BIOGRAPHIES: Thor (aka Thomas) H. JOHNSON, Maple Grove Tsp, 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 person. If credible evidence indicates otherwise, please let us know at the email address above. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Thor H. Johnson, veteran of the Civil War, pioneer of Barron County, and one of the real founders and builders of his community, came here in 1869, and bought 160 acres of railroad land in Section 19, east, Maple Grove Township, cleared 100 acres and opened a farm. He built a good set of buildings, and for many years had what was considered the best and largest house in this part of the county. He was a progressive man, he believed in the future of the county, and he had a clear vision of the advantages to be gained by using modern methods and equipment. With this thought in view, he was the first man to own and operate a threshing machine in this county, thus inaugurating a new era in farm work. He was also. a horse fancier, and raised and owned many fine animals. But it was not alone in material things that he took part. Being a thorough believer in education, as he was, he gave an acre of land for a school site to District No. 8, was a promoter of the project which resulted in the building of the schoolhouse there, and served as treasurer of the board for many years. He was also vitally interested in town affairs, helped to build some of the first roads, and served as supervisor for a long period. In many other ways, he took part in the progress of the community, and had the respect and admiration of all who knew him, his reputation extending far beyond the borders of the township in which he lived. After a busy life, filled with worthy endeavor, he died Nov. 2, 1914, and township and county united in mourning the loss of so good a citizen. Thor H. Johnson was born Sept. 16, 1845, in Norway, son of Oliver and Rena (Johnson) Johnson, who brought him to this country when he was a boy, and located on a farm in Illinois. Shortly after the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted, and served until the close of that conflict. Upon his discharge he located in Chicago, where he engaged in the meat business. From there he came to Barron County. Mr. Johnson was married Oct. 26, 1867, to Anna Larson, who died April 28, 1878, leaving six children: John, Edward, Thomas, Henry, Daniel and Esther. Jan. 1, 1881, he married Wilhelmina Storm, daughter of John and Sophia (Greenquist) Storm, natives of Sweden, who came to America in 1880, and settled in Maple Grove Township, this county, where they farmed the remainder of their lives, the father dying July, 1896, and the mother, March 12, 1899. By this marriage, Mr. Johnson had ten children: Alma, born Oct. 29, 1881, is now Mrs. Fred Richards, at Chetek, this county. Melvin was born April 4, 1883, and is a farmer in Maple Grove Township. Lena was born Dec. 25, 1885, and is the wife of John Wetzel, of Maple Grove Township. Emily was born Jan. 8, 1888, and is a trained nurse in Minneapolis. Myrtle was born Oct. 7, 1889, and is now Mrs. Adolph Olson, of Maple Grove Township. Ralph L. was born Aug. 6, 1892, and is now a farmer of Maple Grove Township. Fredwas born Aug. 30, 1894, and is now a farmer near Chetek, this county. Viola, born March 8, 1897, is the wife of Raymond Hunt, of Maple Grove Township. Marion, born July 15, 1899, is now Mrs. Elmer Malum, living near Cameron, this county. Emmett was born Aug. 21, 1902, and now operates the farm for his mother. --Taken from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper, Jr., & Co., 1922, pp. 178-179. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Thomas H. Johnson, an early settler, was born in Norway and was there reared as a fisherman and a farmer. As a young man he married and started housekeeping in his native land. But he gradually determined that he would seek the broader opportunities of the new land to which so many of his neighbors were moving. Accordingly they came to this country in the sixties, and after stopping a short time at Chicago, took up farming in Capron, Ill. In 1872 he came to Barron County and settled on a farm of 180 acres of wild land in section 19, Maple Grove Township. the township was then little more than a wilderness, with standing timber and desolate stumps, with here and there a lumber camp or a few isolated cabins. He cleared and developed a good farm, erected suitable buildings and became one of the representative and substantial men of the community. He died in 1916. His first wife, Anna Johnson, died in 1880. His second wife was Mina Storm. Mr. Johnson had sixteen children: John A. H. of Chetek; Edward of Maple Grove; Thomas of Eau Claire County; Henry and Daniel of Maple Grove; Esther, wife of John Simonson of Cameron; Alma, wife of Fred Richards of Chetek; Melvin of Maple Grove; Lena, wife of John Wetzel of Maple Grove; Emily, a nurse in Minneapolis; Myrtle, the wife of Adolph Olson of Maple Grove; Ralph, living in Maple Grove; Fred, living in Chetek; Viola of Chetek; Marion, wife of Oscar Malum of Maple Grove; and Emmett, who is on the home farm. --Taken from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper, Jr., & Co., 1922, pg. 982.