his abode in Northwood, for he believed that he would find commercial pursuits more congenial than agricultural life. He then secured a clerkship in the clothing store of Strauss & Gunderson, who were occupying the same building in which Mr. Johnson is now carrying out business. He was employed by that firm for about six years and gained comprehensive and accurate knowledge of the methods pursued in commercial circles. He afterward went upon the road as a traveling salesman for the wholesale clothing house of H. Rosenblatt & Son of Beloit , Wisconsin , traveling for a year, and in 1905 he became associated with E. K. Evens and J. Leuthold, Jr., in establishing the clothing and men's furnishing goods house of Evens, Johnson & Company. This has since been developed into the leading clothing concern of Northwood, and extending their operations from time to time, the firm now owns and controls twenty-two stores in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, North Dakota and South Dakota. Their interests have therefore reached very extensive proportions, owing to the splendid organization, the systematic methods and the progressive spirit of the partners.
In 1907 Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Emma Evenson, of Northwood , Iowa , who is a native of Winnishiek County . They now have one son, Ogden Evens. In politics Mr. Johnson is a republican and he and his wife are consistent members of the Norwegian Lutheran church. Fraternally he is connected with Northern Light lodge, No. 266, A. F. & A. M., and is a worthy exemplar of the craft, constantly extending a helping hand where aid is needed. Starting out in the business world empty-handed, A. 0. Johnson soon passed on to positions of executive control and has subsequently bent his energies largely to organization, to constructive effort and administrative direction. Possessing broad, enlightened and liberal-minded views, faith in himself and in the vast possibilities for development along the specific needs of the distinctive lines which he has chosen for his life work, his has been an active career in which he has accomplished important and far-reaching results, contributing in no small degree to the expansion and material growth of the upper Mississippi valley, and from which he himself has also derived substantial benefit. He has contributed much to business progress and prosperity in the communities into which the firm have extended their business connections. He early had the sagacity and prescience to discern something of what the future had in store for this great and growing western country, and acting in accordance with the dictates of his faith and judgment, he has garnered in the fullness of time the generous harvest which is the just recompense of indomitable industry and marvelous enterprise.
Transcribed by Gordon Felland - July 2005 (picture added 11/26/06)