Before I tell you about Lyle's grandfather, let me first say, this will be longer than most of my writings. That is because we have had two dedicated family historians that already researched and published an entire book about the Johnsons. Thanks goes out to my cousin Janice Johnson Gudmunson and my Aunt Marjorie Sanstead Moe. Their dedicated research and work is passed onto you, my readers.
John Kristofferson Johnson (Nicknamed John C) was born November 24, 1855, in Ridgeway, Clayton County, Iowa. His father Kristoffer Jonson Sole was of Norwegian descent and immigrated from Norway in 1850. His mother was Sigri Olsdatter Bergan, born in Rollag, Buskerud, Norway, and immigrated in 1852. Kristoffer and Sigri had three sons, John, the oldest, Ole, born in 1857, and Nils, born in 1859.
In 1859 when John was four years old, his father died, and his uncle, Fingar Johnson became his guardian after his father's death.
John received his early educational training in the schools of Clayton County, Iowa.
In 1864, John’s mother, Sigri married Ole Kjorn. Sigri and Ole had three daughters, Bergjet (1865-1891), Caroline (1867-1937), and Malene (1871-1933).
In 1870, when John was fifteen, he traveled with his family to Lund Township, Douglas County in Minnesota. He assisted with their farm work. In 1874, when he was nineteen, he bought 80 acres of school land next to the home place in Lund Township.
On January 10, 1879, John C. married Anna Hanson at Rock Prairie Lutheran Church, a log Church near her home in Stony Brook Township, by Wendall, Minnesota. Reverand Vettleson performed the ceremony. John C. and Anna had met many years before their marriage while they were very young coming with their parents in a wagon train to West Central Minnesota. Their first meeting was while the wagon train camped on the shore of Lake Minnewaska, near Glenwood.
1879 was a memorable year in another way, for not only were John C. and Anna married, but the railroad through Evansville was completed.
John C. and Anna’s first living quarters was a dugout. Then they built a small frame log house on their land. They cleared timber and started to improve and cultivate their land. They were considered among the early pioneer settlers of Lund Township.
This picture was taken about 1890. Backrow, Caroline, Sander, and Henry. Front, Anna, Joseph, and John holding Tillie.
John C. and Anna had thirteen children: Kristoffer (1880-1880), Caroline (1881-1965), Henry (1883-1904), Sander (1886-1965), Joseph (1888-1972), Tilda (1890-1969), Odell (1892-1966), Mabel (1895-1982), John (1896-1951), Luella (1899-1988), Clifford (1900-1932), Birdeen (1906-1959) and Henry (1907-1944).
Pictured Above, back row L-R; Caroline, Sander, Tilda, Odell, Luella, Joseph. Second row; John, Mabel, John "Jack", Clifford, Anna. Front row; Henry and Birdie. Estimated date, about 1912.
John C. and Anna worked hard and continued to add to their holdings, and eventually owned four hundred acres of fine land and had one of the most improved farms in the county. He had a good modern house and one of the best, most up-to-date barns around which had room for more than one hundred tons of hay. His buildings were all arranged and equipped for the most modern and scientific gaming. His first barn was a straw shed after which he built a log barn. The new barn was built in 1915.
A good modern house. From left to right: Mabel, Luella, Odell, Birdeen, Anna, Clifford, John C, Jack, Caroline, and Tilda. Behind: Sander and Joseph. Taken about 1910.
John C. was one of the most extensive stock breeders in the country, making a specialty of thoroughbred Shorthorn cattle and full-blooded Percheron horses. He was the owner of a full-blooded Percheron stallion that was imported from France. He also raised many mules for the market. John was great at fixing horse harnesses for his farm, and neighbors too. He also owned a threshing machine and thrashed for other farmers.
The 1900 US Census shows John is 44, married for 20 years to Anna, both his parents were born in Norway and he can read, write and speak English. He is working as a farmer and owns his farm. The children living with them are Karolina, 18, Henry, 16, Sneider, 15 (Sander), Joseph, 13, Tilda, 10, Odall 8, Mabel 6, Johnnie 3, and Lulla 1. They also have a border living with them.
John was one of the organizers with Charlie Hermonson, Peter Engstrom, and Ole J. Berg of the Garfield-Evansville Telephone Company, now reorganized as the Gardonville Telephone Company. The first telephone went into effect during the summer of 1904. John served as the president of the phone company for fourteen years.
The 1910 US Census shows John C. is 54, living in Lund, Douglas County, Minnesota. He is married, and working as a farmer. His wife Anne is 48. Children living with them are Tille, 19, Odell, 17, Mabel 15, Johnnie, 13, Luella, 10, Clifford, 8, Berthie, 6 and Henry, 3.
The 1920 US Census shows John C. is 64, married to Annie Johnson, parents are from Norway. He is working as a farmer on a farm he owns that is free from mortgage. Living with him is his wife Annie, 58, and children Sander, 33, Mable 24, Luella 20, Clifford 17, Birdie 16, and Henry 12.
The 1930 US Census shows John C is 74, living in Lund Township, Douglas County in Minnesota. Also noted that he was 24 when he married and did not attend school, however, he can read and write. Also noted is that both his parents are from Norway and he can speak English. His son Henry, Age 23 is now listed as the head of household. Also residing in their home are John's wife Anna 69, Howard 18, a nephew, and Claus Paulson a servant. All his other children have married and have families of their own.
John C. was very civic-minded. He served his township as a supervisor for twenty years and as a school director of district Number 35 for twenty-eight years.
I came upon a story written by John’s daughter, Luella where she relates:
Dad was bothered with rheumatism. That was what it was called in those days. It may have been arthritis. He had a stiff neck, crippled hands, toes and feet. There was only one kind of shoe he could wear and he’d buy them in Alexandria at Paulson’s Store. Dad was not able to do the farm work himself but he was a very good manager. Every morning at the breakfast table all would be assigned their jobs for the day.
My parents worked hard for what they had. They were good Christian parent’s and good providers. We perhaps didn’t have everything, like the well-to-do, but it wasn’t known then. Dad didn’t get a chance to have much education in those early days, but saw to it that we children got an education. They worked well together. *
John C. died when he was seventy-five on January 23, 1931. He was buried in the Mound Grove Cemetary in Evansville, Minnesota.
*Note - Luella recorded two audio histories and they are online at the Douglas County Historical Society. The first, recorded in 1981, she recounts her life growing up and as a teacher - listen here. And another recorded in 1985 here.
Learning from the past can forever alter how you see yourself.
If you still have Grandparents, ask them about their life experiences and memories. Or ask your parents to tell you stories about their grandparents.
Sharing stories is one of life’s treasures!