BIOGRAPHIES: Ole JOHNSON, Rice Lake, Barron County, WI ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor, or the legal representative of the contributor, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Vic Gulickson 8 June 2002 ==================================================================== Ole Johnson, retired farmer, living in a pleasant home at 26 Reuter Avenue, Rice Lake, was born in Norway, Dec. 10, 1846, son of John Erickson and his wife, Marie Arnson, natives of that country. The father died there, and the mother married Peter Erickson Rogstad. Mr. and Mrs. Rogstad came to this country in 1882, and spent their declining years with the subject of this sketch on a farm in Rice Lake Township, this county, Mr. Rogstad dying in 1893 and she in 1892. Ole Johnson was educated in Norway, and worked on a railroad for a while. He came to America in 1874, and located at Menomonie, in this state, where he worked in a mill. In the fall of 1875 he came to Rice Lake, and then worked in the woods for some years. In 1882 he bought a farm of 100 acres in section 32, township 35, range 11, Rice Lake Township, built a home and other structures, developed the farm, and there carried on general agricultural operations until 1916, when he sold out and purchased 40 acres in the same township which he rents. At the same time he retired and moved to Rice Lake, where he erected a sightly home. While in the township he was supervisor for a long period, and a director of his school district for nearly twenty years. He was married June 4, 1883, to Marion Gihle, born in Norway, Oct. 24, 1857, daughter of Hans Gihle, a blacksmith, and his wife, Antoinette Olson, who came to America from their native home in Norway in 1869, and located in Dane county, this state, later moving to Vernon county, where both died. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are the parents of nine children. Mary is now Mrs. John Borgen, of Rice Lake Township. Anna is the wife of Ole Moe, of Rice Lake, and they have three children, Orville, Raymond and Merlan. Olaf of Rice Lake, married Winnie Johnson and has two children, Marvel and Orvis. Clara, who lives in Rice Lake, married Jo Olson, and has one child, Joyce. Hans married Bessie Dahl, and lives in Stanley township. Julia married John Barta, who farms the old home place, and they have a son, Wesley. Helmer lives in Rice Lake. Harry died Dec. 25, 1919. Alma graduated from the High School and Teachers Training School at Rice Lake and is now a teacher. The family faith is that of the Norwegian Lutheran church. --Taken from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper, Jr. & Co., 1922, pp. 232-233.