John C. Johnson Biography


	This biography appears on pages 799-800 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				JOHN C. JOHNSON. 

	John C. Johnson, a resident farmer of Minnehaha county, following 
modern methods in the tilling of the soil and the care of the crops, is 
today the owner of a valuable and well improved tract of land. He was 
born in Sweden on the 25th of March, 1870, and is a son of Carl and 
Petronella Johnson, the former also a farmer by occupation. The father, 
while identified with agricultural interests in his native country, 
felt that he might have still better opportunities in the new world and 
in 1875 made arrangements to leave Sweden and cross the Atlantic. 
Accompanied by his family, he sailed for New York and thence made his 
way to Pennsylvania. He removed to Wisconsin in 1878 and after seven 
years, residence in that state came to South Dakota in 1885. Here he 
purchased a quarter section of land and also rented other property, 
carefully and persistently carrying on his farm work to the time of his 
death, August 8, 1905. 

	Under the parental roof John C. Johnson spent his early boyhood 
and accompanied his parents on their various removals, being a youth of 
fifteen when the family arrived in South Dakota, where he grew to 
manhood. When he started out in business life on his own account he was 
the possessor of only a team and wagon. He rented land and continued 
thus to carry on farming until his labors had brought him capital 
sufficient to enable him to purchase property. His first purchase of 
one hundred and sixty acres was made for thirty dollars per acre. He 
paid two hundred dollars down, which was all he had, but as time passed 
he won success and soon had his farm clear of all financial 
encumbrance. Five years ago he purchased an additional eighty acres at 
seventy-five dollars per acre, so that he now has a good farm property 
of two hundred and forty acres, from which he derives a substantial 
annual income. He raises the cereals best adapted to soil and climate 
and annually gathers good crops. He also runs about thirty-five head of 
cattle and one hundred head of hogs and his stock-raising is an 
important and profitable feature of his place. He has all modern 
equipments and accessories upon his farm, including an elevator, 
substantial buildings and the latest improved machinery. He is today a 
substantial agriculturist, his labors having brought to him a richly 
merited competence. 

	On the 3d of November, 1900, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage 
to Miss Nettie Nicholson, a daughter of Nichols and Elna Johnson, who 
came from Sweden to the United States in 1885, settling in South 
Dakota, but both are now deceased. On March 10, 1915, Mrs. Johnson 
died, after having been ill for several years. To Mr. and Mrs. Johnson 
were born two children, Elna, born November 3, 1902; and Carl, born 
February 6, 1908. Mr. Johnson belongs to the Lutheran church, 
fraternally he is a Mason, and his political endorsement is given to 
the republican party. He is a member of the school board and is acting 
as secretary of that body. He greatly enjoys all outdoor sports, 
including hunting and fishing, in which he indulges when he has 
leisure. He takes great interest in South Dakota and is a believer in 
its future, recognizing the possibilities that are before the state and 
its people. He has lived within its borders since 1885 and has 
witnessed many notable and remarkable changes in the interval of thirty 
years. In community affairs he is a cooperant factor along all lines 
which work for the benefit and upbuilding of the section. Moreover, his 
business record is a most creditable one and should serve as a source 
of inspiration and encouragement to others, showing what may be 
accomplished when determination and energy lead the way.