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av Margit Bakke » 24 okt 2008 15:27:48
THEODORE JOHNSON.
Theodore Johnson, a well-known citizen of Waukon township, Norman
county, where he carries on extended farming operations on his fine farm
and where he is prominently connected with civic, social and co-operative
business affairs, was born in Norway, September 25, 1857, a son of Jens
and Bertha Johnson, both of whom were natives of Norway, where they
grew up and married. In 1872 the family came to America and located at
Eau Claire, Wisconsin, where the father was in business as a tailor, having
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learned this trade in his native land. After he had been thus engaged for
some years, he left Eau Claire for Dunn county, Wisconsin, where he bought
a farm on which he lived until his death. Some time after the death of the
father, the mother removed to Norman county, where she made her home
with the subject of this sketch until her death occurred. They were the par-
ents of three children, namely: Theodore, the subject of this review; Gunda,
who is still living in Barron county, Wisconsin, and Godfred, deceased.
Theodore Johnson received some formal education, but the greater part
was acquired during his residence with his parents in Wisconsin. He remained
with them until 1879, in which year he drove overland to Norman county,
in company with fver Martinson, the journey requiring about twenty-one
days. Immediately on his arrival here, he pre-empted the southwest quarter
of section 28, Waukon township, but two years later he sold his right. Dur-
ing the interval, he went back and forth from his holding to Wisconsin, and
spent some time in North Dakota. Later he bought a tree-claim right to his
present farm, which he proved up as a homestead, and here he has contin-
ued to live. When he first came to his present farm, the land was raw prairie
with no improvements of any kind, but now after years of patient industry,
he has a set of fine farm buildings around which is growing a beautiful grove.
Here on his holding he carries on a general type of farming and breeds
Holstein cattle, Poland China hogs and Buff Leghorn chickens.
On July 22d, 1885, Mr. Johnson married Tena Figenskau, who was
born in Pierce county, Wisconsin, April 30, 1864, a daughter of Knut and
Anna (Thompson) Figenskau, and to this union five children have been
born, as follow : Jane, Alice, Freda, Clarence, Alpha, all of whom are liv-
ing. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are members of the Lutheran church, in the
affairs of which they take a proper interest. In politics, the former is an
ardent advocate of Republican principles, and his voice is well-known in the
councils of his party. A very striking thing about the career of Mr. John-
son is his activity in all the common affairs of the community. For years
he has been an important township official, for he has at different times been
township assessor, which office he holds at present, and was township chair-
man for twenty-five years, which office he relinquished in 1916. His long
service to the civil interests of the public shows that he discharged the dut-
ies of his office with strict fidelity and honesty. The co-operative business inter-
ests of the community bear a strong impress of his personality. He helped
to organize the creamery at Waukon, of which enterprise he was secretary
and manager during the first five years of its existence. He was also instru-
mental in the establishment of the Gary Telephone Company and was a mem-
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ber of the board of directors, which position he occupied for many years.
For the past twenty years he has been an auctioneer, crying sales all over
this and adjoining counties, which occupation has widened and enriched his
field of acquaintances. Finally, it may be said that if any movement is inaug-
urated in the community for its betterment, socially, economicallv and civil-
ly, it is sure of the unstinted and loyal support of Theodore Johnson.