John Jacob Johnson ^{1 2 3 4}

   Other names for John were George J. Johnson and George Othmar Johnson.

  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:

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.

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.

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. If Bau/Bov was held by Germany in 1854, that explains the discrepancy.

  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, Iowa, 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," Iowa [obit says Illinois, probably wrong state].

• Citizenship: Became a United States citizen, 1882, Iowa, United States. According to obituary, became a citizen in 1882. Do not know where.

• 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, 8 Jun 1900, Palo Alto, Iowa, United States. ⁴

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

• Census: United States, 1910, Garfield, Kossuth, Iowa, United States. ⁵ John J. Johnson, head of household, b. Denmark, age 55, white, male, married, immigration 1881, father and mother born in Denmark.
Spouse Mary Johnson, F, 55y
Son William Johnson, M, 20y
Son Charlie Johnson, M, 18y
Daughter Minnie Johnson, F, 15y
Grandson George W. Shriner, M, 5y

• 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, 1920, Palo Alto, Iowa, United States. J J Johnson, head of household, M, 66y, b. Denmark, parents b. Denmark
Mary Johnson, F, 67y, b. Denmark, parents b. Denmark
Minnie Johnson. F, 25y, b. Nebraska, parents b. Denmark
Daniel T Urquhart, M, 44y, b. Scotland, parents b. Scotland
Anthony Johnson, M, 65y, b. Denmark, parents b. Denmark

• 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 Mary B. Jensen, daughter of Jens Christian Jensen and Ane Cathrine Hansdatter, on 22 Dec 1883 in <Wauneta>, Nebraska, United States. (Mary B. Jensen was born on 5 Mar 1854 in Asaa, Broenderslev-Dronninglund, Nordjyllands, Denmark and died on 11 Aug 1937 in <Paton, Greene, Iowa>, United States.)