John Anders Johnson

This article is about the Wisconsin legislator from Madison. For the Wisconsin legislator from Brandon, see John E. Johnson (Brandon). For the Wisconsin legislator from Utica, see John E. Johnson (Utica). For the Wisconsin legislator from York, see John Johnson (b. 1833).
John A. Johnson
Member of the Wisconsin Senate
from the 7th district
In office
January 6, 1873 – January 4, 1875
Preceded byWilliam M. Colladay
Succeeded byGeorge E. Bryant
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the Dane 1st district
In office
January 5, 1857 – January 4, 1858
Preceded byCharles R. Head
Succeeded byDaniel B. Crandall
Personal details
Born(1832-04-15)April 15, 1832
Telemark, Sweden–Norway
DiedNovember 10, 1901(1901-11-10) (aged 69)
Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.
Resting placeForest Hill Cemetery, Madison, Wisconsin
Political partyRepublican
Spouses
  • Caroline K. Thompson
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1856; died 1860)​
  • Kaia N. M. Kildahl
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1861⁠–⁠1901)​
Children
  • Caroline Johnson
  • (b. 1860; died 1860)
  • Frederick A. Johnson
  • (b. 1862; died 1908)
  • Ella Josephine Johnson
  • (b. 1864; died 1866)
  • Ida Astella (Fisk)
  • (b. 1867; died 1949)
  • Carl A. Johnson
  • (b. 1870; died 1931)
  • Hobart Stanley Johnson
  • (b. 1873; died 1942)
  • Maurice Ingolf Johnson
  • (b. 1876; died 1935)
RelativesOle C. Johnson (brother)

John Anders Johnson (April 15, 1832 – November 10, 1901) was a Norwegian American immigrant, businessman, and Republican politician. He served in the Wisconsin State Senate and Assembly, representing eastern Dane County.[1]

Biography

Johnson was born in Telemark, Norway, on April 15, 1832, as the eldest of the five children of Anders Johnson (1804–1880) and his wife, Aaste Killing Koven (1808–1893).[2] His family immigrated to the United States in 1844, traveling via New York to reach Milwaukee.[2] In 1852, the family to Pleasant Springs, Wisconsin.[2] He married Karen Kristie Thompson in 1856. They had a daughter before her death in 1860. On October 31, 1861, Johnson married Kaia Nicoline Marie Kildahl. They had six children. He died of a stomach ulcer on November 10, 1901, and was buried at Forest Hill Cemetery.

Career

Johnson was a member of the Assembly in 1857. He served as Clerk of Dane County, Wisconsin, from 1861 to 1869.[2] From 1873 to 1874, he was a member of the Senate.[2] Other positions Johnson held include Town Clerk and Town Chairman of Pleasant Springs and justice of the peace.

Outside politics Johnson owned Fuller & Johnson, a company that produced farm machinery, having previously been a farmer.[3]

Electoral history

Wisconsin Senate, 7th District Election, 1872[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 5, 1872
Republican John A. Johnson 2,903 53.76%
Liberal Republican A. R. Cornwall 2,497 46.24%
Plurality 406 7.52% -3.45%
Total votes 5,400 100.0% +78.45%
Republican hold

References

  1. ^ a b Turner, A. J., ed. (1874). "Official Directory" (PDF). The Legislative Manual of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 449. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e "John Anders Johnson". Wisconsin State Journal. Madison, WI. November 11, 1901. pp. 1, 3. Retrieved October 11, 2020 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ Kindschi, Verne. "A SHORT HISTORY OF FULLER & JOHNSON COMPANY". Gas Engine Magazine. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
Wisconsin State Assembly
Preceded by
Charles R. Head
 Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Dane 1st district
January 5, 1857 – January 4, 1858 		Succeeded by
Daniel B. Crandall
Wisconsin Senate
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 7th district
January 6, 1873 – January 4, 1875 		Succeeded by