John Jacob Johnson ^{1 2 3 4}

   Other names for John were George J. Johnson, J. J. Johnson and Jorgen Jacob Jorgensen.

  General Notes:

Grandson DeWayne B. Johnson wrote about his grandfather Johnson thus on 8/17/1986:

"I have a darker image of my father's father [than his memory of his Talbot grandparents], both dark and dim. He died when I was 9 [in 1929] but I truly can't say I remember him remotely well. Grandmother Johnson was a sterner figure, in my memory, than Grandmother Talbot. I feel now that what I did as a boy often seemed to displease her. I know I was supposed to care for her but I am not at all sure that I did.

"As with Grandparents Talbot, we also visited those grandparents but I cannot conjure up a good image of their home except for a romanticized notion of Tiffany-type lamps; etched-glass front, side and back doors; screened porch for summertime sleeping and that's about it."

  Research Notes:

Eldest son of Laurtiz and Caroline Johnson.

The Iowa marriage record for Minnie Johnson and Daniel Urquhart at FamilySearch.org gives Minnie's father as George Johnson (mother Mary Johnson). Although J. J. Johnson's obituary gives his name as J. J. Johnson, and family records have John Jacob Johnson, other sources indicate that he was also known as George J. Johnson. His obituary has John J. Johnson. He appeared as John J. Johnson in the 1910 Census.

Mark Johnson's research has found his name as Jorgen Jacob Jorgensen (Possiblly after Lauritz's and Caroline's fathers). Birth records list J.J.'s father as Lauritz Jorgensen, born Denmark. Mother listed as Anna Dorothea Caroline Caspersen, born Denmark.
-----
Obituary <Fort Dodge or Paton, Iowa> reads:
Obituary of John J. Johnson

John Jacob Johnson was the eldest son of Lauritz and Caroline Johnson and was born in Bau, Denmark on August 15, 1854, and passed away at the Mercy hospital in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on Sept. 29, 1929, at the age of 75 years, 1 month and 15 days.

He was ill at his home in Paton for six weeks when his condition became such that it was necessary to take him to the hospital for special treatment, but little could be done to relieve him.

The funeral services were held at Humboldt last Thursday afternoon. Many from West Bend and Rodman were in attendance.

He was confirmed in the Danish Luthern faith at 16 years of age. In 1881 he came to America with his parents, who settled near Gilmore City, Ill. The following year he became a citizen of the United States.

At the age of thirty years he was married to Mary Johnson on Dec. 22, 1883. To this union ten children were born, all living with the exception of two who passed away in infancy.

He farmed for a number of years in Nebraska and in 1897 came to Iowa where he farmed at West Bend and Rodman. In 1912 he retired and moved to Rodman, later moving to California. Five years ago Mr. and Mrs. Johnson came to Paton, Iowa, where they have since made their home with their daughter, Mrs. O. E. Pearson. He was devoted to his family always thinking of their welfare. He was temperate in his habits and a good example to his family and to those about him. There remains to mour his loss his loving wife and eight devoted children; also six brothers and four sisters and thirteen grandchildren. The children are: John C. Johnson, Chas. J. Johnson, Mrs. Hannah Shriner, all of Long Beach, Cal.; Alex L. Johnson, Newman Grove, Nebr.; Caroline K. Klinge, Curlew, Iowa; Mrs. Minnie Urquhart, Rodman; Wm. J. Johnson, Plover; and Mrs. Mary Pearson, Paton, Iowa.

And now the time has come when hosts of friends far and near have been called upon to part with an esteemed friend and a loving husband and father.

Although the parting has come he has left us with an assurance that he has faith in us in whom he has believed and trusted that we will carry on to successful completion the work he has been forced to leave unfinished. The thought of him watching us from the ramparts of heaven should be an inspiration to us as friends and relatives to carry on reverently and sincerely and to make the outstanding characteristics of his life, which were faith in all things good, honesty and punctuality in all his walks of life and then his benediction will be: "All things whatsoever you would that men should do unto you do ye even so to them."

  Medical Notes:

From Obituary in newspaper: "He was ill at his home in Paton for six weeks when his condition became such that it was necessary to take him to the hospital for special treatment, but little could be done to relieve him."

  Birth Notes:

1900 Census has John J Johnson and his parents born in Germany. Mary reported born in Denmark. Census has born August 1844, which differs from the obituary. His obituary has his birthdate as 15 August 1854. Mark Johnson has a source with 27 August 1854. It is my guess that 27 August 1854 was the date of his christening.

Obituary says "Bau, Denmark," but there is no such place. However, "Bau" is the German for Bov in Sonderjylland (South Jutland) county on the Jutland peninsula in south Denmark. The main town is Padborg. Since Bau/Bov was held by Germany from 1864 to 1920, that explains the discrepancy. Bov was Danish at the time John Jacob was born.

The city of Bov (German Bau) in the area of Flensborg in Denmark was the site of the Battle of Bov, which began the First Schleswig War on 9 April 1848. Schleswig-Holstein was trying to separate from Denmark. Danish troops defeated a combined force of German, Austrian and Prussian troops. The First Schleswig War lasted from 1848 through 1851, resulting in a Danish victory. The Second Schleswig War erupted on 1 February 1864, when Prussian forces crossed the border into Schleswig. That war ended on 30 October 1864, when Denmark ceded the duchies of Schleswig, Holstein and Saxe-Lauenburg to Prussia and Austria. The Schleswig Plebiscites in 1919 and 1920 resulted in the return of the Aabenraa district to Denmark.

  Death Notes:

Died in St Marys Hospital in Fort Dodge. His residence was in Paton, Iowa. He was a retired farmer at the time of his death. The handwritten notes on his death certificate are difficult to decipher. The best guess is that he was in the hospital from 25 Sept 1929 to 29 Sept 1929, with death about 8:50 p.m. Exploratory surgery had been conducted on 28 Sept 1929. The immediate cause of death was shock due to surgery after attempting relief from an obstruction having to do with his liver (?). A contributory cause was "carcinonotisis."

His death certificate gives his parents' names as Lauretz Johnson (b. Denmark) and Carloine Casperson (b. Germany). The informant was Wm. J. Johnson [his son] of Plover, Ia.

  Burial Notes:

From FindAGrave.com:
John immigrated in 1881 from Germany or Denmark. He married Mary in 1884 probably in Illinois where Lena was born. In 1900 they were the parents of 7 children, all living: Lena, Alexander, Hannah, William, Charlie, Minnie, and Mary.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Religion: Lutheran.

• Alt. Birth, 30 Aug 1854. Obituary in Humboldt, Iowa newspaper says 30 Aug 1854. Do not know source of 30 Aug 1854 date.

• Confirmation: Confirmed in Danish Lutheran faith, 1870, Denmark. According to obituary, was confirmed in the Danish Lutheran fait at 16 years of age.

• Emigration: Emigrated from Denmark to United States, 1881, Illinois, United States. Emigrated as a child with his parents [or entire family]. According to his obituary, the family came to the United States in 1881, as does the 1910 U.S. Census. Other sources say it was 1880. (e.g., the 1900 census).The obituary says they "settled near Gilmore City, Illinois." This may have actually been Gibson City, Illinois. The 1920 census has his immigration year as 1898 with naturalization as 1902.

A Lauritz Johnson and wife Caroline Casper settled in Gibson City, Illinois, having emigrated in 1880. It is possible that the obituary got the story slightly wrong. Descendants of that family believe that the family was originally from the Schleswig-Holstein region, which adjoins Denmark on the south, and was part of Germany for many years. This is the region in which John Jacob's birthplace, Bov, is situated.

• Moved: After marriage, farmed in Nebraska, Abt 1884, Wauneta, Nebraska, United States. Per Ardis Johnson Bynum 8/26/06, George (Jorgensen?) Johnson and Mary Jensen settled first in Wauneta, Nebraska [after their marriage]

• Moved: Moved to farm in West Bend, Iowa, 1897, West Bend, Kossuth Co., Iowa, United States. Per obituary, "...farmed at West Bend and Rodman."

• Moved: to farm in Rodman, Iowa, Abt 1900, Rodman, Palo Alto, Iowa, United States. Per obituary, "...farmed at West Bend and Rodman. In 1912 he retired and moved to Rodman, later moving to California"

• Census: U.S, 8 Jun 1900, Fern Valley, Palo Alto, Iowa, United States. ⁷ Household:
John J Johnson, head, W, M, Aug, 1844 [1854], 45, M, 16, Germany, Germany, Germany, imm. 1880 Na, farmer
Mary Johnson, wife, W, F, Mar 1854, 46, M, 16, Denmark, Denmark, Denmark, imm. 1880
Leena K Johnson, daughter, W, F, Sept 1884, 15, S, Illinois, Germany, Denmark, at school
Alexander Johnson, son, W, M, Sept 1885, 14, S, Nebraska, Germany, Denmark, at school
Hannah Johnson, daughter, W, F, Sept 1887, 12, S, Nebraska, Germany, Denmark, at school
William Johnson, son, W, M, Nov 1889, 10, S, Nebraska, Germany, Denmark, at school
Charles Johnson, son, W, M, Oct 1891, 8, S, Nebraska, Germany, Denmark, at school
Minnie Johnson, daughter, W, F, Oct 1894, 5, S, Nebraska, Germany, Denmark
Mary Johnson, daughter, W, F, Sept 1898, 3, S, Nebraska, Germany, Denmark This event was shared with Alexander L Johnson, Bodil Marie Jensen, Caroline Katherine Johnson, Charles J. Johnson, Hannah Johnson, Marie Baird Johnson, Minnie A. Johnson, and William J. Johnson.

• Residence, 8 Jun 1900, Rodman, Palo Alto, Iowa, United States.

• Citizenship: Became a United States citizen, 1902, <IIowa>, United States. According to obituary, he became a citizen in 1882. Do not know where (Illinois?). The 1920 census gives his naturalization year as 1902.

• Census: U.S, 12 Apr 1910, Garfield, Kossuth, Iowa, United States. ⁸ Household:
John J. Johnson, head, M, W, 55, M1, 26, Denmark, Denmark, Denmark, imm. 1881, naturalized, farmer, general farm, employer
Mary Johnson, wife, F, W, 55, M1, 26, Denmark, Denmark, Denmark, 1881, none
William Johnson, son, M, W, 20, S, Nebraska, Denmark, Denmark, laborer, home farm, worker
Charlie Johnson, son, M, W, 18, S, Nebraska, Denmark, Denmark, none
Minnie Johnson, daughter, F, W, 15, S, Nebraska, Denmark, Denmark, none
George W. Shriner, grandson, M, W, 5, S, Iowa, Iowa, Nebraska, none

George W. Shriner was the son of J. J. Johnson's daughter Hannah and her husband, Grover S. Shriner. This event was shared with Bodil Marie Jensen, Charles J. Johnson, George Washington Shriner, Minnie A. Johnson, and William J. Johnson.

• Retirement: Retired and moved to Rodman, Iowa, 1912, Rodman, Palo Alto, Iowa, United States. Per obituary, "...farmed at West Bend and Rodman. In 1912 he retired and moved to Rodman, later moving to California."

• Moved: Moved to California, Abt 1918, California, United States. Some time after retirement in 1912, moved to California, then moved to Paton, Iowa in 1924.

• Census: U.S, 26 Jan 1920, Rodman, Palo Alto, Iowa, United States. ⁹ J J Johnson's farm immediately follows that of William Johnson in the 1920 census.
Household:
J J Johnson, head, M, W, 66, M, imm. 1898, na. 1902, b. Denmark, parents b. Denmark
Mary Johnson, wife, F, W, 67, M, 1898, 1902, b. Denmark, parents b. Denmark
Minnie Johnson. daughter, F, W, 25, S, b. Nebraska, parents b. Denmark, housemaid
Daniel T Urquhart, boarder, M, W. 44, S, imm. 1891, na. 1896, b. Scotland, parents b. Scotland, carpenter
Anthony Johnson, boarder, M, W, 60, S, 1898, 1902, b. Denmark, parents b. Denmark, carpenter

Minnie would marry Daniel T. Urquhart in 1921. Anthony Johnson is probably Anthony Jensen, Mary's brother. This event was shared with Anton Martinus Jensen, Bodil Marie Jensen, Daniel T. Urquhart, and Minnie A. Johnson.

• Moved: Moved to Paton, Iowa, to live with daughter Marie & husband, 1924, Paton, Greene, Iowa, United States. Per obituary: "Five years ago [1924] Mr. and Mrs. Johnson came to Paton, Iowa, where they have since made their home with their daughter, Mrs. O. E. Pearson [Marie B. Johnson]."

John married Bodil Marie Jensen, daughter of Jens Christian Jensen and Ane Cathrine Hansdatter, on 22 Dec 1883 in <Wauneta>, Nebraska, United States. (Bodil Marie Jensen was born on 5 Mar 1854 in Asaae Bye, Dronninglund Sogn (Brønderslev), Nordjylland, Denmark, christened on 28 Mar 1854 in Dronninglund Kirke, Dronninglund, (Hjørring), Nordjylland, Denmark,^{10 11} died on 11 Aug 1937 in <Paton, Greene, Iowa>, United States and was buried in Union Cemetery, Humboldt, Humboldt, Iowa, United States ¹².)