Wapello County IA Archives Biographies.....Johnson, N. O. 1851 - 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 September 14, 2015, 12:36 pm

Source: See Below
Author: S. J. Clarke, Publisher

N. O. JOHNSON.
It has been said that in America "labor is king;" at all events effort is not
hampered by caste or class and the individual who is persistent and energetic
and whose activities are intelligently directed may win success. At the outset
of his career N. O. Johnson had no influential friends to aid him and was
dependent entirely upon his own resources. He did not scorn honest labor and his
industry has constituted the foundation upon which he has builded his prosperity.

He was born in Sweden, December 16, 1851, and in 1869 he came to the United
States, then a young man of about eighteen years. He landed at New York on the
19th of May, but did not tarry in the eastern metropolis, making his way
directly to Iowa. It was about the 1st of June that he reached Ottumwa and here
he secured employment on the railroad. He was afterward in the employ of Thomas
Foster, a farmer of Wapello county, for whom he worked for about ten years. His
long service with one man indicates unmistakably his fidelity as well as his
industry. In 1881 he returned to Sweden and was married, remaining for three
months in his native land, after which he brought his bride to the new world.
Once more he made his way to Wapello county and rented a farm in Washington
township. He continued to cultivate leased land for six years, but during that
period carefully saved his earnings until his industry and economy had brought
him sufficient capital to enable him to purchase a farm. He then bought two
hundred acres of Jerry Lanning on section 30, Agency township, and afterward he
added to this property. He now owns three hundred and ninety acres on sections
19, 30 and 31. He makes a specialty of raising and feeding stock and keeps on
hand high grades of cattle. For a long period he remained the active head of the
farm, but has now practically retired, while his sons are carrying on the work,
operating the farm on shares.

On the 17th of March, 1881, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Annetta
Siegerstrom and they became the parents of four children: Charles A.; Clara E.,
who is a graduate of the State Normal School and for several years has been
successfully engaged in teaching; Wilbur S.; and Harry E., who is a high-school
graduate. Mrs. Johnson and the children are members of the Methodist Episcopal
church.

Mr. Johnson votes the republican ticket and has served as township trustee. He
is ever loyal to the land of his adoption and is much interested in the
development and progress of his home locality. A self-made man, he had but a
dollar and a half in his pocket when he first reached Ottumwa; not only this but
he was terribly handicapped by not being able to speak the language, but this he
has since mastered and now speaks it very fluently. He has gradually worked his
way upward, early recognizing the eternal principle that industry wins, and he
has ever depended upon earnest, honorable labor in order to attain success. He
has never neglected his duties but has performed the tasks that each day has
brought and by working earnestly and unremittingly he has gained the handsome
competence which he now enjoys and which ranks him with the substantial citizens
of this part of the state.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY IOWA
ILLUSTRATED
VOLUME II
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1914


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