BIOGRAPHIES: Martin JOHNSON, Prairie Farm Township, 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 5 December 2000 ==================================================================== Transcriber's note: These two biographies appear to be of the same family. If credible evidence indicates otherwise, please let us know at the email address above. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Martin Johnson, early settler of Section 10, Prairie Farm Township, was born in Norway, and was there reared and educated. As a young man he married, and settled down to establish a family. As the children began to grow he determined to seek for them the broader opportunities of America. Accordingly, in 1866, with his wife, Lena, and four children, Holden, Morris, Mary and Agnes, he embarked aboard a sailing boat bound for the new country. They left the land of their birth and ancestry, in April, and did not sight land until the middle of July. For a time they lived near Rio, in Columbia County, this state, where Mr. Johnson farmed and worked at his trade as a carpenter. Later he took a homestead in Section 10, Prairie Farm Township this county. Starting in with but little, he here built up a good farm. Five children were born in this country: Albert (deceased), Percie (Mrs. John Rossbach, of Prairie Farm Township), Laura, Albert and Edward. --Taken from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper, Jr., & Co., 1922, pg. 622. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Martin Johnson, farmer and carpenter, for many years a resident of section 10, Prairie Farm Township, was born in Norway, and was reared on a farm and learned the carpenter trade. He there married Lena Johnson, and three children, Holden, Mary and Agnes, were born there. In 1872 he set out with his family for America. The voyage aboard the sailing vessel took fourteen weeks, during which time the passengers had to furnish their own food. In due time the family reached Menomonie, Dunn County, this state. Later they settled on 120 acres in section 10, Prairie Farm Township. He built a log house and started to clear up the land. Sometimes when provisions were scarce he walked to Prairie Farm village, Rice Lake or Menomonie or Barron and brought home supplies on his back. As time passed he built up a good farm, and added 40 acres more, making a place of 160 acres. In addition to developing his farm, he worked at his trade as a carpenter. He helped to build the Norwegian Lutheran Church at Prairie Farm village, the schoolhouse in section 2, and many farm dwellings and barns. After a long and useful life he died on the farm in July, 1906. His wife died on Jan. 5, 1919. The children were: Holden, Mary, Agnes, Laura, Morris, Albert and Edward M. --Taken from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper, Jr., & Co., 1922, pg. 627.