Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Johnson, Ernest  
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com October 3, 2007, 1:47 am

Author: Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County

ERNEST JOHNSON, late of Company G, Twenty-third United States Infantry, 
rendered good service in the Spanish-American war. Stirred by patriotism and a 
desire to serve his adopted country he enlisted, May 12, 1898, in Company G, 
Twelfth United States Infantry, and was mustered into the service at Joliet. 
However, he was soon transferred to the Twenty-third and sent to Fort 
McPherson. Two weeks later his regiment was ordered to Camp Merritt, San 
Francisco. June 27 of the same year they embarked for the Philippines on the 
transport "Indiana," which cast anchor in the harbor of Manila July 31. On the 
evening of that day the Spanish tried to capture the American lines and the 
regiment was given its initiation into active warfare. They took part in the 
siege of Manila and its final capture August 13, after which they were 
assigned to guard duty at Fort Santiago. They participated in the battle of 
Caloocan February 10 and the riot of Manila, February 22-23, when Aguinaldo 
attempted to burn the city. A party of Americans, among them Mr. Johnson, 
burned the Philippian stronghold, Tondo, February 23. In this raid one of his 
comrades, Edward Reever, of Joliet, was killed. At the battle of Marqiena two 
of the regiment's men were killed. A number of skirmishes followed that 
engagement. May 17, 1899, the regiment was ordered to Jollo to do garrison 
duty, relieving the Spanish garrison until June 30. The raising of the 
American flag after the Spanish was hauled down was one of the noblest 
spectacles of the war; the Spanish warship "Leon XIII" saluted both flags. Mr. 
Johnson was mustered out June 30 at Jollo and honorably discharged by reason 
of general order No. 40. He returned to the United States via Manila and Japan 
with the California troops on the "Sherman," coming from San Francisco to 
Joliet, where he arrived September 17. Since his return from the war he has 
been engaged in business at No. 606 Cass street, where, as a member of the 
firm of Johnson & Larson, he has acted as agent for Norton's flour, and has 
sold hard and soft coal of all kinds, also feed, hay and straw.

Mr. Johnson was born in Ostrejutland, Sweden, December 28, 1875, a son of John 
and Anna (Sagerberg) Nelson, natives respectively of Ostrejutland and 
Westrejutland. He was one of the youngest of eleven children, of whom eight 
are living, all in Joliet. Augusta, Mrs. Carlson, was the first member of the 
family to come to America, crossing the ocean in 1883; John and Charles, the 
oldest sons, are employed in the wire mill; Mathilda, Mrs. Peterson, was the 
second member of the family to leave Sweden for America; Anna, who came later, 
is the wife of Oscar Larson, our subject's partner, who came to this city in 
1887. The others are Ernest, Mrs. Amanda Johnson and Dinah Christina. In 1890 
the parents planned to come to this country, but the father died before they 
had started, and afterward the mother came with some of the children.

Since September, 1890, our subject has made Joliet his home. He attended 
school here in 1890-91. Afterward he learned the baker's trade, being under 
John Ryan, Edward Cary and John Hedman successively. He is well known among 
the Swedish-American residents of Joliet, and is regarded among his countrymen 
as a rising young man. In religious faith he is of the Lutheran belief and 
politically votes with the Republicans. He is a member of the Order of 
Svethiod. His record both in the army and in business life is that of a 
faithful, energetic and intelligent man, who may be relied upon in every 
circumstance to act honorably and honestly in his relations with his fellow-
men.


Additional Comments:
Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County Illinois Containing 
Biographies of Well Known Citizens of the Past and Present, Biographical 
Publishing Company, Chicago, 1900


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