Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Johnson, Barton S 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 13, 2006, 6:23 pm

Author: History of Grundy County, 1914

Johnson, Barton S. – To the efforts of such men as Barton S. Johnson, a 
resident on Morris Rural Mail Route No. 4, are due the progress and 
development which have given Grundy County agricultural supremacy during 
recent years.  A native of Illinois, he has spent his entire life within the 
borders of this State, and is now engaged in cultivating 300 acres of land 
lying in Nettle Creek Township.  He is a man of progressive ideas, and his 
public spirit has done much to improve conditions in the community in which he 
makes his home.  Mr. Johnson was born November 10, 1865, on his father’s farm 
in the vicinity of Ottawa, Ill., and is a son of Samuel O. and Caroline 
Johnson, natives of Stavanger, Norway.

In 1856, the family emigrated to the United States, and in July of that year 
Mr. Johnson’s parents located at Ottawa, Ill., the father securing land in the 
locality.  There he continued to be engaged in farming until 1870, when he 
purchased 160 acres of land in Nettle Creek Township, which he improved from 
the raw prairie, and subsequently added thereto, until he has now 560 acres, 
all in a high state of cultivation.  Mr. Johnson is now retired from active 
pursuits, having reached the age of eighty-seven years, and rents the greater 
part of his land to others.  His wife passed away in 1893, having been the 
mother of these children:  Ole S., of Nettle Creek Township; Anna, who married 
Christ Hendrickson of Nettle Creek Township; John P., who died aged twenty 
years, four months; Barton S.; and Emma, who married Orville Fry, of 
Livingston County, Ill.

Barton S. Johnson received his education in the district schools, and was 
reared to agricultural pursuits, in which he has always been engaged.  He is 
now a thorough master of his vocation, and in addition to being an excellent 
farmer is known as a good judge of cattle and stock, raising Percheron horses, 
Berkshire hogs and Durham cattle.  The present modern buildings on the 
property have been erected by him, and the house, located on a natural 
building site, is beautifully situated.  Mr. Johnson now has 200 acres in 
grain, while 100 acres are used for hay and pasture land.  He has succeeded in 
his efforts because of untiring energy, perseverance and well-directed effort 
and has won the esteem and confidence of his fellows by reason of his fair and 
honorable dealing.  On February 5, 1890, Mr. Johnson was married to Miss 
Martha Elifson, who was born in Miller Township, La Salle County, Ill., 
daughter of Elof and Ann Elifson, of Norway.  Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are members 
of the Stavanger Lutheran Church.  He is a Republican in his political views, 
and has, on several occasions, served his township efficiently in the capacity 
of school trustee.

page 839

Additional Comments:
Source:  History of Grundy County, Illinois, Chicago: Munsell Publishing Co. 
Publishers; 1914

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