The opportunities offered in America to men of foreign birth is well illustrated in the record of Axel H. Johnson, who is manager of the Lincoln Lumber Company at Cokeville. His entire business career has been marked by steady progress and as the architect of his fortunes he has builded wisely and well.
    He was born May 19, 1884, in Linköping, Sweden, a son of John Johnson, who was also a native of that country, where he successfully followed farming, making his home in the province of Linköping. To him and his wife. Mrs. Lovise Johnson, were born eight children.
    Axel H. Johnson, the fourth in order of birth in that family, acquired his education in the schools of his native country and spent his youth upon the home farm, early becoming familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. He worked with his father until sixteen years of age, when he started out to provide for his own support and entered upon a five years' apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade, which brought to him a comprehensive knowledge of the business with broad experience in all departments of building. At length he determined to try his fortune in America, believing that he might have better opportunities on this side the Atlantic than in the old world. In 1907, therefore, he sailed for the United States and after landing on American shores made his way direct to Rock Springs, Wyoming, where he was employed by Victor Smith, a well known builder, for five years. On the expiration of that period he removed to Cokeville to take charge of the interests of the Lincoln Lumber Company, of which he is one of the stockholders and the manager. He is thus closely associated with the business interests of this growing town and his ability and enterprise are proving substantial factors in the development of the trade.
    Mr. Johnson has voted with the republican party since becoming a naturalized American citizen, having taken out his final papers in Green River in 1913. He belongs to the Loyal Order of Moose and his religious faith is that of the Lutheran church. He certainly deserves much credit for what he has accomplished. It is is no easy thing to sever home ties and separate one's self from all those interests and associations with which he has hitherto been connected and then start out in a new country, with the language and customs of which he is unfamiliar. Such a course, however, Mr. Johnson followed, actuated by the laudable purpose of winning success in a business way, and he is not only realizing his ambition but has become recognized as one of the valued and substantial citizens of Cokeville, where he has won many friends, who esteem him highly for his genuine personal worth as well as for his business enterprise.