Business enterprise in Northwood finds a worthy representative in Elmer J. Johnson. whose recognition and utilization of opportunities has led him to a substantial success. He is the manager of the Northwood Manufacturing Company and as such is contributing to business activity and prosperity in his city, as well as to his individual advancement. He is numbered among the native sons of Worth county, his birth having occurred in Hartland township, April 22, 1888, his parents being M. D. and Julia (Aase) Johnson.

    The father was also born in Hartland township but the mother was a native of Norway. At the usual age, M. D. Johnson became a pupil in the public schools of his native township and after his textbooks were put aside he took up the occupation of farming, which he made his life work.

    Elmer J. Johnson had the usual experiences of the farm-bred boy, for he was reared on his father's old homestead and divided his time between the work of the fields and the acquirement of a district school education, which he supplemented by further study in St. Ansgar Seminary of St. Ansgar, Mitchell county. He graduated from that institution with the class of 1908 and afterward spent another year upon the farm. He was then called to public office, being appointed to the position of deputy county auditor of Worth county, in which capacity he served for two years. On the expiration of that period he became connected with the lumber business on the 11th of January, 1911, as manager of the Northwood Manufacturing Company and has since acted in that capacity, covering a period of about seven years. He has most wisely and carefully directed the interests under his supervision and has contributed much to the success of the enterprise. The Northwood Manufacturing Company was organized in 1902 with H. T. Cuandahl as its first manager. Mr. Cuandahl was succeeded by H. C. Johnson and after him in turn have come 0. C. Johnson, 0. H. Hove, Tollef Christenson, John Brabble and Elmer J. Johnson, whose long incumbency in the position indicates his efficiency and fidelity.

    In 1911 Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Rena L. Olson, a daughter of Richard and Lieve Olson. She is a native of Minnesota but her parents were born in Norway and after coming to the United States settled in Mower county, Minnesota, in 1858 and there spent their remaining days.

    Mr. Johnson is a member of the Sons of Norway and of the Norwegian Lutheran church and thus comes in close connection with others who have had their birth or ancestry in the land of the midnight sun. In politics he is a republican, interested in the questions and issues of the day but never active as an office seeker. He is content to do his duty as a private citizen and he stands at all times as a loyal supporter of measures and movements for the general good. As a business man he has made an excellent record and, actuated by a spirit of laudable ambition, he has gradually worked his way upward and has long been accounted one of the representative business men of Northwood.

Transcribed by Gordon Felland, August 2001