Clay Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties-Nels Johnson
Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1890
NELS JOHNSON. This well-to-do citizen of Goshen Township takes pardonable pride in the fact that he has borne no unimportant part in the development of this part of Clay County. Not only has he improved a farm here from the primitive soil, but prior to settling, where he now lives, also improved a farm in Washington County from land which he homesteaded from the Government. He is widely and favorably known to many of the older residents of the two counties, and has made for himself a good record, both as a skillful farmer and a reliable citizen.
A native of the Kingdom of Denmark, Mr. Johnson was born April 6, 1848, and there spent his early years until twenty years old. His parents, Nels and Kate (Hanson) Johnson, were likewise of Danish birth and ancestry, and were members of the Lutheran Church, as were their progenitors before them as far back as is known. The father was a farmer by occupation and Nels, Jr., was trained to habits of industry, and learned the art of agriculture as carried on in his native Kingdom. He. however, desired something better than he had known in his native land, and in 1867 sailed for America from the port of Hamburg on the "Harmonia," which landed him on the 24th of June, in New York City, after a voyage of sixteen days. Thence he proceeded directly to LaSalle County, Ill., and rented a farm upon which he operated four years. At the expiration of this time he set out for the country west of the Mississippi and coming to Washington County, Kan., homesteaded 160 acres of land on section 23, Sherman Township. He put up a little frame house 14x20 feet in dimensions, and being unmarried kept a bachelor's hall about three years. In the meantime he broke a goodly portion of the sod, made fences, planted fruit and forest trees, and thus establishing a comfortable little home. He now needed only a wife and helpmate to complete his happiness, and on the 25th of October, 1874, was united in marriage with Miss Frances C. Cutler. The young people commenced the journey of life together on their own premises and lived there until the spring of 1884. Then selling out Mr. Johnson purchased his present farm of 160 acres on section 7, Goshen Township, Clay County.
Upon his new purchase Mr. Johnson proceeded as before, building up a homestead from first principles. There was no improvements upon this land, but he maintained that "what man has done man may do," and he proceeded as before in the development of his land, erecting buildings, making fences, planting fruit and shade trees, and at the same time raising each year the usual crops. We find now him the occupant of a commodious frame dwelling, adjacent to which is a good barn, corn cribs, an orchard of 100 trees, and all the other appurtenances of the well-regulated modern farm.
Mr. Johnson when settling in the State of Illinois had a capital of $20, and from that small sum he has built up his present possessions. He has made it a rule to live within his income, and has invested his capital in a wise manner. To such men as Mr. Johnson is due the prosperity of the great State of Kansas. He has a fine family, consisting of his wife and four children, the latter named respectively: Lizzie B., Francis E., Frederick M. and Clarence N. Mrs. Johnson was born in Genesee County. N. Y., July 8. 1858, and is the daughter of Francis O. and Catherine (Gourley) Cutler, natives respectively of New York State and Scotland. They came to Washington County, Kan., in 1870, and took up a homestead in Sherman Township, where they still live. Mrs. Johnson is a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Johnson was reared in the faith of the Lutheran Church, to which he still adheres. He belongs to the Farmers Alliance, of Goshen Township and the Masonic Lodge at Green.
The home surroundings of Mr. Johnson and his family are finely illustrated in a view of the premises to be found on another page.