History of Lincoln, Oneida and Vilas Counties

"History of Lincoln, Oneida, and Vilas Counties Wisconsin"

Compiled by George O.Jones, Norman S. McVean and Others. Printed in 1924 by H.C.Cooper. Jr. & Co., Minneapoli-Winona MN. ill. 787 pages. The first two hundred pages are history of the three counties, the remainder of the book is biographies.

Biography

Johnson, Henry A. a respected pioneer of the city of Tomahawk, where he is now living, was born at Newberg, Washington County, Wis., Nov. 24, 1857, son of Alonzo W. and Harriett (TAYLOR) JOHNSON. The father, Alonzo W. JOHNSON, who was born in New Hampshire, was a bridge carpenter, as also was his father, Nathan JOHNSON and together they built many bridges in the state of Maine. In 1856 Alonzo came to Wisconsin, settling in Washington County, where he engaged in carpenter work and farming. In 1858 he moved to Waupaca County, being one of its early settlers, and in order to reach the land he had bought he had to cut a road to it for six miles through the timber. After the Civil War broke out he joined the Sixth Wisconsin Regiment, which formed a part of the "Iron Brigade," serving under General Bragg of Wisconsin and being present at the surrender of General LEE. He and his wife spent the rest of their lives on their farm in Waupaca County, where he died May 25, 1899, at the age of 63 years. His wife, who was a native of New York State, survived him some years, passing away in 1912. They were the parents of 13 children, of whom nine are now living: Charlie, of Waupaca County; Jesse, residing in Waupaca County; Ella, wife of Henry BINGHAM of Crandon, Wis.; Estella, now Mrs. Urial FLETCHER of Clintonville, Wis.; May, wife of Than SMITH of Forest County, Wis.; Sylvia, wife of Nels JURGENSON of Waupaca County; Maggie, wife of Bud WILCOX, residing in Sacremento, Calif.; and Henry A. Of the four deceased, three died in infancy, and the other was Henrietta, a twin sister of Henry A. Henry A. JOHNSON was reared on his parents' farm and as a boy attended the rural school of his district. The surroundings were very wild and Indians were numerous in the neighborhood. The schoolhouse partook of the general credity, being built of logs, with a long pine desk running the length of the room, at which the pupils sat on hewed log benches. When 21 years old young JOHNSON left the home farm and went to Royalton, Wis., where he worked a farm on his own account and conducted a store. In 1887 he came to Tomahawk before any buildings had been erected on the town site. Putting up a building and a brick oven, he started the first bakery, in town, a most necessary place of business, since eating is the first thing that everyone has to do. Later he sold his bakery and engaged in logging, the industry most extensively followed here at that time. He would buy land, cut off the timber, and then sell the land to prospective farmers, settlers or speculators, and in that way he was employed for some 15 years. After that he spent ten years in cruising for the State, and since the end of that period has been retired. He has served as a member of the local school board and for two terms was a member of the county board. His fraternal affiliations are with the Masonic order. Mr. JOHNSON was married at Royalton, Wis., Dec. 23, 1878, to Sarah FLETCHER, daughter of John and Evelyn (MOORE) FLETCHER, the parents being natives of New York State, of English ancestry, and early settlers and farmers in Waupaca County, Wis. The father, John FLETCHER, fought for the Union in the Wisconsin regiment. Of their ten children two died in infancy, while those who grew to maturity were William H., Sarah, Uriah, Cyrus W., Harriett M., Eva, John, Jr., and George. Mr. and Mrs. Henry A. JOHNSON are the parents of one daughter, Jennie B., who is now the wife of William I. MACFARLANE, a well known dentist of Tomahawk.

Transcribed by Susan Swanson, from pages 535-536, History of Lincoln, Oneida and Vilas Counties Wisconsin; Compiled by George O. Jones, Norman S. McVean and Others 1924, H. C. Cooper, Jr. & Co

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