Bio of TURNGREN, John O. (b.1853), Wright Co., MN
(Partial bio)
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402 HISTORY OF WRIGHT COUNTY 

Island, Sweden, October 8, 1853, son of Ole J. Johnson and Karin Johnson. 
There were two other children in the family, August and Ole. John 0. was 
the first of this family to come to the United States. He had been reared 
to farm pursuits by his father and at the age of nineteen came alone to 
this country and joined his uncle who was located at Stillwater, in this 
state. After his arrival he spent several years in the lumber camps and 
with railroad construction crews. During this period he learned the 
language, and devoted himself to the serious task of mastering the trend 
of modern thought, so that there were few men in his immediate neighborhood 
who were better informed than he on general questions of public interest. 
About 1879 he came to Wright county and secured eighty acres in section 30, 
Franklin township. Seven or eight acres had been cleared and a log cabin 
and barn had been erected. He finished clearing off the land, and to his 
original tract added another eighty acres and carried on scientific farming 
in a successful manner. Being a deep reader he adopted the plan of putting 
into effect the knowledge which he gleaned from books and papers, and the 
result was that his agricultural operations were conducted along the latest 
approved methods. John 0. Turngren saw more or less of public life and did 
good service in every office to which he was elected. For many years he was
chairman of the town board of Franklin township, as well as justice of the 
peace. He helped to organize the Co-Operative Creamery of Montrose, and 
served as its first president. For eight years, until his death, January 1, 
1914, he was its secretary and manager. He also helped to organize the 
Farmers' Mercantile Company and was its president until death. He was an 
Odd Fellow, member of the Rebekahs, and member of the Encampment. Mr. 
Turngren was married December 17, 1882, to Sarah C. Norberg, born June 1, 
1862, daughter of Andrew and Fredericka (Vickstrum) Norberg, who in 1881 
came to this country bringing their four children, Andrew G., Sarah C., 
Charles E. and Anna Sophia, and settled in Marysville, Wright county. Mr. 
and Mrs. Turngren had nine children: Victoria, wife of Alexander Berthiaume, 
of Aiken county, this state; Ellen, a teacher; Louis, Oscar, Grant, Agnes, 
Clara, Nettie and Annie, who died when three years of age. The farm is now 
carried on by Mrs. Turngren and the family.