Clatsop County OR Archives Biographies.....Johnson, Mark J. May 8, 1882 - 
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Ila Wakley iwakley@msn.com February 1, 2011, 2:57 pm

Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Pages 829 - 830
Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

     MARK J. JOHNSON is a prosperous and representative dairyman of Clatsop 
county, where he has resided for more than a quarter of a century and now owns 
one hundred and forty-five acres of fine bottom land. He was born on the 
island of Oland, Sweden, May 8, 1882, his parents being Johan and Emma 
Anderson, who spent their entire lives in that country, where the father 
engaged in farming. Four of the eleven children in the family emigrated to the 
United States, namely: K. F., a resident of Clatsop county, Oregon; K. A., 
living in Portland; Mrs. Annette Matson, who lives in New York city; and Mark 
J., of this review.

     The educational advantages enjoyed by Mark J. Johnson in his youth were 
such as the public schools of his native land afforded. He had reached the age 
of seventeen when in 1899 he crossed the Atlantic to America and located in 
the state of Iowa, where he remained for three years, working on a farm in the 
summer seasons and attending school through two winter terms. It was in 1902 
that he came to Astoria, Oregon, and here he was first employed on a milk 
route for a year, after which he spent a similar period as driver of a wagon 
for the Troy Laundry Company. During the years 1903 and 1904 he also pursued a 
commercial course in the Portland Business College. In 1907 he purchased forty 
acres of land situated four and one-half miles south of Astoria, on the Lewis 
and Clark river, from which he cleared the brush that partly covered it. He 
also leased an adjoining ranch and in 1912 bought an additional tract of 
eighty acres, while in 1911 he acquired twenty acres more, now owning one 
hundred and forty-five acres of excellent bottom land. He has fifty good 
Guernsey cows, some of which are pure bred, and also two registered Guernsey 
bulls. Mr. Johnson raises all of his own feed with the exception of grain and 
mill feed, and his principal crops are clover, oats, vetch for silo and bent 
grass for seed. He likewise raises root crops. His success as a dairyman has 
made him widely known and is indeed well merited. He assisted in the 
organization of the Lower Columbia Dairy Association and has been its 
president from the beginning. His is a splendid farming property, with 
substantial and commodious buildings, and his modern dairy equipment includes 
electric milking machines. His attractive country home is of recent 
construction.

     In 1907 Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Ethel May Larson, who was 
born at old Fort Clatsop, near Astoria, which was established by Lewis and 
Clark on their exploration trip to the mouth of the Clumbia river in 1805. She 
is a daughter of William and Martha (Heckard) Larson, the former a native of 
Sweden and the latter of Oregon City, Oregon. Both are now residents of 
Astoria, and William Larson made a most commendable record during many years' 
service as county commissioner of Clatsop county. Jacob Heckard, the maternal 
grandfather of Mrs. Johnson, crossed the plains with his family in 1845, 
traveling in covered wagons drawn by ox teams. He first located at Oregon 
City, removed to Clatsop county in 1867 and two years later took up a 
homestead claim on the Lewis and Clark river, eight miles south of Astoria, 
all of which was covered with heavy timber and brush. He cleared part of the 
tract and continued to reside thereon throughout the remainder of his life, 
operating a small sawmill on the ranch in which he cut logs for his neighbors 
as well as for himself. J. N. Heckard, son of Jacob Heckard, now owns and 
occupies the old homestead place. Mr. and Mrs. Mark J. Johnson are the parents 
of five children, as follows: Vera, who is a high school graduate and has also 
pursued a business college course; Robert, likewise a high school graduate; 
Elna, who is a high school student; Alan; and Donald.

     Mr. Johnson has at all times manifested an active and helpful interest in 
public affairs. He was nominated for the state legislature on the republican 
ticket at the primary election in June, 1928. He has exerted his efforts and 
influence in behalf of good roads and the cause of education and has been 
school director in his district for twenty years. He belongs to the Kiwanis 
Club of Astoria and both he and his wife are charter members of Netel Grange 
No. 410. His high standing in the community is indicated by the fact that he 
was chosen president of the Federal Farm Loan Association at the time of its 
organization in 1917 and has since remained at its head. He has never 
regretted his determination to establish his home on this side of the 
Atlantic, for here he has found the opportunities which he sought and in their 
wise utilization has won both success and an honored name.

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