Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Plat of Glenwood Township (1905)


Plat of Glenwood Township (1905). Image courtesy of Historic Map Works.

Henrietta and G. Johnson's farm is in Section 21.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Gustav Johnson Family (1906)


Gustav Johnson family portrait (1906). Front row: William, Anna, and Arthur. Middle row: George, Gustav, Henrietta, and Charles. Back row: Esther, Emma, and Lillie. Image courtesy of Verla Williams.

Monday, December 6, 2010

Johnson Family Homestead (c. 1907)


Johnson family homestead (c. 1907). From left: Arthur, Anna, Lillie, Henrietta, William, and Esther. Image courtesy of Verla Williams.

In late Dec 2014, I had the good fortune to be visiting my parents in Iowa City, and we took a short drive up to Decorah. We visited a few cemeteries and took some pictures of gravestones. As we drove by the Johnson homestead, I asked Dad to stop so I could take a picture of the house for comparison.


Johnson family homestead (29 Dec 2014). Image courtesy of Mark D. Williams.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

1910 US Federal Census: Gustav JOHNSON Family


Detail of 1910 US Federal Census. Image courtesy of Ancestry.com.

Johnson Gus /Head / M / W / 54 / M / 28 / Norwegian / Norwegian / Norwegian / 1865 / English / Farmer
________ Henriette O. / Wife / F / W / 46/ M / 28 / Iowa / Norwegian / Norwegian / English / Home
________ George B. / Son / M / W / 27 / S / Iowa / Norwegian / Iowa / English / Student
________ Lillie V. / Daughter / F / W / 17 / S / Iowa / Norwegian / Iowa / English
________ Ester [sic] F. / Daughter / F / W / 16 / S / Iowa / Norwegian / Iowa / English
________ Anna S. / Daughter / F / W / 13 / S / Iowa / Norwegian / Iowa / English
________ William N. M. / Son / M / W / 9 / S / Iowa / Norwegian / Iowa / English
________ Arthur F. S. / Son / M / W / 6 / S / Iowa / Norwegian / Iowa / English
Sasson Matilde / Schoolteacher / F / W / 21 / S / Nebraska / Danish / Wisconsin / English / Schoolteacher
Teslow Herman / Hired man / M / W / 20 / S / Iowa / Norwegian / Iowa / English / Labor



Source Citation: Year: 1910; Census Place: Glenwood, Winneshiek, Iowa; Roll: T624_428; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 0155; Image: 1130; FHL Number: 1374441.

Source Information:
Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data: Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910 (NARA microfilm publication T624, 1,178 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C. For details on the contents of the film numbers, visit the following NARA web page: NARA.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Biography: Gustave Johnson


Edwin C. Bailey, Past and Present of Winneshiek County Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Progress, Organization and Achievement, Vol. 2, (Chicago: S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1913), pp. 267-268. Images courtesy of Internet Archive. See also IAGenWeb Project.

GUSTAVE JOHNSON
Gustave Johnson makes his home an section 21, Glenwood township, where he owns and operates a tract of land of one hundred and forty-seven acres. He began farming twenty-six years ago, previous to which time he had been identified with journalistic and publishing interests. He started out in life on his own account when but twelve years of age and whatever success he has achieved has come to him as the merited reward of his industry, perseverance and capable management. He was born near Christiania, Norway, October 18, 1855, and is a son of Andrew and Anna Johnson, who in the year 1864 crossed the Atlantic and became residents of Madison, Wisconsin, where their remaining days were passed. The father was a merchant tailor and conducted a store in Madison, also owning a farm near that city. He likewise was the leader of two bands in Madison, the Lake City Cornet Band and the Governor’s Guard Band. In early life he had spent four years in Berlin as a musician and had led bands in Norway. He possessed much natural musical talent which he cultivated through continuous study and practice. He was married in Norway and in that country three of his children were born two of whom died in Norway in early life. Four others born in the United States who have passed away are: Julia, who died in Chicago in 1912; Emma and Clara, who died of diphtheria when sixteen and eighteen vears of age respectively; and Carl, a jeweler who died at the age of twenty-one years. The surviving members of the family are Gustave and Mrs. Bertha Muggy, of Seattle, Washington.

Gustave Johnson resided with his parents in Wisconsin until fifteen years of age but in the meantime began earning his living as an employe in a printing house. He worked on Norwegian papers in Madison and at Marshall, Wisconsin, and remained in the newspaper field for twenty years, being employed in several states, including Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota. He also worked for nine years in a publishing house in Decorah but twenty-six years ago turned his attention to general agricultural pursuits, settling on his present farm of one hundred and forty-seven acres on section 21, Glenwood township. It is an excellent property and most of the improvements have been made by him. He makes stock-raising the principal feature of the place, feeding all of the grain raised to his stock. He has led a busy and useful life and his success is the legitimate outcome of his earnest and intelligently directed labors.

In 1881 Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Henrietta Sander, who was born in Winneshiek county in 1861, a daughter of Brede B. and Karen Sander, who were natives of Norway and came to the United States in 1851, arriving in Winneshiek county when Decorah contained but three houses. They continued to reside upon the farm in this county throughout their remaining days. The mother, who was born January 20, 1821, died in Madison township, August 2, 1868. The father, who was born January 12, 1822, passed away October 9, 1905. He was a pioneer farmer of both Iowa and Dakota. He entered land here when Winneshiek county was upon the frontier and afterward secured claims in Dakota, but later returned to this county where he continued to reside until called to his final rest. It was in 1871 that he took up his abode upon the farm which is now owned and occupied by Mr. Johnson. Mr. and Mrs. Sander were the parents of seven children: Jane, the wife of C. M. Hanson, of Lincoln township; Brede, who died in South Dakota; Anton, who won the degree of Ph.D. and was a professor in the Flushing Institute of New York but is now deceased; Anna, the wife of Rev. C. N. Peterson, of Hibbing, Minnesota: Ellen, the widow of O. E. Bakke, of Frankville township; Henrietta, now Mrs. Johnson; and Bernt, of Glenwood township.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have been born nine children: George, who was an electrical engineer but is now deceased; Charles; Emma, the wife of C. D. Hexom, of Allamakee county; Mabel, who died at the age of ten years; Lily; Esther; Anna; William; and Arthur.

Mr. Johnson has been quite prominent in local affairs and his influence is ever on the side of right, progress and improvement. For the past sixteen years he has served as township clerk and for many years was president of the township school board. For a decade he has been the president of the Glenwood Farmers Telephone Company and in this and other directions has aided in the material development of the district. Moral progress is also a matter of interest to him as is indicated by the fact that he was secretary of the First Lutheran Church of Glenwood for eleven years and has been treasurer for the past six years. His political allegiance was formerly given to the republican party but he is now allied with the progressives. He believes in advancement in all things, political as well as otherwise, and his progressive spirit is manifest in what he has accomplished in the business world, working his way steadily upward from the age of twelve years.

Friday, December 3, 2010

Gustav JOHNSON with relatives in Minnesota


Gustav JOHNSON with relatives in Minnesota (Date unknown). Image courtesy of Verla Williams.

1915 IA Census: Gustav JOHNSON


1915 IA Census card. Image courtesy of Ancestry.com.



Source Information: Ancestry.com. Iowa State Census Collection, 1836-1925 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007. Original data: Microfilm of Iowa State Censuses, 1856, 1885, 1895, 1905, 1915, 1925 as well various special censuses from 1836-1897 obtained from the State Historical Society of Iowa via Heritage Quest.

Gustav and Henrietta (Sander) JOHNSON


Gustav and Henrietta (Sander) JOHNSON (1931). Image courtesy of Verla Williams.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Gustav and Henrietta JOHNSON: Golden Wedding Anniversary (18 Oct 1931)


"Married Fifty Golden Years," Decorah Public Opinion and Decorah Republican 37:42 (15 Oct 1931), p. 1, col. 3. Image courtesy of Verla Williams.

MARRIED FIFTY GOLDEN YEARS

Mr. and Mrs. Gustav Johnson Celebrated Fifty Years of Married Life Sunday
Surrounded by Four Hundred Neighbors and Friends.


HUGE WEDDING CAKE CUT BY THE BRIDE
Prof. Carlo A. Sperati Officiated as Toastmaster the Program Being Featured with Talks, Music and Song

Fifty years of happy wedded life have been allotted to Mr. and Mrs. Gustave Johnson, one of Decorah's most estimable couples. The occasion was most happily celebrated Sunday, October 11, when their children planned a surprise on them, and 400 neighbors and friends assembled at the Norske Selskab Hall to do honor to them. The date of their marriage is October 18, but the event was celebrated a week earlier on account of other festivities taking place next Sunday in connection with the seventieth anniversary of Luther College.

The large assemblage gathered through the noon hour and at one o'clock the Rev. T. A. Hoff, the honored guests' pastor gave a prayer, after which all enjoyed a most wonderful dinner. One of the features was a huge wedding cake, beautifully decorated, a gift to the bride and groom from O. Dotseth, the West Water street baker. The cake was cut by Mrs. Johnson and there were generous portions for all dinner guests, as well as at supper.

At the conclusion of the dinner Rev. Hoff paid a fitting tribute to the worthy couple, who are members of his congregation, and presented them with a purse of money, a gift from their children. Miss Helen Hoff followed with a piano solo and Mr. Johnson voiced words of thanks on behalf of himself and wife.

Prof. Carlo A. Sperati officiated as toastmaster in his usual enjoyable manner and the afternoon resounded into one pleasurable time, with speeches songs, and music.

The Luren and Gauken singing societies contributed a group of songs that were dear to the hearts of all.

Rev. Bredeson of Glenwood spoke on behalf of the congregation there of which Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were members for some 26 years, paying the bride and groom of fifty years ago many worthy and deserved compliments, expressing the esteem in which they are held by all their old friends in Glenwood.

Postmaster Wm. Linnevold of Decorah, who has been associated with Mr. Johnson as an official of the Norwegian Mutual Insurance Co. for a number of years paid his respects to Mr. and Mrs. Johnson in a few well chosen words, which expressed the high regard in which these fine folks are held. A purse was presented to them on behalf of the company.

The Gauken Singing Society of Glenwood then sang feelingly in behalf of the bride and groom the singers had known as their friends and neighbors for so many years.

Mr. Oscar Winger, representing the Norske Selskab, spoke on behalf of that well known society and conferred the degree of honorary membership upon Mr. Johnson.

The last speaker on the program was Prof. Carlo A. Sperati of Luther College. His long acquaintance with Mr. and Mrs. Johnson permitted him to speak in a most gracious manner of these worthy folks, who have enjoyed the sincerest and widest friendship during their long residence here.

Mrs. Johnson's father, Brede B. Sander, gave the first subscription, amounting to $300 to Luther College seventy years ago, and this week the seventieth anniversary of the college is being celebrated. At the conclusion of Prof. Sperati's talk he presented on behalf of the guests a purse of money to Mr. and Mrs. Johnson to express the esteem in which they are held.

The Luren orchestra furnished pleasing music throughout the afternoon. The song program was brought to a close by the united choruses of Luren and Gauken, who concluded the program with "America."

The bride of fifty years ago was Miss Henrietta Sander and her marriage to Mr. Johnson occurred on Oct. 18, 1881, the marriage being solemnized at the Glenwood Stone church by Rev. A. Turmo. Mrs. Johnson's parents arrived here from Norway in 1851, when Decorah contained but three houses. Mr. Johnson is 76 and Mrs. Johnson 70. Mr. Johnson was a printer by trade, learning the business in Wisconsin, working on different Norwegian papers in Madison and Marshall, Wis., as well as other papers in Illinois and Minnesota. He was an employee of the Lutheran Publishing House here for nine years, resigning taking up farming in Glenwood for 26 years, retiring about ten years ago, since which time they have resided in Decorah.

Mr. Johnson has been active in many business affairs. He served as township clerk and was president of the township school board. He is also one of the officers of the Decorah Farmers Ice Cave Creamery Co., and is also president of the Winneshiek Norwegian Mutual Insurance Co. But with all his activities he has never been too busy to fail to recognize his friends at all times and his genial whole souled nature has brought to him friends who have remained friends always.

Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have seven children living. They are Charles A., assistant cashier of the Decorah State Bank, (Emma) Mrs. Carl Hexom, Allamakee county, (Lillie) Mrs. Walter Williams, Glenwood Twp., (Esther) Mrs. Stanley Ask, Decorah Twp. (Anna) Mrs. C. H. Rosenthal, Decorah, William, cashier Winneshiek County State Bank, Decorah, and Arthur in Glenwood Twp.There are eighteen grandchildren.

The many friends of Mr. and Mrs. Johnson join with us in extending to them sincere good wishes for many happy returns of the day.

UPDATE (17 Dec 2018): Today I found the Community History Archive site for Decorah which had a scan of the original paper in which this article was found.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Obituaries: Gustav Johnson


"Gus Johnson, 78 Pioneer, Died Here Friday," Decorah Public Opinion and Decorah Republican 40:15 (12 Apr 1934), pp. 1, 6. Images courtesy of Verla Williams.

GUS JOHNSON, 78 PIONEER, DIED HERE FRIDAY
Prominent in Business and Farming Circles

Gustav Johnson, one of Decorah's best known and highly respected pioneers, passed away at his home 210 E. Broadway in this city Friday morning, April 6, at 9:15 o'clock, after a short illness, having been confined to his bed for a week, his death being due to congestion of the lungs.

Mr. Johnson was born near Oslo, Norway, October 18, 1855. His parents were Andreas and Emma [sic] Johnson, who came to the United States in 1864, settling in Madison, Wis., where the son received his early education. He resided with his parents in Madison until he was fifteen years of age, but in the meantime began learning the printing trade at the age of twelve years in the office of Rasmus B. Anderson. After completing his apprenticeship in that office he went to Chicago where he was employed on the Skandinavian, well-known Norwegian newspaper of that city, for some time. After resigning his position on the Skandinavian he went to Minneapolis where he was employed in printing offices in that city, after which he went to Winona, Minn., where he worked on a newspaper, having been employed in the newspaper field for twenty years in several states, including Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota. He came to Decorah in 1879 where he entered the employ of the Lutheran Publishing House, remaining with that institution for nine years. He remained a printer until 1886, when he took up farming in Glenwood township, but during the years 1905 and 1906 he came back to Decorah and worked in the Publishing House.

On October 18, 1881, he was united in marriage to Henriette O. Sander, their marriage taking place in the Lutheran church in Glenwood township. Mrs. Johnson was a daughter of Brede B. and Karen Sander, natives of Norway, who came to the United States in 1851, arriving in Winneshiek county when Decorah contained only three houses. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson took up their home on a fine farm of 147 acres in Section 21, Glenwood township, where Mr. Johnson made stock-raising the principal feature of the place, feeding all of the grain raised to his stock. He led a busy and useful life and the success he attained was the legitimate outcome of his earnest and intelligently directed labors.

Mr. and Mrs. Johnson became the parents of nine children, seven of whom with the bereaved wife and mother survive. They are Charles A. Johnson, assistant cashier of the Decorah State Bank of Decorah; Emma C., (Mrs. C. D. Hexom ) Waukon, Iowa, R. F. D. 5; Lillie V., (Mrs. W. D. Williams) Decorah R. F. D. 6; Esther F., (Mrs. Stanley Ask) Mabel, Minn., R. 1; Anna S., (Mrs. C. H. Rosenthal) Decorah; William N. M. Johnson, Decorah; Arthur F. S. Johnson, Decorah, R. F. D. 6, on the home farm. Mr. Johnson is also survived by a sister Mrs. Bertha C. Sivesind of Seattle, Wash. A son George and daughter Mabel passed away some years ago.

In 1922 Mr. and Mrs. Johnson retired from the farm, removing to Decorah where the family home had since been, enjoying the friendship and esteem of all their acquaintances.

Besides looking after his extensive farm operations Mr. Johnson was called upon to officiate in various local affairs, and his influence was ever on the side of right, progress and improvement. He was elected president of the Decorah Farmers Ice Cave Creamery Co. when that well known organization opened here, remaining in that capacity until about two years ago when he resigned. He was also president of the Norwegian Mutual Protective Association of Winneshiek County, in which position he officiated until his death. For many years he was president of the Glenwood Farmers Telephone Company and for over 20 years acted as township clerk and for many years was president of the township school board.

Mr. Johnson was also highly interested in the moral progress of his community, having served for a number of years as secretary and also treasurer of the First Lutheran church of Glenwood.

Highly esteemed by his friends and neighbors, Mr. Johnson was a man who enjoyed an upright and honorable career here as a substantial, progressive, public spirited and loyal citizen. In promoting his own interests he had done much toward bettering agricultural standards and improving general conditions and his labors had been of importance in the development of his township and county. His life's record was of the highest type and he enjoyed the good-will and confidence of all who knew him, as his life had been well and honorably spent. He was a genial, courteous gentleman as his large circle of friends was evidence of and he will be mourned not only by those nearest to him but by many friends and acquaintances who had come to respect him for his sterling traits of character. He discharged every position of trust in a most highly creditable manner and his advice and wise counsel was often sought by those associated with him in a business way. In his passing this community loses a high type citizen whose memory will be long cherished.

Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at 2:00 o'clock from the First Lutheran church in Decorah, with a large number of friends paying their last respects. The pastor, Rev. T. A. Hoff, officiated and paid a fitting tribute to the deceased. Interment was in the Glenwood Lutheran cemetery.


Card of Thanks.

We are grateful to many friends for assistance and sympathy rendered in connection with our recent bereavement, the death of our beloved husband, father and grandfather, Gustav Johnson.

Mrs. Gustav Johnson, Children and Grandchildren.



Obituary. Gustav Johnson. Decorah Public Opinion (1934). Image courtesy of Verla Williams.

GUSTAV JOHNSON.

Decorah, Ia.--Special: Funeral services will be held Monday for Gustav Johnson, 78, who died early Friday morning at his home in Decorah following a short illness. The funeral will be held at the home at 1:30 o’clock and in First Lutheran church at 2 o'clock. The Rev. T. A. Hoff will officiate. Burial will be made in the Glenwood township cemetery.

He was known as one of the most prominent business men of this vicinity, and was closely connected with many of the leading enterprises of the city.

Mr. Johnson was born near Oslo, Norway, Oct. 18, 1855, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Johnson.

He married Miss Henriette O. Sander Oct. 18, 1881, and the couple celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary last fall. Nine children blessed their union, a daughter and a son (George) having died. Those that survive besides Mrs. Johnson are Mrs. Carl Hexom of Waukon, Charles A. Johnson of Decorah, Mrs. Walter Williams of Glenwood township, Mrs. Stanley Ask of Burr Oak, Mrs. C. H. Rosenthal of Decorah, William N. Johnson of Decorah, and Arthur S. Johnson, on the home farm. A sister, Bertha Sivesind, also survives in Washington.