My Genealogy Hound

JOHN L. JOHNSON, one of the largest land-owners of Pettis County, is a successful agriculturist of township 45, range 23. He has hewed out his own way to prosperity and richly deserves what he has achieved. As his father died when he was two years of age, he was reared by his widowed mother, and for many years assisted in caring for her.

The subject of this sketch is the youngest son of Louis and Sarah (Peterson) Johnson, natives of Sweden, where their son was born March 29, 1834. The parents spent their entire lives in that country, the father owning and occupying a good farm. He died in 1836, and his wife was left to care for the family until her children were old enough to make their own way in the world. John L. was not permitted to attend school until after reaching his fourteenth year, but the course which he then took proved of more benefit to him than would an irregular attendance in his earlier years. His fortune has been made since attaining his twentieth year, for it was then he left his native land and embarked on a vessel bound for American shores. His mother died in 1854.

On landing on the shores of this country Mr. Johnson continued his westward journey to Illinois, locating in Knox County, where for two years and a-half he was employed as a farm laborer for one man. The following eighteen months were given to the services of another farmer in that locality, and at the end of that time he was sufficiently acquainted with the American way of doing things to start out for himself. He rented a tract of land, engaging in its cultivation until 1876, in which year we find him living in Missouri, on the estate which he now occupies. This property represents years of unremitting industry, and the competence which he enjoys is only the just reward of his labor. Through the proper rotation of crops and judicious fertilization of the soil, every acre is made to produce the very best results, and each year abundant harvests are gathered from the land. The residence which he occupies with his family is one of the pleasantest in Pettis County. It is built of brick, after the latest plan of architecture, and the family enjoys many of the conveniences which are only found in city households.

John L. Johnson was married, February 26, 1863, to Miss Christina, daughter of George and Catherine (Yellum) Erickson, natives of Sweden, who came to America some time in 1853. They chose for their permanent home a beautiful farm in Knox County, Ill., where they are yet living, at the respective ages of seventy-eight and seventy-seven years, in the enjoyment of excellent health.

Mrs. Johnson’s birth occurred in Sweden in 1840. She was therefore thirteen years of age at the time of crossing the Atlantic, and has gained most of her education in the district schools of the Prairie State. To Mr. and Mrs. Johnson there was born a large family of children, thirteen in number. Of these six are deceased. Those living are: Joseph A., Albert M., Nettie M., Edward C., Clarence G., Arthur L. and Forest. Nettie is the wife of George Shelly, a substantial farmer of Pettis County. The parents and all their children, are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in the work of which they take an active part.

In politics Mr. Johnson is a stanch supporter of Republican principles. He has never had time for holding office, his entire attention being given to the management of his large estate. The high and honored place which is accorded him by his friends and neighbors is well deserved, and we take pleasure in adding his history to those of the other representative farmers and pioneers of this locality.