Magnus Johnson Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1167-1168 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				MAGNUS JOHNSON. 

	Magnus Johnson has resided on his farm on section 33, Palisade 
township, for almost three decades and is widely recognized as one of 
the most prosperous agriculturists and respected citizens of Minnehaha 
county, South Dakota. His birth occurred in the province of Skaner, 
Sweden, on the 26th of October, 1847, and his father died when he was 
but five years of age. He left home when a youth of sixteen and during 
the following nine years was a deep-sea sailor, touching at many of the 
ports of the world. He sailed on American vessels for some years and in 
1876 abandoned the sea at San Francisco, subsequently spending about 
eleven months at work on a river steamer on the Sacramento river. 

	Mr. Johnson then secured employment as a farm hand in California 
and was thus engaged for about seven years, on the expiration of which 
period he returned to Sweden on a visit. He spent the winter in his 
native land and in the spring of 1883 again came to the United States, 
bringing with him his intended wife, Miss Josephine B. Pearson, who had 
a brother living in Valley Springs, South Dakota. Thus it was that Mr. 
Johnson came to this state and here he was married immediately after 
his arrival. He paid nine hundred dollars for a quarter section of land 
in McCook county, three miles west of Salem, and two years later traded 
the property for his present home farm, paying five hundred dollars in 
addition. He has lived on this place in Palisade township continuously 
since 1885 and has made many excellent improvements thereon. In 1908 
his two sons, Eddie and Charlie, purchased the northwest quarter of 
section 6, Red Rock township, paying eight thousand dollars for the 
property, which is now easily worth more than twice that amount. They 
are associated with him in his farming interests. In the conduct of his 
agricultural interests he has won a most gratifying and well merited 
measure of prosperity that has established his reputation as a 
substantial and leading citizen of the community. 

	To Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have been born nine children, seven of 
whom survive, as follows: Eddie Washington i Charlie Cleveland; Emily 
Sophia, who is the wife of Adolph Karli, a farmer of Red Rock township; 
Hilma Augusta, who gave her hand in marriage to Willis Sutherland, of 
Garretson; Julia M., now Mrs. Edward Eitriem; Alice V., at home; and 
Melvin Walfred. 

	Mr. Johnson gives his political allegiance to the republican 
party and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, have 
called him to positions of public trust. He served as supervisor for a 
period of seventeen years, acted as a member of the school board for 
about five years and has been constable during the past two years. 
Higher public honors have been tendered him, but these he has declined. 
His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the United 
Lutheran church, to which his wife and children also belong. His son 
Eddie has been organist in the church for the past twelve years and is 
also a member of the Garretson Band, manifesting considerable talent in 
music. The life of Magnus Johnson has been one of activity and 
usefulness, crowned with success, and because of the fact that he has 
never taken advantage of the necessities of his fellow men in business 
transactions but has always been straightforward and honorable he is 
accorded the confidence and friendly regard of those with whom he has 
been associated.