John E. Johnson (Utica)

John E. Johnson (a.k.a. Johannes Johnson,[1] 1829 – after 1909) of Utica, Wisconsin was an American farmer and politician.

Family edit

Johnson was born in Norway in 1829, the son of Erick Johnson Ytre Lie (c. 1802–1892)[1] and Martha Larsdatter Johnson (c. 1797 – 1873).[2] His family immigrated from Aurland, Norway to the United States in 1845.[1][2] In 1866 he married Martha Venaas (1844–1883), with whom he had five children.[2] Johnson was still living at the family homestead two miles east of Utica with his brother Haakon (1835–1911) in 1909.[1]

Career edit

Johnson served as a Republican member of the Wisconsin State Assembly for 1869 from the 1st Dane County Assembly district (the Towns of Albion, Dunkirk, Rutland, Dunn, Pleasant Springs, Christiana, Cottage Grove and Blooming Grove), succeeding Nelson Williams (also a Republican), who had successfully run for the Wisconsin State Senate. He was not a candidate for re-election, and was succeeded by fellow Republican Carpus Loveland.

He is not to be confused with the John A. Johnson from Madison who served in 1857 from Dane County, the John Johnson who served in 1874 from Dane County, or the John E. Johnson from Brandon who served four terms in the Assembly in the early 20th century.[3]

Background edit

A native of Norway, Johnson was 39 when he served in the Assembly. He was assigned to the standing committee on school and university lands.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Flom, George T. (1909). History of Norwegian Immigration to the United States: From the Earliest Beginning Down to the Year 1848. Iowa City, IA: Author. pp. 307–308.
  2. ^ a b c History of Dane County, Wisconsin. Chicago: Western Historical Company. 1880. p. 1175.
  3. ^ Cannon, A. Peter. Members of the Wisconsin Legislature 1848 – 1999 Madison: State of Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau Informational Bulletin 99-1, September 1999; p. 67
  4. ^ The legislative manual, of the state of Wisconsin; comprising Jefferson's manual, rules, forms and laws, for the regulation of business; also, lists and tables for reference: Eighth Annual Edition. Madison: Atwood and Rublee, State Printers, 1869; pp. 172, 176, 179