Back to Biographies

 BIOGRAPHIES 'J'

CARL L. JOHNSON was born in Sweden May 21, 1862. He came to America in 1882, and found employment at Anoka with Peter Brant, having learned tailoring in his father’s shop in Sweden. In 1888 he went into business for himself, and now has a merchant tailoring establishment at Anoka employing from five to twelve people and also one at Cambridge, Minn., employing three or four. The Cambridge store is managed by H. C. Dahlgren. Orders are received from St. Paul, Minneapolis and many other places outside the county. Mr. Johnson was a member of the city council in 1894 and 1895. He was appointed a member of the library board in 1903 and reappointed for three years in 1904. Mr. Johnson was married Nov. 2, 1887, to Alice Johnson, of Rockford, Ill., who died in June, 1891. He was married a second time in 1893 to Augusta B. Anderson. They have two girls, Rachel Cecilia and Maria Augusta Theresia.

~Source: History of Anoka County and the Towns of Champlin and Dayton in Hennepin County Minnesota, by Albert M Goodrich, Minneapolis, Hennepin Publishing Co., 1905

CHARLES H. JOHNSON was born March 13, 1850, in Gainsville, Wyoming Co., N. Y. He came to Minnesota in March, 1880, and to Anoka March 6, 1888, where he has conducted a photograph gallery. Mr. Johnson has been thrice married. His first wife was Alice Nourse, to whom he was married Mar. 14, 1876, and who died June 15, 1878. His second wife was Belle Lowell, to whom he was married Aug. 14, 1884, who died Dec. 19, 1897, leaving two children, Jay W. and Forest. Mr. Johnson was again married Apr. 22, 1900, to Lena Slayback.

~Source: History of Anoka County and the Towns of Champlin and Dayton in Hennepin County Minnesota, by Albert M Goodrich, Minneapolis, Hennepin Publishing Co., 1905

HENRY CLAY JOHNSON was born in Milford, Indiana, March [0, 1856. In October, 1865, he came to Anoka county, and received his education in the Anoka schools. After leaving school he was a clerk in the Anoka postoffice for a number of years. Later he was employed for a time in a grocery and finally as an accountant. In this latter capacity he has been with the Pillsbury-Washburn Flour Mills Co. at Anoka for many years. He was elected alderman of the first ward of the City of Anoka in April, 1895, and re-elected in 1897. In September, 1899, he resigned, but was again elected to the same office in Ap.ri1, 1903, and still holds this position. Mr. Johnson was married Sept. 9, 1890, to Helen Burk. Two daughters have been born to them, Mary and Gertrude (deceased).

~Source: History of Anoka County and the Towns of Champlin and Dayton in Hennepin County Minnesota, by Albert M Goodrich, Minneapolis, Hennepin Publishing Co., 1905

OLE JESPERSON (deceased) was born in Norway, Aug. 26, 1845. Came to America in 1867, reaching St. Paul July 10 of that year. Settled on a farm in Ham Lake in 1874, where he lived up to the time of his death. He served on the board of supervisors about half the time he lived there and as county commissioner from the fourth district from Jan. 1, 1895, to Jan. 1, 1899. Married Lena Peterson July 9, 1870. Children: Peter W., Jesper B. (Cedar), Andrew W. (Lindstrom, Chisago C0.), Ida G. (Mrs. O. J. Thorssen, Grantsburg, Wis.), Emma, Melville A., and an adopted daughter, Olga. Mr. Jesperson died March 11, 1902.

~Source: History of Anoka County and the Towns of Champlin and Dayton in Hennepin County Minnesota, by Albert M Goodrich, Minneapolis, Hennepin Publishing Co., 1905


PETER WILLIAM JESPERSON was born at Fridley, Anoka county, Nov. 2t, 1871. He attended the public schools and afterward the Minneapolis Normal College. He took up farming in section 33, town of Bethel, of which town he was chairman of the board of supervisors, and was also a member of the school board in district 53. He is at present travelling salesman for the J R. Watkins Medical Co., of Winona, Minn. Mr. Jesperson was married June 7, 1899, to Matilda H. Titterud, who died, leaving one son, Harris O.

~Source: History of Anoka County and the Towns of Champlin and Dayton in Hennepin County Minnesota, by Albert M Goodrich, Minneapolis, Hennepin Publishing Co., 1905


LOUIS JEPSON was born in Darum, Denmark, March 5, 1856. He came to this country in 1878, settling in Minneapolis. He was married in 1881 to Andrea Martha Borre, and moved to a farm in the town of Blaine, where he now lives, and where he has made a business of dairying and fine stock raising. He has been a member of the board of supervisors and was town treasurer fifteen years. Children: Maggie and Andrew. 

~Source: History of Anoka County and the Towns of Champlin and Dayton in Hennepin County Minnesota, by Albert M Goodrich, Minneapolis, Hennepin Publishing Co., 1905

JOHN W. JOHNSTON was born at St. George, New Brunswick, June 23, 1832. He received a high school education and engaged in farming and lumbering. He came to Minnesota in 1855 and three years later to Champlin, where he has been variously engaged in farming, lumbering, merchandise and meat market, and also in the hotel business. He was treasurer of school district 37 for a number of years. Mr. Johnston was married Nov. 3, 1861, to Rebecca L. Davis. Children: George W. (deceased), John F., Grace (Mrs. A. Bickford), Alice (deceased), Jesse Winn (de ceased), Mav (Mrs. Thompson), Laura (Mrs. N. A. Nason), Belle (Mrs. C. T. Peppard), Frederick, Irene (Mrs. M. J. Don ahue), Hester and Ruby D.

~Source: History of Anoka County and the Towns of Champlin and Dayton in Hennepin County Minnesota, by Albert M Goodrich, Minneapolis, Hennepin Publishing Co., 1905


FRED W. JOHONNETT was born in Palmyra, Somerset Co., Maine, Feb. 17, 1842. Worked at farming until November, 1861, when he enlisted in Company E, Fourteenth Maine Infantry, in which he served until February, 1863, when he was discharged for disability. In November of the same year he re-enlisted in Company I, Second Maine Cavalry, and served until December, 1865. He was in the Department of the Gulf during the entire period. After the war he returned to Maine, and came to Anoka county in the spring of 1869. He bought 160 acres in section 8, town of Oak Grove, where he still lives. He was married in December, 1868, to Cynthia E. Wethern, who died Nov. 28, 1902. One daughter is living: Gertrude (Mrs. William O. Leathers). Mr. Johonnett was town clerk ten years. Has also served several terms as town treasurer and school director.

~Source: History of Anoka County and the Towns of Champlin and Dayton in Hennepin County Minnesota, by Albert M Goodrich, Minneapolis, Hennepin Publishing Co., 1905


LEW1S C. JOHONNOT was born in Newport, Maine, May 3, 1857. Spent four years at the New England Conservatory of Music, Boston, 1870-1883. ln 1883 he came to Minneapolis, where he became assistant superintendent of music of the Minneapolis public schools. Afterward he took charge of tne music at the old Centenary Methodist and other churches. In 1884 \he came to Anoka, where he was director of the Anoka Choral Union three years. For the past fifteen years he has lived in the town of Oak Grove. He has composed a number of vocal pieces, one of which, “The Girl Behind the Dough,” was published in 1892. Mr. .lohonnot was married Jan. 13, 1903, to Harriet L. Seymour.

~Source: History of Anoka County and the Towns of Champlin and Dayton in Hennepin County Minnesota, by Albert M Goodrich, Minneapolis, Hennepin Publishing Co., 1905


T. G. JONES (deceased) was born at Eastport, Maine, in 1818. For several years he was cashier of the Bank of Fann ington, Maine, and served two years in the legislature of that state. In 1855 he went to Dubuque, Iowa, and to Anoka in 1858. He was collector of internal revenue under presidents Lincoln and Johnson and was chosen as a presidential elector in 1868. He was for many years agent for the Phoenix Life Insurance Co., with offices at Anoka and later at Minneapolis. He died Aug. 13, 1869.

~Source: History of Anoka County and the Towns of Champlin and Dayton in Hennepin County Minnesota, by Albert M Goodrich, Minneapolis, Hennepin Publishing Co., 1905


EDWIN JOSLIN was born in Maple Grove, Sept. 25, 1872. Moved to Ham Lake with his parents, in which town he has been engaged in farming. Aug. 1, 1896, he married Grace Uren. Children: Alice, \Villiam and Gladys.

~Source: History of Anoka County and the Towns of Champlin and Dayton in Hennepin County Minnesota, by Albert M Goodrich, Minneapolis, Hennepin Publishing Co., 1905


WILLIAM PENN JOSLIN was born at Lynboro, New Hampshire, Nov. 30, 1842. He grew up on a farm and learned the carpenter’s trade. He came to Anoka county in March, 1881, and settled on a farm in section 28, in the town of Ham Lake. He was married Sept. 11, 1871, to Georgiana Morehouse. Children: Leona (Mrs. Adam Hollingsworth), William Edwin, Alice (Mrs. John Bell), Alta L., (Mrs. B. Meister), Levi E., Charlotte Elizabeth (Mrs. Edwin Lawson), Allen Marcellus, Helen May, Orrice Edna (adopted), and Clyde Remmington.

~Source: History of Anoka County and the Towns of Champlin and Dayton in Hennepin County Minnesota, by Albert M Goodrich, Minneapolis, Hennepin Publishing Co., 1905