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, John A. superintendent of the Hackley-Phelps-Bonnell Co.'s planing-mill at Phelps, Vilas County, was born in Sweden, Dec. 21, 1871, son of John and Sophia (ISAACSON) JOHNSON. When he was six minths old his father was killed in a stone quarry in Sweden. The mother of our subject is still living and resides with him; he was 76 years old on Feb. 15, 1923. John A. JOHNSON attended school in his native land. He was in his sixteenth years when he came to the United States, and proceeding west after landing, arrived at Muskegon, Mich., at nine o'clock in the evening of April 15. He had no trouble in finding work in sawmills, as Muskegon was then in the center of a busy lumber region. He remained there for about two years and then went to Deer Park, Mich., where also he worked in sawmills and in the woods for three years. At the age of 21 he went to Grand Marais; Mich., on Lake Superior, where he found employment in fishing, loading boats, carpenter work and general labor and was employed there for nine years. He then returned to Muskegon, where he worked in lumber yards for a year and three months. On July 18, 1905, he started work in the lumber yards of the Hackley-Phelps-Bonnell Co., at Phelps, Wis. The following spring he went into their planing-mill and soon after became superintendent of that department, continuing as such until the sawmill was burned. He then went to Hammond, Ind., and was with the Standard Steel Co. there until 1909, in which year he returned to Phelps and again became superintendent of the planing-mill for the Hackley-Phelps-Bonnell Co., in which position he has since continued, having proved himself thoroughly competent. Mr. JOHNSON was married June 17, 1908, to Mrs. Ella VECKER, whose maiden name was Ella May BROWN. On this union two children have been born: John Martin, May 28, 1913, and Earlie, born July 12, 1909, who died Feb. 14, 1912. By her first husband, Mads VECKER, Mrs. JOHNSON had one child, Mona, now Mrs. Joseph SCHROEDER of Eagle River, Wis. The religious faith of the family is that of the Lutheran Church.

Transcribed by Susan Swanson, from pages 569-570; 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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